Ripple’s Hail Mary: Crypto Giant Demands SEC Showdown’s Final Bell

After years of legal trench warfare, Ripple Labs throws down the gauntlet—demanding a federal judge permanently dismiss the SEC’s ’regulation by lawsuit’ crusade against XRP.

Subheading: The $1.3 Billion Question

With closing briefs now filed, Ripple’s legal team argues the SEC failed to prove institutional investors suffered actual harm—while quietly reminding Wall Street that Goldman Sachs paid 10x this settlement for much worse behavior in 2008.

Subheading: Crypto’s Contagious Legal Clarity

A decisive ruling could finally establish which digital assets qualify as securities—or cement the SEC’s reputation as the overzealous hall monitor of fintech innovation.

Closing thought: Either way, lawyers on both sides just booked their 2026 vacation homes.

Ripple Sends Update As SEC Lawsuit Nears Endgame

Recently, Ripple released a Q1 2025 Markets Report detailing its historic win against the US SEC while providing key updates on the remaining phases of the legal case. 

The four-year legal battle between Ripple and the SEC appears to be drawing to a close after the regulator announced its intention to withdraw its appeal against the crypto firm. Ripple, in turn, dropped its cross-appeal, which triggered a reduction in the proposed penalty from $125 million to $50 million. 

Notably, the SEC has officially requested the court to vacate the long-standing injunction against Ripple, pending final approval by its Commission. This retreat from further litigation is being perceived as a rare compromise in a space typically known for its rigid legal framework.

Moreover, the SEC’s decision to withdraw its request for an injunction signals meaningful progress toward a potential settlement. It also serves as a strong indicator that one of the crypto world’s most contested and high-profile legal battles may soon reach a resolution. 

Ripple’s latest update on its legal battle against the SEC not only reinforces its consistent stance that the facts and law were in its favour, but it also reflects a possible recalibration of how the regulator approaches enforcement in the crypto sector. 

In a post earlier this year, Brad Garlinghouse, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ripple, stated on X (formerly Twitter) that the US SEC’s lawsuit and enforcement against the crypto firm was an overreach, which ended up harming rather than protecting investors. With the drawn-out court battle nearing a possible conclusion, Ripple’s official acknowledgement that the SEC is actively seeking an injunction removal indicates that both parties may finally be ready to MOVE on from this dispute. 

SEC Legal Defeat Opens Path For Growth

The US SEC’s move to de-escalate its legal case against Ripple is not an isolated incident. Ripple’s Q1 Markets Report outlines that the regulatory agency has also either dropped or resolved multiple enforcement actions involving other major crypto firms, including Coinbase, Kraken, Robinhood, Uniswap Labs, and others. 

Taken together, this marks a historic milestone for the broader crypto industry in terms of regulatory development. These actions by the SEC also suggest a more constructive regulatory approach may be taking place in the US, one that prioritizes legal clarity over prolonged court battles.

For Ripple, the end of this legal dispute coincides with a period of corporate growth. The company has reported new institutional partnerships and notable market growth, launched its Stablecoin, RLUSD, and executed a strategic acquisition aimed at solidifying its long-term position in the financial technology sector.