XRP vs SEC: Final Decision Nears in Protracted Court Battle

• Ripple-SEC resolution nearing completion.
• Negotiations affect Ripple’s future plans.
• SEC revises enforcement approach.

The years-long legal dispute between the SEC and Ripple Labs may be nearing a final resolution. According to FOX Business reporter Eleanor Terrett, the parties are finalizing the terms of the decision issued by the district court in August. The reporter, citing sources familiar with the proceedings, revealed the updates on Wednesday.

The SEC recently decided to drop several lawsuits against major crypto players, including Coinbase, Gemini, and Robinhood. Additionally, a settlement was reached with Consensys involving MetaMask, ending the securities enforcement case. In parallel, the SEC and Binance have opted to pause their ongoing litigation for two months, while the civil case against Justin Sun has also been temporarily suspended, with indications that both parties are seeking a settlement.

🚨SCOOP: Two well-placed sources tell me that the @SECGov vs. @Rippl to case is in the process of wrapping up and could be over soon.

My understanding is that the delay in reaching an agreement is due to Ripple's legal team negotiating more favorable terms regarding the August…

—Eleanor Terrett (@EleanorTerrett) March 12, 2025

However, Ripple’s status remains uncertain. Settlement talks have been delayed due to disputes over the terms of the August ruling, which imposed a $125 million fine on Ripple and an injunction restricting the sale of XRP to institutional investors. Ripple claims that given the SEC’s new stance, which appears to be revising its enforcement strategy, penalties based on past regulatory uncertainty should not be imposed.

James Murphy, a renowned cryptocurrency lawyer, shared his thoughts on the delay in resolving the case, suggesting that Ripple is trying to negotiate a more favorable settlement. “I believe the SEC would have accepted a settlement — where both sides dismiss their appeals and the SEC assumes the $125 million fine — in a heartbeat,” Murphy said. According to him, this indicates that Ripple is seeking better terms than what was initially expected.

This intense negotiation between Ripple and the SEC does not yet have a clear precedent, which prolongs the resolution process. The developments in this case are especially significant as they could impact Ripple’s future plans, including a possible public market debut.