After 5 Years Battling the SEC, Has XRP Come Full Circle?

After Ripple’s five-year legal battle with the U.S. SEC, XRP is taking a major step forward, including joining a regulated spot ETF in the United States, recent developments mark a significant turning point for both Ripple and the digital asset XRP.

5 Years Battling the SEC Ends

Last month, Ripple confirmed that it has withdrawn its cross-appeal in the SEC case. The legal dispute, which began in 2020, centered on whether XRP was offered as an unregistered security. The recent withdrawal confirms the end to one of the most high-profile crypto cases in the United States.

Related: SEC v Ripple: How This Settlement Process Is Going

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse shared the news on social media that the company is now focusing on what’s most important, which includes building the Internet of Value.

In his remark on the most recent ruling from Judge Torres, Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty emphasized that XRP’s legal status remains unchanged. Notably, XRP secured regulatory clarity from the court back in 2023, and the SEC did not challenge the ruling.

XRP Gains Entry into a Regulated Spot ETF

While legal proceedings slow, XRP is advancing on another front. On July 1, the SEC approved Grayscale’s application to convert its Digital Large Cap Fund (GDLC) into a spot ETF. The fund holds Bitcoin (80.4%), Ethereum (11.15%), XRP (4.8%), Solana, and Cardano.

The GDLC ETF is now listed on NYSE Arca and manages approximately $755 million in assets. This is the first time XRP has been directly included in a regulated spot ETF, marking a major milestone for the asset and its broader acceptance in institutional finance.

Price Movement Shows Limited Reaction

Despite positive legal and institutional developments, XRP’s market response remains restrained. The token briefly spiked to $2.30 following Ripple’s appeal withdrawal but quickly retracted to trade near $2.22.

Technical indicators show XRP trading within a multi-month symmetrical triangle. Key resistance remains between $2.30 and $2.35, a zone that has triggered repeated rejections. XRP needs to break above the $2.26–$2.28 resistance zone to push toward $2.34 or $2.40. A close below $2.20 may lead to declines toward $2.06 or lower.

What Comes Next for XRP?

While Ripple’s lawsuit with the SEC is winding down, XRP’s future may lie more with market structure and institutional adoption than legal outcomes. The SEC is currently reviewing roughly 10 XRP spot ETF applications from major firms like Grayscale and Franklin Templeton.

Related: Ripple’s Legal Exit Sends XRP Flying, But Will It Hold the Gains?

Given XRP’s presence in the newly approved GDLC ETF, analysts believe a standalone XRP ETF approval is a matter of time. The SEC deadline for approval is in the last quarter of October 2025.