Golden Finance reports that Ripple Labs has officially reached an agreement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to end a years-long legal dispute, pending approval from a judge. According to the settlement agreement submitted in New York on Thursday, both parties have agreed to a $50 million fine, significantly lower than the SEC's initial demand of $2 billion, and is also 'part of the $125 million fine ruled by Judge Analisa Torres of the Southern District last year.' The agreement confirms the 'principled settlement agreement' that Ripple announced in March. In 2023, Judge Torres ruled that Ripple violated securities laws when selling XRP to institutional investors but did not violate securities laws when listing XRP for retail purchase. This case began in 2020, initiated by then-SEC Chairman Jay Clayton. Both parties have agreed to withdraw their respective appeals. This settlement comes as the 'SEC fully withdraws a series of cryptocurrency investigations and lawsuits initiated during the tenure of former Chairman Gary Gensler.' Following Trump's inauguration and the appointment of 'crypto-friendly Paul Atkins as the new chairman,' the SEC's stance on cryptocurrency regulation has significantly shifted. Driven by this news, XRP rose by 9% on the day.

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