XRP News Today: Ripple XRP Gains Institutional Momentum Post-SEC Settlement

XRP, the native token of the XRP Ledger blockchain, continues to attract attention as it solidifies its role in cross-border financial services. Launched in 2012 by Ripple, XRP was designed to enable fast and low-cost international money transfers, primarily targeting financial institutions rather than individual users. Unlike many other cryptocurrencies, XRP was fully pre-mined at a total supply of 100 billion tokens, with approximately 58.4 billion currently in circulation. Ripple maintains control over the remaining supply through escrow accounts, releasing a portion each month or selling for business operations [1].

The XRP Ledger blockchain distinguishes itself by using a unique consensus mechanism that does not rely on Proof-of-Work or Proof-of-Stake. Instead, it employs a system of trusted validators and Unique Node Lists (UNLs), allowing the network to reach consensus in 3–5 seconds. This mechanism, while faster than many alternatives, also introduces a degree of centralization by requiring trust in designated validators [1].

A significant development in XRP’s history was the 2020 lawsuit filed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) against Ripple and its executives, alleging that XRP was an unregistered security. The case dragged on for several years until a 2023 court ruling partially exonerated Ripple, stating that XRP was not a security when sold to retail investors. The case was ultimately settled in 2025, with the SEC dropping its appeal and returning $50 million of the original $125 million fine. Ripple agreed to pay $75 million in total and drop its cross-appeal. The legal battle reportedly cost Ripple $150 million in legal fees [1].

Following the settlement, XRP has seen renewed interest, particularly as the U.S. moves toward a more crypto-friendly regulatory environment. In 2025, the CME announced plans to launch XRP futures contracts, and several major asset managers have filed applications for XRP spot ETFs [1]. These developments signal growing institutional acceptance and potential mainstream integration of XRP into traditional financial products.

XRP is widely available on most major cryptocurrency exchanges, including Binance, Coinbase, OKX, and Bybit. A variety of both hot and cold wallets support XRP, including Trust Wallet, Ledger, and Trezor [1]. The token serves multiple functions within the XRP Ledger ecosystem: it pays for transaction fees (which are burned rather than distributed), acts as the primary settlement asset on the decentralized exchange, and functions as a bridging asset to improve liquidity across different token pairs [1].

Despite its long history and institutional focus, XRP remains subject to price volatility, having previously seen a peak of $3.40 in 2018 and a low of $0.14 in later years. Additionally, the concentration of XRP supply in Ripple’s control, even if held in escrow, raises concerns about potential market manipulation [1].

XRP’s use cases have also expanded beyond cross-border payments. Ripple has introduced RLUSD, a stablecoin on the XRP Ledger, and the blockchain is now exploring use cases in DeFi, asset tokenization, gaming, and NFTs [1]. These developments indicate that XRP and its underlying infrastructure are evolving beyond their initial purpose, further cementing their relevance in the broader crypto ecosystem.

Source: [1] What Is XRP (Ripple)? A Beginner-Friendly Guide (https://www.coingecko.com/learn/what-is-xrp-ripple)