Ripple vs. SEC Nears Final Bell — $125M Paid, Appeal Dropped, XRP Awaits Liftoff!
- Samantha
- Jul 22
- 2 min read
The crypto world braces for a historic close to the most-watched legal battle in blockchain history as Ripple drops its appeal and pays up—while XRP eyes explosive upside.
Ripple Drops Its Appeal — Legal War Almost Over
After more than four years of high-stakes legal battles, Ripple Labs has officially taken a major step toward closing the chapter on its long-running conflict with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). On June 27, 2025, Ripple announced it would withdraw its cross-appeal related to Judge Analisa Torres's previous rulings.
This moves signals Ripple’s intent to avoid prolonged legal delays and shift focus back to growth, partnerships, and mainstream adoption. The decision follows a key partial victory back in 2023, when the court ruled that secondary market sales of XRP were not securities—a major win for Ripple and the entire crypto industry.
Ripple Pays $125 Million — Settlement Confirmed
To finalize the dispute, Ripple has paid the full $125 million fine demanded by the SEC. This amount was paid in cash, not in XRP tokens. Of this, $50 million will be retained by the SEC, while the remaining $75 million is expected to be refunded to Ripple after the formal dismissal is approved.
This massive penalty now places Ripple in a rare category of crypto firms that have faced off against the SEC and not only survived—but arguably won.
SEC Delay Frustrates XRP Community
Even though Ripple has fulfilled its part of the deal, the SEC has not yet formally withdrawn its own appeal, leaving the case technically open. According to former SEC officials, this is due to internal bureaucracy, including memos, internal reviews, and commissioner votes that can take 4 to 8 weeks.
Many in the XRP community are expressing frustration at the slow pace, especially given Ripple’s full cooperation and payment. Still, insiders believe this is part of the SEC’s standard process and that a final motion to dismiss will likely be filed before the end of August.
XRP Eyes Major Breakout
With the legal drama nearly over, the crypto spotlight has turned to XRP’s explosive market potential. In July alone, XRP has gained over 56%, driven by optimism over potential XRP Spot ETF filings, increased institutional interest, and recent U.S. crypto-friendly legislation like the GENIUS Act and Clarity Act.
Financial analysts now project that XRP is positioned to be one of the first altcoins approved for a U.S. ETF, once the SEC formally ends the case. Such a move could unlock billions in institutional investment and send XRP into new all-time highs.
Final Verdict: Ripple Wins the Long Game
With Ripple officially dropping its appeal and fulfilling all settlement terms, the company stands tall as one of the few crypto entities to challenge the SEC and come out stronger. The legal clarity gained from this case has massive implications for the entire crypto space.
