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- Rizwan Ansari
Rizwan Ansari
- Jan 19, 2026 10:20 UTC
-
FactCheck: Is the SEC vs. Ripple Case Officially Closed?
After more than five years of legal battle, the SEC vs Ripple case officially ended on August 7, 2025. Even so, a new talk started again on X, with many questioning whether the case is truly closed or could return in the future
To clear the confusion, Coinpedia stepped in to fact-check to see if the claim is true or not.
Who Made This Claim?
The claim started spreading on X, mainly through XRP-focused accounts and several crypto media outlets. It was based on a confirmation of Ripple’s $125 million civil penalty and the fact that the SEC did not file any further appeals. Together, these developments led many to say the case was “officially closed.”
But is this claim true? Let’s break it down.
Coinpedia’s Key Findings: What’s Actually True?
- Ripple vs SEC Lawsuit Is Officially Over
The long-running Ripple vs SEC lawsuit has officially ended from a legal and procedural standpoint. According to Coinpedia’s review, the appeal was formally terminated on August 7, 2025, bringing the case to a close.
Ripple has to pay a $125 million penalty related only to its institutional XRP sales, after the court rejected attempts to reduce the fine.
- SEC Case Cannot Be Reopened
Legal expert Bill Morgan explained that confusion around the case comes from the doctrine of res judicata, which prevents a case from being reopened once a final judgment is reached. Since there are no pending appeals, the SEC cannot bring the same claims against Ripple again.
- XRP Itself Is Not a Security
Morgan also noted that the SEC’s approach played a key role in this outcome. By separating institutional sales, programmatic sales, and other XRP distributions, the court was forced to examine XRP itself, not just Ripple’s conduct. Because of this, the SEC cannot relitigate whether XRP is a security.
Summary Table: Coinpedia’s Evidence Against the Theory
| Claim Made by Theory | Coinpedia’s Counter-Evidence |
| SEC vs Ripple case fully closed | Yes – The lawsuit itself is closed |
| Ripple pays $125M fine | True – the court kept the full penalty as it is. |
| XRP is a security | No, the SEC can’t, due to the Doctrine of res judicata, meaning the judgment has already been made. |
| Can the SEC again challenge XRP’s status | No, the SEC can’t, due to the Doctrine of res judicata, meaning the judgment has already done. |
Conclusion
| Claim | Is the SEC vs. Ripple case officially closed? |
| Verdict | ✅True |
| Fact-Check by Coinpedia | As per Coinpedia research and a review, the SEC vs Ripple lawsuit has officially ended, with no further appeals pending. As clarified by Bill Morgan, the SEC cannot reopen or relitigate the same issues, including whether XRP itself is a security. |
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