Here’s a concise overview of the latest U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) news based on recent developments:
• Ripple and SEC Case: On May 16, 2025, Judge Analisa Torres rejected a joint motion by Ripple and the SEC for an indicative ruling to dissolve an injunction and reduce Ripple’s $125 million penalty to $25 million. This leaves the case in limbo, with Ripple’s chief legal officer, Stuart Alderoty, stating the ruling is procedural and does not impact Ripple’s prior legal victories. XRP dropped 3% to $2.44 following the news. The SEC’s 2020 lawsuit against Ripple alleged unregistered XRP sales worth $1.3 billion, with a 2023 ruling clarifying XRP is a security only for institutional sales, not retail exchanges.
• Coinbase Developments: Coinbase stock rebounded after losses tied to an SEC investigation into past user metrics, as reported on May 17, 2025. Additionally, a cyberattack compromised sensitive customer data, including names, emails, and partial Social Security numbers, adding to regulatory scrutiny. In February 2025, the SEC dropped an earlier enforcement case against Coinbase.
• Crypto Regulatory Shift: SEC Chair Paul Atkins, appointed in April 2025, is pushing for a crypto-friendly regulatory framework. On May 12, 2025, Atkins announced plans to establish guidelines for crypto tokens classified as securities and explore exemptions for broker-dealers to trade non-securities like Bitcoin. This follows a rollback of enforcement actions from the Gary Gensler era, including the closure of a PayPal PYUSD stablecoin probe on May 4, 2025.
• Litecoin ETF Delay: The SEC delayed a decision on Canary Capital’s spot Litecoin ETF proposal, with experts predicting approval by year-end 2025 under Atkins’ leadership.
• Other Notable Actions: The SEC is reviewing a controversial Consolidated Audit Trail tool used in a $47 million insider trading case, with potential changes under consideration. Additionally, lawmakers urged the SEC to delist Chinese companies like Alibaba over national security concerns, citing military links.
For more details, check official SEC announcements or trusted financial news sources like Yahoo Finance or Reuters.