
Ripple anticipates the end of its SEC legal battle, signaling a shift in US crypto regulatory attitudes.
Ripple's $2 billion acquisition of Hidden Road highlights its expansion plans amidst evolving market conditions.
Ripple's proposal to pay SEC fines in XRP could potentially lead to XRP's inclusion in the US's digital asset reserves.
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse recently shared new details about the end of the companyโs long legal fight with the SEC, now that a new Chair has officially taken over the agency. Speaking to Fox Business, he discussed a shift in how the US government views cryptoโand pointed out one important area that still needs clearer regulation.
Garlinghouse talked about the resolution of Rippleโs case with the SEC and how it could shape the future of crypto rules in the country. He noted that the governmentโs attitude towards digital assets has started to change, creating new opportunities for the industry moving forward.
Rippleโs $2B Deal: A Sign of Changing Times
Another big topic in the interview was Rippleโs recent $2 billion acquisition of Hidden Roadโone of the largest deals in crypto history. Garlinghouse said such a move wouldnโt have made sense a year ago, when regulators were openly hostile to the crypto industry. Now, with things shifting, Ripple feels confident moving into a new phase after the long battle with the SEC.
Ripple had set aside $125 million for a potential fine from the SEC. But now that the situation has changed, the company is reclaiming most of that money, along with the interest it earned. The SEC has agreed to drop its appeal and remove the permanent injunction against Rippleโclearing the way for a full resolution.
Paying in XRP? A Bold Move with Big Implications
Although the legal fight is ending, Ripple still has to pay $50 million each to the SEC and the US government. Interestingly, the company is in talks to make those payments in XRP instead of U.S. dollars. This sparked a wave of speculation: could XRP now be added to the US Digital Assets Stockpile?
Will US Hold XRP In Its Digital Asset Stockpile?
Under a program launched during President Trumpโs current term, the US is building a national crypto reserve, which already holds $16 billion worth of assets like Bitcoin, Ether, USDT, and BNB. So far, thereโs no XRP in the mix. The government only accepts crypto from civil or criminal forfeituresโso if Ripple pays its fine in XRP, that could qualify the asset for inclusion.
At XRPโs current price of $2.03, the $50 million fine would equal about 24.63 million XRP tokens. However, this proposal still needs approval from the SECโs commissioners, who are expected to vote on it in a closed-door meeting. Whether the payment will be accepted in XRPโand how that might affect the wider crypto marketโis still uncertain.
If XRP ends up in the government’s crypto vault, itโll be a twist no one saw comingโleast of all the SEC.
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