XRP News Today: Ripple Ends Five-Year Legal Battle With SEC, Pays $125 Million Fine

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has announced the conclusion of a significant legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In a recent post, Garlinghouse stated that Ripple is dropping its cross appeal, and the SEC is expected to withdraw its appeal as previously indicated. This marks the end of a nearly five-year legal dispute that has had a profound impact on digital asset regulation in the United States.

The legal standoff began in December 2020 when the SEC filed a lawsuit against Ripple, alleging that its XRP token was sold as an unregistered security. The case reached a pivotal moment in July 2023 when Judge Analisa Torres ruled that while Ripple’s institutional XRP sales violated securities laws, programmatic sales on public exchanges did not. This ruling provided a partial victory for Ripple and set a crucial precedent for the crypto industry.

Despite the ruling, both parties filed appeals. Ripple challenged the $125 million civil penalty and permanent injunction against institutional sales, while the SEC initially sought to revisit the programmatic sales ruling. However, in March 2025, the SEC informed the court that it would not pursue its appeal. Ripple continued to contest the fine and injunction, proposing a $50 million settlement and requesting the court to lift the restrictions. On June 26, 2025, Judge Torres denied Ripple’s motion, stating that final judgments could not be vacated without compelling justification. The following day, Garlinghouse confirmed that Ripple would drop its cross appeal, with the SEC expected to withdraw its appeal, effectively ending the litigation.

By accepting the original judgment, both sides have reached a legal resolution. Ripple will pay the full $125 million fine and remain subject to the injunction restricting institutional XRP sales within the U.S. However, the 2023 ruling that XRP is not a security when traded on public platforms stands unchallenged, providing legal clarity for retail markets. This outcome not only resolves the legal dispute but also allows Ripple to focus on growth, product expansion, and market adoption without the distraction of courtroom battles.

Garlinghouse emphasized that Ripple’s attention is now directed towards its core mission: building the Internet of Value. This vision involves creating a blockchain-based payment infrastructure that enables real-time, low-cost, cross-border money transfers, with XRP serving as a liquidity bridge asset. With regulatory clarity on XRP’s retail status and the legal battle behind it, Ripple is better positioned to attract partners, scale its enterprise services, and drive innovation in the global payments ecosystem.

The Ripple vs. SEC saga may be coming to a close, but its impact will continue to resonate across the crypto industry for years to come. The resolution of this case sets a precedent for how digital assets are regulated and provides a clearer path for companies operating in this space. As Ripple moves forward, it will be crucial to watch how the company leverages this newfound clarity to advance its mission and shape the future of digital payments.