Ripple vs. SEC: Legal Battle Nears Conclusion Amid Last-Minute Negotiations

The high-stakes legal battle between Ripple Labs and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) appears to be nearing its final chapter, according to a report from Fox Business, which cited "two well-placed sources." The case, which began in December 2020 when the SEC accused Ripple of illegally raising $1.3 billion through unregistered XRP sales, may soon reach a resolution—though not without late-stage legal maneuvering.

Sources indicate that Ripple’s legal team is pushing to renegotiate aspects of a pivotal 2023 ruling by U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres. Her decision imposed a $125 million fine on Ripple for institutional XRP sales, while rejecting the SEC’s demand for a nearly $2 billion penalty. The ruling, widely viewed as a partial victory for Ripple, clarified that programmatic sales of XRP to retail traders via exchanges did not constitute securities transactions.

However, with the SEC under new leadership and stepping back from aggressive enforcement against crypto firms—including dropped cases against Coinbase, Kraken, and Cumberland DRW—Ripple may see an opportunity to secure even more favorable terms. The shifting regulatory landscape has weakened the SEC’s position, leading some to question whether the agency will continue to push hard against Ripple.

Following the latest developments, XRP saw a 3% price increase.