XRP Surges 2.315% Amid Ripple Escrow Release and Legal Developments

XRP's latest price was $2.27, up 2.315% in the last 24 hours. The cryptocurrency has been in the spotlight due to several recent developments. Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer, David Schwartz, revealed that he purchased XRP at just $0.006, sparking immediate attention due to the unusually low price point. This disclosure suggests that Schwartz was involved with XRP long before most traders, entering the market during its initial trading stages well before mainstream interest. Schwartz has been involved in Ripple and the XRP Ledger since its inception, but unlike his counterparts, he did not receive a large share of XRP as compensation. Instead, he was given a salary and a 2 percent interest in the company. His strategy differed from that of Ripple co-founders in terms of ownership of a huge chunk of XRP. McCaleb sold off his XRP and subsequently started the Stellar project, while Larsen remains an executive at Ripple.

In the ongoing legal battle between Ripple and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Judge Analisa Torres has officially stepped out of the case. The next steps depend entirely on the SEC and Ripple. Despite public announcements, neither party has formally dismissed their appeal, leaving the case in legal limbo. The legal standoff remains in focus, as former SEC lawyer Marc Fagel has clarified key details about the case’s status. According to Fagel, Judge Torres has no further involvement in the matter, and her previous ruling against Ripple will go into effect once both parties formally dismiss their appeals. Fagel made his remarks publicly, addressing ongoing confusion within the XRP community. He stated that the district court’s ruling is already implemented and will automatically be declared upon dropping the appeals. He also said that Judge Torres does not have to add her signature to anything. Recently, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse declared that the company planned to withdraw its appeal. However, Fagel has observed that neither Ripple nor the SEC has filed any court notice of dismissal despite the government’s declaration. The legal result stands in abeyance until such a procedure is filed. Fagel affirmed that the process of appeal is yet to be officially concluded and that no absolute legal implication will be conferred until both parties file the requisite documents. He further added that this step is probable but has not yet taken place and that it may require some more time to be done so because of the internal review mechanism of the SEC. There was widespread speculation that a closed-door SEC meeting held on July 3 could be related to a settlement in the Ripple case. Regarding these allegations, Fagel clarified this by stating that such get-togethers are usually planned and not hinged on on-the-go legal payoffs. He pointed out that if a decision was already taken internally, it would still need weeks before any such filing could be noted in the court docket. He added that the cases seem to be heading to dismissal of their appeals, but there are yet to be any records of any official act being carried out presently. In his view, after listing the filings, the case comes back to where Judge Torres initially ruled against Ripple, and hence, her role ends at that junction. The XRP community has been on foot on any indication of a settlement or a fast-tracked decision; however, the revelations by Fagel indicate that it is mere procedural delay. The end result is linked to actual court proceedings and SEC internal procedures that might not be fast. As of July 6, 2025, the Ripple vs SEC lawsuit remains in a transitional stage. Judge Torres’ involvement is complete, but the legal resolution depends on the appeal dismissals being officially filed. While a settlement appears close, procedural steps still need to be followed before the case can be fully resolved.

As Ripple’s escrow program for XRP nears its end, the crypto community has been focused on this development. According to community analysis, the 36.4 billion XRP currently in escrow accounts could be fully released within the next six years. If Ripple continues to release 300 million XRP every month at its current rate, it will take 10 years for the entire supply to be depleted. However, if the monthly release amount is increased to 400 million XRP starting in 2026, this period could be reduced to 7.5 years, and if a more aggressive strategy is adopted by increasing the monthly release amount by 100 million XRP every year, it could be reduced to just 6 years. Additionally, predictions that Ripple may abandon its past strategy of “releasing a certain amount and then locking it up again” also indicate that it may accelerate this process. Signals of this change have already begun to be seen in the market. Ripple released a total of 1 billion XRP from its escrow account on the 1st and 4th of this month. 700 million XRP of this was re-locked, while the remaining 300 million XRP was allocated for on-demand liquidity (ODL) services, exchange-traded products (ETPs), and blockchain infrastructure projects. XRPwallets noted that Ripple adjusts the circulating supply according to market demand, “increasing the likelihood of adopting a more flexible strategy rather than a conditional fixed release and lock-up method.” This strategy change is of great importance not only in terms of distribution volume, but also in terms of liquidity and infrastructure expansion of the XRP ecosystem. How and how quickly Ripple distributes escrow volume, and whether it continues its re-locking strategy in this process, can play a decisive role in XRP price and market dynamics. Currently, a significant portion of the XRP supply is held in escrow accounts controlled by Ripple.

Mercado Bitcoin, a leading cryptocurrency exchange in Latin America, announced the tokenization of $200 million worth of real-world assets (RWAs) on the XRP Ledger (XRPL). The development, disclosed on Friday, marks a significant move in blockchain-based financial infrastructure. These tokenized instruments include both fixed-income and equity-based financial products. Ripple, the blockchain company behind the XRP ledger, announced the news. Ripple claims that such an initiative will deepen the technological base on the use and application of XRPL to host of institutional-grade financial assets. The move is part of a growing trend of tokenizing traditional instruments on decentralized networks. Ripple and the Boston Consulting Group jointly released a forecast estimating the total RWA tokenization market could reach $19 trillion by 2033. This projection excludes stablecoins and focuses solely on tokenized traditional assets. This announcement comes as global firms intensify their push for regulatory frameworks governing digital securities and tokenized equities. The United States remains a central focus in this discussion. Market participants are actively working toward integrating these instruments into compliant, regulated platforms. In a related development, Ondo Finance acquired tokenized asset platform Oasis Pro. The acquisition, announced Friday, aims to scale Ondo’s participation in the growing RWA market. Oasis Pro is known for being among the first U.S.-regulated trading systems supporting settlements in both fiat and stablecoins. On Tuesday, blockchain company Centrifuge disclosed plans to tokenize the S&P 500 index. The tokenization will represent the weighted performance of 500 major U.S.-listed firms. Meanwhile, asset manager BlackRock has also engaged in this sector. In January, CEO Larry Fink called on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to authorize tokenization of stocks and bonds. John Murillo, Chief Business Officer at B2BROKER, noted that tokenized equity assets currently exist in a regulatory gray area. He stated that these instruments often lack key protections, including voting rights and claims to company assets. Murillo also emphasized the need for investor diligence. He warned that some RWA tokens may involve smart contract risks or unclear legal obligations. Investors should examine each offering’s specific terms before participating in these markets. As Mercado Bitcoin’s XRPL tokenization initiative proceeds, attention remains on the broader legal and technological frameworks shaping RWA adoption across financial systems.

Significant progress continues in Ripple's legal resolution with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Both parties have signaled an intent to drop appeals related to earlier rulings, paving the way for a potential final settlement and closure of the long-running lawsuit. Concurrently, momentum builds for the potential introduction of U.S. Spot XRP ETFs, with market sentiment increasingly confident about approvals occurring within the year. Canadian experience serves as a notable precedent, where existing XRP-based ETFs have demonstrated substantial institutional demand. Final regulatory decisions from major asset managers remain pending. Corporate adoption of XRP as a treasury reserve asset shows tangible advancement. Entities like VivoPower have publicly allocated significant funds to hold XRP, marking a shift towards its institutional recognition. A specialized fund dedicated entirely to XRP further signals growing institutional confidence in the asset. Infrastructure development on the XRP Ledger focuses on enhancing capabilities for institutional use. Key upgrades include the introduction of the Multi-Purpose Token standard and other compliance-oriented features designed to facilitate complex financial operations, such as yield-bearing assets and large-scale settlements. The automated release schedule for XRP held in escrow by Ripple is nearing a critical milestone, with the countdown underway towards the full release of the remaining locked supply based on established contractual terms. Ecosystem innovation continues with new service launches. PFMCrypto has introduced cloud mining contracts offering daily rewards denominated in XRP, aiming to provide alternative avenues for obtaining the asset. Similarly, another platform has released a specialized short-term XRP mining solution targeting rapid utilization. Ripple itself explores deeper integration into the traditional financial system by pursuing a national bank charter. This strategic move aims to broaden its operational scope and regulatory foundation, potentially creating additional avenues for utilizing XRP within licensed financial services.