**Ripple and SEC Dismiss Appeals, Ending Five-Year Legal Battle Over XRP**
The long-running legal dispute between Ripple Labs and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has officially come to a close. Both parties filed a joint motion to dismiss their respective appeals, formally ending the case after nearly five years of litigation. This landmark ruling confirms that sales of XRP on cryptocurrency exchanges do not constitute securities transactions, bringing much-needed clarity to digital asset regulation.
**Joint Filing Brings Legal Dispute to an End**
Ripple Labs, along with its executives Brad Garlinghouse and Chris Larsen, and the SEC submitted a “Joint Stipulation of Dismissal” to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. This joint filing ensures that all pending appeals are dropped, closing the legal chapter that has significantly influenced the cryptocurrency industry since 2020. Both Ripple and the SEC agreed to bear their own legal fees and costs related to the case.
The lawsuit initially stemmed from the SEC’s accusations that Ripple conducted an unregistered securities offering by selling XRP, Ripple’s native digital asset. This legal uncertainty had a notable impact on XRP’s market price and Ripple’s business operations in recent years.
**Key Legal Findings Clarify XRP’s Status**
The case’s resolution provides important legal clarity regarding XRP. The court ruling upholds the determination that programmatic sales of XRP on exchanges do not qualify as securities transactions under U.S. law. This is a crucial distinction that supports the argument that XRP’s sales through these channels fall outside the SEC’s regulatory jurisdiction.
Throughout the litigation, Ripple’s executives maintained that their actions were transparent and lawful, asserting that XRP should not be classified as a security. With the dismissal of appeals, Ripple now moves forward free from the burden of ongoing legal uncertainty.
**Ripple Shifts Focus to Growth and Innovation**
Freed from legal constraints, Ripple is turning its attention to expanding its operations and enhancing its blockchain technology. The company recently raised $500 million in a funding round that boosted its valuation to $40 billion. Major investors in this round included Fortress Investment Group, Citadel Securities, Pantera Capital, and Galaxy Digital.
Beyond funding, Ripple has been forging strong partnerships with key financial institutions. Notably, it has teamed up with Mastercard, Gemini, and WebBank to pilot a credit card settlement system. This initiative leverages Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin on the XRP Ledger with the goal of improving settlement efficiency, lowering costs, and enhancing cross-border payments.
**Looking Ahead: XRP’s Future and Ripple’s New Chapter**
With the legal dispute behind it, Ripple is well-positioned to focus on its core mission: innovating payment systems and expanding blockchain solutions. The dismissal offers Ripple an opportunity to rebuild its reputation and strengthen investor confidence, which was previously impacted by the lawsuit’s uncertainty.
For XRP holders, this legal closure signals a fresh start. The token’s future now depends on broader adoption and ongoing development of Ripple’s blockchain projects. Ripple’s commitment to advancing its technology and increasing its influence in the global financial ecosystem could unlock promising avenues for growth and innovation in the years ahead.
https://coincentral.com/ripple-and-sec-end-legal-battle-after-joint-motion-to-dismiss-appeals/