The long-running legal battle between Ripple and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has finally come to an end. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse announced that the SEC will not pursue an appeal against the company, marking a major victory for Ripple and the broader cryptocurrency industry.
SEC Ends Its Case Against Ripple
After four years of legal disputes, the SEC has decided to drop its enforcement actions against Ripple. Garlinghouse shared the news on March 19 via a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating:
This is it – the moment we’ve been waiting for. The SEC will drop its appeal – a resounding victory for Ripple, for crypto, every way you look at it.
— Brad Garlinghouse (@bgarlinghouse) March 19, 2025
The future is bright. Let's build. pic.twitter.com/7WsD0C92Cm
The announcement was made during the Digital Asset Summit in New York, where Garlinghouse confirmed that Ripple is closing a major chapter in crypto history. The SEC initially sued Ripple in December 2020, alleging that the company had conducted a $1.3-billion unregistered securities offering through its XRP token.
What This Means for Ripple and Crypto Regulation
With the SEC officially stepping back from its case, Ripple has secured a crucial victory that could shape future regulatory decisions in the crypto space. Garlinghouse expressed his gratitude to Ripple employees, legal teams, customers, and the XRP community for standing by the company throughout the legal battle. He also praised the new SEC leadership for taking a more constructive approach to cryptocurrency regulation.
The crypto market responded swiftly to the announcement, with XRP's price surging 9% in the first hour following the news. According to Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView, XRP is now the third-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, at $146 billion. The SEC’s decision has also sparked optimism across the broader crypto market, with multiple tokens posting minor gains.
Garlinghouse highlighted that Ripple’s legal victory sends an “ominous sign” about how innovation in the U.S. crypto industry was hindered by SEC enforcement under Gary Gensler’s leadership. He called for the U.S. to take a more crypto-friendly stance, stating:
“It’s time to make the United States the crypto capital of the world.”
This case sets a precedent for how regulatory bodies approach crypto firms in the future. With growing institutional interest and clearer legal frameworks, the decision could lead to more mainstream adoption of digital assets.
The SEC’s decision to drop its appeal against Ripple marks a turning point for the crypto industry. It not only strengthens Ripple’s position but also raises hopes for fairer and more transparent crypto regulations in the U.S. As XRP’s price climbs and market sentiment improves, all eyes are now on what comes next for Ripple and the broader blockchain ecosystem.
HODL Team
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