What comes after the conclusion of Ripple's case with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
The long-standing case between Ripple Labs and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) officially ended in August 2025, after both parties agreed to drop the remaining appeals. The case, which began in 2020, concerned the sale of XRP and whether it was considered unregistered securities. It ended with a $125 million fine on Ripple, a much lower amount than the SEC requested (which wanted $2 billion). This resolution is seen as a partial victory for Ripple, as the court previously confirmed that the sale of XRP on public platforms is not securities, removing the regulatory ambiguity that had burdened the company for years. 0 1 3
After this resolution, Ripple can focus on expanding its business without worrying about ongoing lawsuits. It is expected that:
• Strengthening partnerships and innovation: Ripple will continue to build its cross-border payment system using XRP, focusing on areas such as Asia where it already has strong partnerships. It may also reveal more banking agreements (over 1,700 potential agreements), enhancing confidence in the network. 13 15
• Launch of new products: such as RLUSD (a dollar-backed stablecoin), and expansion into DeFi (decentralized finance) on the XRPL network, where total value locked rose from $16 million to over $80 million in recent months. 26
• Impact on the industry: Some experts, such as SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce (known as 'Crypto Mom'), say that closing the case allows the SEC to focus on building a clearer regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies, which could encourage innovation. 18
How will this affect the price of XRP?
The announcement of the case's conclusion led to an immediate increase in the price of XRP by up to 11%, peaking at $3.37 before slightly retreating to around $3.22-3.27. Institutional trading saw a 208% increase, with volume reaching $12.4 billion, indicating an influx of institutional capital after the removal of regulatory ambiguity. 9 10 17
• Short-term positive impact: The resolution removes the 'regulatory cloud' that has depressed the price for years, which may lead to XRP returning to major platforms like Coinbase or Binance US more broadly, and increased adoption. Some analyses predict breaking above $3.12 as a key for sustained upward movement, with a potential target of $4 based on whale activity reaching $1.9 billion. 13 27 34
• Long-term forecasts: By the end of 2025, analysts like Grok and Gemini predict a rise to $5.80-6.80 (an increase of 50-70% from the current price), supported by growth in XRPL and an overall improvement in the market (such as Bitcoin rising above $120,000). However, XRP may face volatility due to external factors such as macroeconomic conditions or potential price manipulation, as some users have pointed out on X. 7 16 21
• Cautions: Despite the positives, some analysts warn of caution, as XRP has risen 47% this year but is still below its all-time high (which was $3.84 in 2018). Factors such as whale selling or delays in regulation could lead to a temporary decline. 11 14
Will cryptocurrency regulation be approved in the United States soon?
Yes, actual regulation began in 2025, and this year is considered a major turning point. In July 2025, the U.S. Congress passed the first major national legislation for cryptocurrencies, the 'GENIUS Act', which regulates stablecoins (like USDT or USDC) with requirements such as a 1:1 reserve and regular audits. Three other laws were also passed forming a federal framework, including amending the Securities Act of 1933 to provide clarity for digital assets. 36 37 41 44
• Key developments: The SEC and the CFTC (Commodity Futures Trading Commission) launched initiatives to reshape regulations, including a framework for distributing digital assets and addressing CBDCs (central bank digital currencies) in some legislations. This is seen as a win for the industry, as it encourages institutional investment and reduces uncertainty. 38 39 46 51
• Impact: This could lead to market growth, but some experts warn that regulation may limit decentralization or lead to volatility, especially with elections or political changes. 40 42 45
Overall, 2025 seems to be a year of regulatory clarity and growth for Ripple and XRP, but the market remains volatile, so caution is advised in investing.
