The market dynamics shifted dramatically with XRP surging 400% amid changing political landscape, signaling renewed investor confidence in Ripple’s position.
District court’s ruling created precedent by distinguishing between XRP’s status as a non-security and Ripple’s institutional sales classification.
The recent appeal filing and deadline extension to April 2025 suggest continued legal complexities, with Ripple facing reduced $125M fine.
Why did the SEC decide to from its website? The decision raises more questions than answers. After years of a groundbreaking legal battle that reshaped the crypto industry, this sudden move has sparked widespread speculation.
While some view it as a cause for celebration, others are analyzing the potential legal and regulatory implications that could redefine the future of digital assets like .
By removing the Ripple Lawsuit reference, the SEC has introduced a new layer of uncertainty to the markets. Is this a strategic retreat or merely an administrative update? Either way, the impact on Ripple and the wider crypto landscape may be far greater than it seems.
Ripple lawsuit timeline and SEC’s sudden move explained
The Ripple Lawsuit began in December 2020, when the SEC accused Ripple of raising over $1.3 billion through XRP sales, alleging the token was an unregistered security. Ripple countered that XRP is a digital currency, not subject to securities laws. In other words, this legal battle quickly became a pivotal case for U.S. crypto regulation, fueling debates about how digital assets should be classified.
Market sentiment shifted in November with the new Trump’s administration, sparking optimism. XRP surged over 400% by then, and many hoped the lawsuit would be dropped under fresh leadership.
In spite of Ripple’s partial victory in late 2024, the case continues. The SEC recently filed an appeal to overturn key aspects of the ruling in Ripple’s favor.
Amid this ongoing battle, social media users noticed that the SEC quietly removed the Ripple Lawsuit reference from its “Litigation Releases” section, while other cases, like those involving Coinbase, remained visible there. Nonetheless, the Ripple case is still accessible on the SEC’s website under different categories, such as “.”
Ripple Lawsuit – What PACER shows despite SEC’s website
Although the Ripple Lawsuit (“Litigation Releases”), it remains active on PACER, the federal court records system. This discrepancy suggests that the removal of the case from the SEC’s site does not signify its resolution or dismissal.
In fact, on January 23, 2025, Ripple’s legal team requested an extension until April 16 to respond to the SEC’s appeal, now advancing to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. This follows the SEC’s January 15 filing, which challenges parts of the earlier district court ruling.
The district court previously determined that XRP itself is not a security, but that Ripple’s direct institutional sales constituted securities transactions. Secondary market sales, however, were not classified as securities, a distinction the SEC now aims to overturn.
Moreover, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse criticized the appeal as yet another attempt by the SEC to achieve a different outcome. Next, Ripple’s Chief Legal Officer, Stuart Alderoty, dismissed the SEC’s arguments as a “failed repetition.”
The truth is the $125 million fine imposed on Ripple remains, from the initial $1 billion, and many industry experts believe the lawsuit is nearing its conclusion and will eventually become null and void.
