XRP Surges 1.32% as Ripple's SEC Settlement Boosts Institutional Interest

XRP's latest price was $2.31, up 1.32% in the last 24 hours. The cryptocurrency has recently gained significant traction due to several key developments in the legal and institutional spheres. The settlement between Ripple and the SEC has provided much-needed legal clarity, which has sparked renewed interest from institutional investors. This settlement, which involved a $50 million payment, has significantly reduced regulatory uncertainties and paved the way for greater institutional engagement. Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple, has been at the forefront of these efforts, focusing on institutional growth and legal clarity, which are crucial for future financial engagements.

Following the settlement, institutional capital, including investments from Grayscale, has flowed back into XRP. This influx of capital suggests increased confidence in the crypto space, as regulatory challenges have softened. The settlement has wider market implications, improving regulatory sentiment and paving the way for greater institutional engagement. Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple, has stated that the settlement with the SEC represents a fresh chapter for both Ripple and XRP, highlighting the potential for continued growth and regulatory clarity.

Technical analysts have also noted strong bullish trends for XRP. EGRAG CRYPTO, a technical analyst, has outlined a bullish setup for XRP using the Super Guppy Indicator on the weekly chart. This indicator recently showed a twist in its moving averages, often a sign of an upcoming trend reversal. EGRAG believes that XRP’s current positioning appears stronger than when the token was priced at $0.55. The breach of the “Final Wake Up Line,” a key resistance zone, supports the case for upward movement. This level has historically marked the beginning of major rallies. Below, the “Floor of Iron” continues to act as a strong support base. EGRAG believes these technical signals suggest a potential “GODS Candle” formation, an explosive move seen in XRP’s past rallies. With support confirmed at $0.2877 and price targets reaching up to $1.1245, the analyst noted that few in the XRP community are recognizing the importance of this moment.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse will testify before a pivotal US Senate hearing that could redefine oversight, innovation, and investor protection across digital markets. This will be Garlinghouse’s first formal testimony before the Senate Banking Committee. Garlinghouse confirmed in a post on X that he has been invited to testify before the U.S. Senate Banking Committee on Wednesday, July 9, during a full committee hearing titled “From Wall Street to Web3: Building Tomorrow’s Digital Asset Markets.” Garlinghouse expressed gratitude to Senators Tim Scott, Ruben Gallego, and Cynthia Lummis, the leaders of the newly created subcommittee on digital assets. He has called for passing “constructive” crypto market structure legislation, contending that it is crucial for ushering in “a new era of innovation.” He will be attending the hearing alongside other industry executives, including Summer Mersinger, the CEO of the Blockchain Association, Chainalysis CEO Jonathan Levin, and Paradigm’s Dan Robinson. The hearing will focus on the proposed digital asset market structure legislation, including bills like the Senate’s Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act and the House’s market structure bill, the Clarity Act. These two bills are currently in advanced legislative stages after having cleared key committee and floor votes — marking a major crypto industry win. Both bills are part of a wider push to enact sweeping rules to govern how digital assets are issued, traded, and regulated, and ensure that the United States becomes the “undisputed Bitcoin superpower.”

Ripple’s associated crypto asset XRP has risen sharply to become the most traded on Upbit, South Korea’s largest digital asset exchange. This comes at a time when the broader crypto market is slowing down and significant assets are seeing minor losses. Despite this downturn, XRP has gained substantial traction among South Korean investors. The 24-hour trading volume for XRP rose by 72% according to CoinMarketCap data. While most cryptocurrencies have lost value, XRP went against the trend, climbing about 2%. This shows strong interest and confidence from South Korean traders. Historically, Korean investors have consistently preferred XRP over other cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin (BTC). Apart from Upbit, other major crypto platforms in South Korea, including Bithumb, Korbit, and Coinone, are also reporting high XRP volumes. This consistent interest highlights a long-term trend among Korean investors who see XRP as a trusted digital asset. According to data from CoinGecko, the XRP to South Korean won trading pair now accounts for approximately 22% of Upbit’s total daily volume. This represents approximately $1.22 billion out of the exchange’s total daily trading value of $4.53 billion.

This renewed investor confidence comes at an important time. Ripple’s CEO, Brad Garlinghouse, who recently tattooed the XRP logo on his arm, is set to speak before the United States Senate Banking Committee. He will address key issues related to cryptocurrency market laws and regulations. This marks a significant step in securing more support for digital currencies from U.S. lawmakers. Garlinghouse’s appearance before U.S. lawmakers shows that Ripple is being taken more seriously in the world of traditional finance. Ripple is also working on expanding its role in the global financial system. The firm has applied for a U.S. national banking license. If approved, it could partner more closely with banks, showing its push into traditional finance and boosting XRP’s real-world use.

Market watchers suggest that XRP may be poised for a significant move. A well-known crypto analyst has spotted an “inverse head and shoulders” pattern on the XRP chart. This pattern typically indicates that prices may rise soon. If the move happens, XRP could jump as high as $2.6. Market trackers also believe a breakout may come soon. This could bring more interest from traders and big investors. With growing volume on South Korean exchanges and increasing global recognition, XRP appears poised to attract even more attention from traders and investors worldwide.

In a groundbreaking development for digital asset integration, Aplus, a credit card service under the Shinsei Bank Group, has teamed up with SBI VC Trade to allow customers to redeem reward points for cryptocurrencies, including XRP. This marks the first time cryptocurrencies have been included in the Aplus Points program, signaling a new chapter for mainstream crypto adoption in Japan. Aplus cardholders can now convert their accumulated points into major digital assets: XRP, Bitcoin (BTC), and Ethereum (ETH). Until now, Aplus Points could only be exchanged for traditional rewards such as consumer goods, digital vouchers, cash equivalents, and mileage programs. For example, customers could transfer 1,000 points into All Nippon Airways (ANA) miles. The system is simple: users earn 1 Aplus Point for every ¥200 spent, and those who spend over ¥50,000 in a month receive a 0.5% bonus. Points are valid for two years from the month they are earned, giving customers a generous window for redemption. With this latest update, customers can now redeem 2,100 points for ¥2,000 worth of XRP, BTC, or ETH, providing an easy on-ramp for cardholders looking to enter the world of crypto through everyday spending.

This development is made possible through a partnership with SBI VC Trade, the digital asset exchange arm of SBI Holdings, one of Japan’s largest financial groups. The move underscores SBI’s ongoing commitment to expanding the utility of cryptocurrencies in Japan’s traditional financial systems. SBI’s relationship with Ripple has been particularly strong. When SBI VC Trade launched in 2018, XRP was the only available trading option on the platform. Since then, SBI has expanded its XRP-related offerings, including the introduction of XRP lending services earlier this year. Additionally, SBI Holdings has embraced blockchain-based innovations, launching non-fungible token (NFT) projects on the XRP Ledger (XRPL), further demonstrating its investment in Ripple’s ecosystem and its broader belief in Web3 infrastructure. XRP’s inclusion in this cutting-edge reward program is yet another sign of its strong position in the Japanese market. Unlike in other regions where regulatory uncertainty has clouded the token’s future, Japan has maintained a clear, supportive stance, enabling XRP to flourish in both retail and institutional spaces. The fact that XRP is part of this initiative is no surprise. With deep-rooted ties to SBI Holdings and a solid foundation in Japan’s crypto landscape, XRP remains one of the country’s most widely accepted and trusted digital assets.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse is set to testify before the U.S. Senate on July 9, 2025, amid growing scrutiny of cryptocurrency regulations. This testimony comes in response to recent shifts by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in its approach to digital assets, highlighting a broader reconsideration of how authorities oversee the sector and potentially influencing future policy directions for blockchain innovations like XRP.

Speculation has arisen around the possibility of SWIFT incorporating XRP as a liquidity layer for its global payment networks. Such an adoption could leverage Ripple's underlying technology to streamline cross-border settlements, marking a significant step toward enhancing operational efficiency and reducing friction in international financial flows, though no formal announcements have been made yet.

DRML Miner announced the launch of new cloud mining contracts specifically designed for XRP, effective from July 8, 2025. These contracts simplify the mining process by allowing users to participate remotely, without the need for specialized hardware, thereby broadening access to XRP's network and supporting broader engagement in cryptocurrency mining activities.