XRP Could Be Part of Ripple’s SEC Settlement in Final Phase of Talks
After years of courtroom tension between Ripple and U.S. regulators, a resolution now seems within reach — and the final settlement could include a surprising twist: paying the penalty in XRP, the very token at the center of the dispute.
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse recently revealed in an interview that using XRP to cover part of the financial penalty was discussed during the latest settlement talks. The fine, initially set at $125 million for the company’s past sales of XRP to institutional players, has now been scaled back to $50 million. The reduced amount follows both Ripple and the SEC abandoning their appeals, signaling the long-running conflict is winding down.
Behind the scenes, both sides have reportedly agreed on the broad terms of a deal. Now, they’re waiting for internal approval from the SEC commissioners before moving forward with a formal request to the district court. If the commission votes in favor, the case that’s kept the crypto industry on edge for years could finally be over.
A recent court filing described the current status as an “agreement-in-principle” and emphasized the need for additional time to finalize procedural steps. The document also acknowledged that Ripple and the SEC are aligned on closing not only the core case but also the appeals that had stalled the conclusion.
But what truly sets this moment apart is the possibility that Ripple may settle the remaining amount using XRP — a move that would mark a significant shift in how regulators view digital assets in enforcement actions. It could even set a precedent for future cases involving crypto firms.
Meanwhile, the broader market is reacting. Since the 2024 U.S. presidential election, XRP has seen a resurgence, with its price tripling in value. Market analysts credit a more crypto-friendly political climate and rising speculation that XRP may eventually be reclassified as a commodity — not a security — which would place it in a completely different regulatory category.
Institutional interest in XRP has also spiked, reflected in a growing number of ETF proposals connected to the token. If the settlement is finalized and XRP is accepted as part of the payment, it could fuel even greater confidence in the asset — and signal a turning point in how U.S. authorities engage with the crypto world.
Alex is Editor-in-Chief of Coindoo and co-founder of Millennial Media Group, with nearly a decade of experience covering financial markets - crypto first, then everything else. It started in 2016 with Bitcoin. Like most people at the time, he didn't fully understand it - so he kept digging. Blockchain, tokenomics, the projects, the cycles. That curiosity never stopped, and eventually pulled him into traditional markets too: equities, commodities, macro. Not because he left crypto behind, but because you can't properly understand one without the other. What drives him is straightforward: he wants to know why something is happening, not just that it's happening. Most market coverage stops at the headline - price up, price down, here's a chart. Alex finds that kind of reporting actively unhelpful. If you walk away from an article without understanding the mechanism behind the move, what did you actually learn? He holds a degree in Tourism from New Bulgarian University - not the most obvious path into financial markets, but markets have a way of pulling in people who are simply too curious to stay out. He has authored over 200 in-depth analyses and more than 10,000 articles across crypto and traditional finance. He still thinks every day in markets teaches him something new. That's probably why he hasn't stopped.
