On April 16, 2025, Ripple’s long legal battle with the SEC took a temporary pause, which sparked excitement about the potential for an XRP-spot Exchange Traded Fund (ETF).
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit chose to temporarily suspend the appeal in the SEC vs. Ripple case, essentially stopping the immediate deadline for Ripple to submit its response regarding the sale of XRP tokens. This move put the focus on Judge Analisa Torres, who will make the final ruling in the case.
This step was important since the lawsuit between Ripple and the SEC has been one of the subjects of focus in the crypto space, particularly regarding the destiny of XRP, Ripple’s native cryptocurrency.
The XRP community’s expectations were raised in March 2025 when Stuart Alderoty, Ripple’s Chief Legal Officer, hinted that the matter would soon be decided.
The SEC agreed to withdraw its appeal, according to reports, with Ripple committing to withdraw its counter-appeal. Under a proposed settlement, the SEC would retain $50 million out of the $125 million penalty levied against Ripple and would lift restrictions on institutional sales of XRP, making it easier for larger investors to adopt the token.
Legal experts are optimistic that further court filings will seek to reduce the fine even further and remove the injunction, which would likely lead to an increase in institutional demand for XRP.
Some legal professionals, such as Bill Morgan and Fred Rispoli, believe that these actions could clear the way for an XRP-spot Exchange Traded Fund (ETF), which has been eagerly anticipated in the crypto community.
Several companies, including major industry players like Bitwise, Grayscale, and Franklin Templeton, have already filed applications for an XRP-spot ETF. If approved, it might significantly raise the price of XRP and make it more accessible to both institutional and individual investors.
Despite the positive legal updates, the price of XRP rose modestly by 0.21% to $2.09, while the broader cryptocurrency market recorded a slight gain of 0.31%.
