Ripple and SEC End Lawsuit After Nearly Five Years

The SEC filed legal action against Ripple Labs and executives on December 22, 2020, with both sides dismissing appeals in August 2025, concluding nearly five years of litigation.

The resolution clarified XRP’s status, impacting the broader crypto market and influential legal precedents around digital asset offerings.

The lawsuit, filed in December 2020, questioned the classification of XRP tokens under U.S. securities laws. Ripple, including executives Bradley Garlinghouse and Christian Larsen, faced allegations of raising over $1.3 billion through unregistered securities offerings. The case centered around whether institutional XRP sales qualified as investment contracts under U.S. laws.

The conclusion of the lawsuit provides clarity to the cryptocurrency industry. XRP will be considered a security in institutional contexts while not in secondary market retail transactions, influencing how exchange-traded tokens are approached legally. The financial implications for Ripple included paying a $50 million civil penalty and accepting a permanent injunction on institutional XRP sales in the U.S. The decisions create a precedent for future regulatory actions in the crypto space.

“We allege that Ripple, Larsen, and Garlinghouse failed to register their ongoing offer and sale of billions of XRP to retail investors, which deprived potential purchasers of adequate disclosures about XRP and Ripple’s business and other important long-standing protections that are fundamental to our robust public market system.” — Stephanie Avakian, Director, Division of Enforcement, SEC

The SEC’s withdrawal from appeals alongside Ripple reflects a momentous turning point, offering critical insights into the treatment of digital assets. This decision influences regulatory approaches toward defining securities within the blockchain industry. Future outcomes may see greater regulatory scrutiny on institutional fundraising models, with emphasis on providing comprehensive disclosures. The market’s reaction might inspire new technological adaptations within the crypto sphere, potentially shaping industry standards.