The latest news on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) focuses heavily on its activities in the cryptocurrency space and other regulatory developments. Here's a concise summary of recent events based on available information:

✓ Cryptocurrency-Related Developments

1.) Ripple and XRP Case:

°° The SEC and Ripple Labs have been engaged in a prolonged legal battle since December 2020, with the SEC alleging Ripple sold unregistered XRP tokens worth $1.3 billion. A significant update occurred in May 2025 when a proposed settlement was rejected by Judge Analisa Torres, who denied a joint motion for an indicative ruling to dissolve an injunction and reduce Ripple’s penalty from $125 million to $50 million.

°° Ripple’s chief legal officer, Stuart Alderoty, stated the ruling was procedural and did not impact Ripple’s prior legal victories, notably a July 2023 ruling that XRP sales to retail investors on exchanges were not securities violations.

°° The rejection has left the case in legal limbo, with XRP’s price dropping 3% to $2.44 following the news.

2.) Coinbase Investigation:

°° Coinbase faced a stock drop after a cyberattack exposed sensitive customer data and reports surfaced of an ongoing SEC investigation into its past user metrics. Despite earlier indications that the SEC had dropped an enforcement case, regulatory scrutiny persists.

°° Coinbase’s stock later rebounded, reflecting market resilience amid geopolitical improvements and crypto market dynamics.

3.) SEC’s Crypto Policy Under Paul Atkins:

°° Paul Atkins, appointed SEC Chair in April 2025, has signaled a shift toward a more crypto-friendly regulatory framework. At a Crypto Task Force roundtable, Atkins emphasized the need for rules to keep pace with innovation, aiming to position the U.S. as a global crypto hub.

°° Atkins plans to establish guidelines for crypto tokens classified as securities and may allow broker-dealers with alternative trading systems to facilitate trading in non-securities like Bitcoin and Ether.

°° The SEC has scaled back crypto-related enforcement actions, including dropping a probe into PayPal’s PYUSD stablecoin, reflecting a broader pro-crypto shift under the Trump administration.

4.) Crypto ETFs:

°° The SEC delayed a decision on Canary Capital’s spot Litecoin (LTC) ETF proposal, with experts predicting a potential approval by year-end 2025.

°° Bloomberg analysts estimate a 75%+ chance of spot altcoin ETF approvals by the end of 2025, with decisions due on some proposals by July 2, 2025.

°° The SEC’s FAQs clarified rules for broker-dealers and transfer agents regarding crypto assets and distributed ledger technology, addressing custody, in-kind crypto ETF creations, and tokenized securities.

✓ Other SEC Activities

1.) Insider Trading Case:

°° An Oregon retiree was sentenced to a year in prison for a $47 million insider trading scheme involving a Nuveen LLC trader. The case was flagged by the SEC’s Consolidated Audit Trail, a controversial tracking tool the Trump administration is reviewing.

2.) Chinese Companies Delisting Push:

°° Republican lawmakers urged the SEC to delist Chinese companies like Alibaba, citing military links that pose national security risks. The SEC has authority under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act to act but has not yet responded.

3.) Fake Bitcoin ETF Announcement:

°° The U.S. government recommended a two-year prison sentence for Eric Council Jr., who hacked the SEC’s X account in January 2024 to post a false Bitcoin ETF approval message.

Sentiment and Context

• Posts on X reflect ongoing crypto community interest, with mentions of the SEC’s meetings (e.g., with Everstake on staking) and institutional moves like Wisconsin’s Investment Board liquidating its $321 million BlackRock Bitcoin ETF position.

• The SEC’s shift under Atkins contrasts with the stricter approach of former Chair Gary Gensler, aligning with President Trump’s pro-crypto stance. However, critics like Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw argue that settlements like Ripple’s undermine investor protections.

#Note The information above draws from recent web and X sources, but some details (e.g., exact settlement outcomes or ETF approval timelines) remain inconclusive without official SEC confirmation. For the latest on specific cases or regulations, check the SEC’s official website or court filings.