- Ripple’s $50 million settlement with the SEC could mark the end of a four-year legal battle, clearing the path for renewed investor confidence.
- With plans to dominate the stablecoin market, XRP’s price could soon surge toward the $3 mark.
Ripple Labs may be poised for a major comeback — and possibly a $3 XRP price explosion — following a dramatic turning point in its long-running legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The two sides have agreed to a $50 million settlement that, if approved by a New York federal court, would dissolve the 2024 injunction and potentially close the chapter on a case that’s clouded Ripple’s future since 2020.
The deal comes as Ripple sets its sights on an even bigger role in the crypto-financial ecosystem, eyeing dominance in the rapidly expanding stablecoin market. With its strong cross-border payment infrastructure and institutional partnerships, Ripple could be positioning itself as the next Goliath in the stablecoin arena — potentially threatening the likes of USDT and USDC.
Also read: Ethereum Price Surges Past $2,000 After Pectra Upgrade — Bullish Trend or Short-Term Relief Rally
Initially facing a $2 billion fine under former SEC Chair Gary Gensler, Ripple now finds itself on significantly firmer ground. Judge Analisa Torres, who ruled that Ripple’s XRP sales to retail investors didn’t violate securities laws, previously imposed a $125 million penalty. Under the new agreement, Ripple will pay only $50 million, while the remaining $75 million will be returned.
But not everyone is on board. Outgoing SEC Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw lambasted the settlement, calling it a “tremendous disservice to the investing public.” She warned that it could undercut both investor protections and the court’s authority, claiming the SEC’s shifting legal stance “undermines the credibility of the agency.”
Crenshaw’s criticism underscores the political shifts at the SEC. Since Donald Trump’s return to office, the agency has been retreating from its aggressive stance on crypto enforcement, aligning with Trump’s pledge to make the U.S. a global crypto hub.
For XRP, the implications are seismic. With regulatory uncertainty potentially behind it, and Ripple’s pivot toward stablecoins on the horizon, market confidence is likely to surge. A $3 XRP price target — once a distant dream — could soon be within reach.
