Ripple and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission have agreed to call it quits on one of the most closely watched legal battles in crypto. Both sides are dropping their appeals, bringing an end to nearly five years of courtroom drama over the status of XRP. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse confirmed the decision publicly, saying the company is finally ready to move on.
This decision comes after a series of rulings, negotiations, and attempted settlements that kept the industry guessing for years. While some questions remain unresolved, both Ripple and the SEC seem to have decided that continuing the fight was no longer worth it.
How It All Started
The SEC first sued Ripple back in December 2020, claiming that the company raised more than $1.3 billion by selling XRP as an unregistered security. Ripple argued that XRP should be regarded as a currency.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!! @Ripple is dropping its cross appeal, and the SEC is expected to drop their appeal! Congratulations #XRP holders! 🥳🎉 pic.twitter.com/jGcij0Fa1A — JackTheRippler ©️ (@RippleXrpie) June 27, 2025
In 2023, Judge Analisa Torres ruled that XRP traded on public exchanges did not violate securities laws. However, she also found Ripple’s institutional sales of XRP did violate them. This ruling set the stage for a complicated appeals process.
Why They’re Walking Away Now
Earlier this month, Ripple and the SEC attempted to reach a final resolution. Ripple proposed a lower penalty but the judge maintained her prior ruling.
Ultimately, both parties have agreed that enough is enough. By dropping the appeals, they preserve the current court findings and avert the risk of a higher court overturning any part of the ruling.
What It Means for the Crypto Market
The conclusion of this legal struggle removes a significant uncertainty for XRP and, more broadly, for crypto regulation in the U.S. This allows Ripple to concentrate on expanding its payments business without the persistent distraction of legal matters.
What Comes Next
Ripple still faces some fines for past institutional sales, but the appeals are concluded. The focus will now shift to how the company regains traction in the market and the reactions from regulators. The discussions on crypto regulation are far from over.
