Legal pressure around the long-standing SEC lawsuit against Ripple Labs is heating up as a resolution appears imminent. Pro-$XRP lawyer Bill Morgan has publicly stated that the SEC is now “more likely than not” to dismiss its appeal before the August 15 joint status report deadline. This comes after Ripple dropped its cross-appeal and deposited the $125 million penalty into escrow.
The SEC’s delay in withdrawing its appeal is reportedly procedural. Legal insiders, including former SEC attorney Marc Fagel, have explained that an internal commissioner vote is required to approve the dismissal. This is expected to be addressed in the SEC’s closed-door meeting scheduled for August 7. Until the vote occurs and a formal notice is filed, the appeal technically remains active, but all signs point to an exit.
Ripple has already done its part. The company ended its appeal, settled its payment, and signaled it’s ready to move forward. Court filings and public statements from Ripple’s legal team confirm that only procedural clearance stands between the current pause and full closure. If the SEC follows through and drops its appeal, the funds in escrow will move to the U.S. Treasury, and the existing injunction will remain in place.
Meanwhile, the $XRP community is closely watching whale wallets and institutional flows. On-chain data shows renewed buying pressure from larger holders, likely anticipating that regulatory clarity will open doors for ETFs and broader U.S. adoption. The legal finish line doesn’t just resolve a case—it reshapes the future of $XRP in American markets.
If the SEC files its withdrawal before August 15, the lawsuit that has defined XRP’s regulatory struggle for nearly five years could finally come to an end. All eyes are on Washington.
