XRP Drops 0.757% Amid Strategic Growth and Regulatory Developments

XRP's latest price was $3.29, down 0.757% in the last 24 hours. This price movement comes amidst a backdrop of significant developments for the cryptocurrency, including strategic initiatives, regulatory discussions, and market sentiment shifts.

Trident Digital Tech Holdings Ltd, a Singapore-based company, has announced plans to secure stablecoin licenses in Africa, leveraging XRP reserves to enhance Ripple USD adoption by mid-2026. This initiative signifies strategic growth for Ripple in developing markets, promising increased blockchain integration in Africa and potential boosts in XRP's liquidity and adoption. Trident Digital is raising $500 million for an XRP treasury, with a focus on Ripple USD (RLUSD), to increase XRP Ledger (XRPL) activity, potentially impacting on-chain liquidity. The adoption of RLUSD may encourage financial transformation in African countries. Trident aims for phased rollouts by 2026, with discussions with regulatory authorities already underway. The company’s existing blockchain experiences, like the DRCPass system, showcase its capabilities. Trident’s strategy aligns with prior Ripple initiatives in developing regions, intending to bolster the Ripple network. Historically, such moves have varied in influence depending on market dynamics.

In the last 24 hours, open interest in XRP has surged by a remarkable 22%. This jump reflects a sudden increase in trader activity and capital flowing into XRP futures contracts. Open interest refers to the total number of outstanding derivative contracts, such as futures or options, that have not been settled. When open interest rises, it generally indicates heightened trader engagement and speculation. This recent growth suggests that investors are becoming more involved in XRP’s short-term price movements. Whether this is bullish or bearish remains to be seen, but one thing is clear—market participants are positioning themselves for significant moves. A spike in open interest doesn’t automatically predict the direction of the price. However, it does suggest potential volatility. When more traders enter the market with leveraged positions, even small price movements can result in liquidations, creating a domino effect of price action. This 22% jump could indicate that traders are anticipating an event or reacting to broader market sentiment. As always, high open interest coupled with rising prices could point to bullish momentum. But if the price drops while open interest rises, it might hint at aggressive short positioning. With XRP already under the spotlight due to regulatory developments and its fluctuating price action, this spike in open interest adds another layer of intrigue. Traders and analysts alike will be monitoring whether this surge translates into a breakout—or a sharp correction. For now, one thing is certain: XRP is back on the radar of derivatives traders, and the market is heating up.

A new filing has fueled fresh discussion over XRP’s classification after a community figure claimed the token was officially recognized as a commodity. The claim emerged from a U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) document describing XRP as a crypto asset commodity. However, the wording came from a derivatives application and not an official CFTC ruling. The document originated from a February 2025 application submitted by Crypto.com to the CFTC for an XRP Event Contract. In the filing, Crypto.com sought to certify its XRP derivative product under existing CFTC regulations. This process mirrored previous certifications for Bitcoin and Ethereum event contracts. The approved product launched on February 14 and allowed short-term speculation on XRP’s price over 20 minutes or two hours. While the filing labeled XRP a commodity for the contract, it did not set regulatory status. Some community members interpreted the description as formal recognition from the CFTC. However, the filing’s language simply matched that used for other asset-based contracts. The CFTC has not issued a public statement confirming XRP’s commodity status. The regulatory debate over XRP traces back to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) lawsuit against Ripple. The SEC initially claimed XRP was a security, but a federal judge ruled it was not in itself a security. The commission appealed parts of the ruling but did not challenge that specific finding. Neither the SEC nor the CFTC has given XRP a definitive classification. Some asset managers, such as Bitwise, have also referred to XRP as a commodity when filing for spot ETF products. However, these references serve product-specific purposes rather than setting legal definitions. The current SEC, led by Paul Atkins, has signaled a shift from previous leadership’s stance. Under Gary Gensler, the SEC considered only Bitcoin a non-security. Atkins has stated that most crypto assets should not be treated as securities. The Presidential Working Group on Digital Assets has proposed that the CFTC oversee cryptocurrencies classified as commodities. This recommendation could affect how XRP products are regulated in the future. Market participants are monitoring developments closely. Although the recent filing reignited discussions, it did not resolve XRP’s regulatory status. The classification question remains open until an agency issues a clear decision.

The long-running legal dispute between the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Ripple Labs has officially come to an end. In a joint filing to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, both parties consented to withdraw their appeals. This court case started in December 2020 with the complaint filed by the SEC against Ripple Labs. The SEC asserted that the sale of the Ripple digital token, XRP, was an unregistered securities offering. Ripple wholeheartedly disagreed on the basis that XRP is not a security but rather a digital asset. This case received a great deal of attention over the years, both within the legal circles and the crypto community. U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres made a partial ruling in July 2023. According to her conclusion, Ripple breached the securities laws by selling the XRP to institutional investors. Nonetheless, she also declared that the sales of XRP to retail buyers, via exchanges, did not. This ruling was perceived as a half-baked result. Although Ripple was penalized over its institutional sales, the decision brought relief to the general crypto market since it declared that sales of secondary-market XRP were not securities. Both the SEC and Ripple appealed after the ruling. The SEC aimed to dispute the decision that went in favor of retail sales by Ripple. In the meantime, Ripple made a cross-appeal in order to protect its arguments. However, in June 2025, the Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse stated that the company had decided to abandon its appeal. He said we should now turn the page and concentrate on creating the Internet of Value. Now, both appeals have been formally dropped. In a brief statement, the Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal and indicated that each party will pay its legal fees.

The legal dispute between Ripple Labs and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has officially concluded. The SEC announced the termination of its lawsuit against Ripple, which had accused the company of conducting unregistered securities offerings. This resolution requires Ripple to pay a $125 million fine, effectively bringing closure to a case initiated in December 2020. This development is widely viewed within the market as a significant positive outcome for Ripple, removing a prolonged period of legal uncertainty surrounding the company and the XRP digital asset.

Ripple has made a substantial strategic move in the payments sector by acquiring a stablecoin-focused company. Announced on Thursday, this acquisition aims to build a comprehensive stablecoin solution integrated with Ripple's existing payments infrastructure. Industry observers note this acquisition reinforces Ripple's commitment to enhancing its cross-border payment capabilities and expanding its service offerings within the broader blockchain payments ecosystem. The market reacted positively to the announcement.

XRP achieved a significant market milestone on July 18, reaching a new all-time high of $3.65, surpassing its previous peak from 2018. Following that peak, activity stabilized in a defined range. The resolution of the SEC lawsuit and the subsequent corporate acquisition announcement contributed to a period of renewed momentum for the asset. This combination of legal clarity and business expansion has generated considerable interest and positive sentiment among market participants.

The conclusion of the legal battle marks a definitive shift in Ripple's operating environment. Market participants and analysts have expressed increased confidence in XRP's potential trajectory following the removal of the legal overhang. While specific price targets vary among commentators, there appears to be a consensus view that the resolution allows the market to refocus on Ripple's underlying technology and strategic business developments without the previous legal constraints. This sentiment is underpinned by the company's active pursuit of growth through initiatives like its recent acquisition.