Ripple x SEC nears end as both sides drop appeals
Ripple x SEC nears end
The high-profile legal battle between Ripple Labs and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is approaching a final resolution after both parties agreed to withdraw their remaining appeals, effectively ending a case that has spanned over four years.
Ripple’s Chief Legal Officer, Stuart Alderoty, confirmed the decision in a statement on X (formerly Twitter), noting that the company will pay $50 million of the initially proposed $125 million penalty. The reduced fine was already placed in escrow, and the remaining balance will be returned to Ripple, according to Crypto News.
The SEC, for its part, has requested the removal of the standard injunction that would have required Ripple to “obey the law,” a move that underscores the de-escalation of hostilities under the agency’s new leadership.
A new chapter at the SEC
This settlement follows significant leadership changes at the SEC. After the departure of former Chair Gary Gensler, the agency has adopted a more collaborative approach toward digital assets. Under interim Chair Mark Uyeda, the SEC has dropped several high-profile cases against major crypto firms, including Coinbase and Kraken.
The policy shift signals a departure from the aggressive enforcement strategy that defined Gensler’s tenure. Commissioner Hester Peirce, now leading the agency’s Crypto Task Force, has spearheaded a series of roundtable discussions aimed at building a more constructive regulatory framework.
Final court approval and a formal vote by the Commission remain pending. Once completed, the resolution will close one of the most closely watched crypto enforcement cases since the industry’s rise to prominence in the late 2010s.
Paul Atkins, expected to take over as SEC Chair in the coming weeks, may cement the agency’s more innovation-friendly posture.
Legal experts predict the Ripple vs. SEC litigation could conclude by mid-2025. Ripple attorney Jeremy Hogan suggests a settlement or dismissal is likely by April or May 2025.
