19-3-2025 – Ripple’s protracted legal confrontation with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has reached its definitive conclusion, with the regulatory body declining to pursue further appeals.
Brad Garlinghouse, Chief Executive of Ripple, delivered a pointed critique of the SEC’s approach, characterising their legal strategy as a “war of legal terror” that inflicted substantial financial harm upon XRP investors, with losses reportedly reaching $15 billion. The executive’s forthright assessment laid bare the significant implications of what he termed the “opening salvo in the war on crypto.”
The resolution marks a pivotal development in the regulatory landscape, as deliberations suggest the SEC might now consider reclassifying XRP as a commodity, drawing parallels with their existing stance on Ethereum. This potential shift in regulatory perspective emerges amid settlement discussions between the parties.
The landmark ruling, which determined that XRP does not constitute a security, has established crucial precedent for the broader digital asset sector. Garlinghouse emphasised the significance of this determination, suggesting it provides a foundation for policymakers to develop coherent regulatory frameworks aligned with established securities legislation.
“Ripple stands as the first organisation possessing the requisite resources and resolve to challenge the agency’s regulatory overreach,” Garlinghouse declared, framing the outcome as a decisive victory against what he perceived as governmental opposition to an entire industry sector.
