#SECGuidance

Ripple and SEC reach a definitive agreement: What’s next for XRP?

Ripple has concluded its long litigation with the SEC by withdrawing its cross-appeal, marking the definitive closure of the case after the Commission's decision not to appeal Judge Torres' ruling that determined XRP does not qualify as a security in secondary transactions. This move consolidates Ripple's partial victory and removes the last layer of regulatory uncertainty, allowing the company to fully resume its ODL operations and institutional sales without legal restrictions.

Ripple's legal director, Stuart Alderoty, confirmed the agreement between the parties, reinforcing the key precedent of the case: the nature of a token as a security depends on the context of its distribution and not on its intrinsic existence. This strengthens the argument that many digital assets operate as commodities outside of initial sales.

In market terms, although much of this outcome may be priced in after prior legal advances, legal certainty opens the door to greater institutional adoption. The focus now shifts to the actual utility of XRP: if Ripple manages to scale its use in cross-border payments and strategic alliances, it could catalyze sustained growth. However, its short-term performance still largely depends on the correlation with BTC and the macro market sentiment. The key question remains whether XRP can transcend its legal narrative and demonstrate value beyond speculative trading.