Altcoins

Ripple Finally Slayed the SEC Dragon: Is XRP Price About to Deliver an Altcoin Bull Run?

The Ripple-SEC case, which dragged on for four years, is over. As a result, XRP is rallying, adding 8% in 24 hours. Is this the beginning of an altcoin rally?

By Dalmas Ngetich

Last Updated: Mar 20, 2025

Fact checked

By Akriti Seth

Disclaimer Icon
Disclaimer
Crypto is a high-risk asset class. This article is provided for informational purposes and does not constitute investment advice. You could lose all of your capital. 99Bitcoins may receive advertising commissions for visits to a suggested operator through our affiliate links, at no added cost to you. All our recommendations follow a thorough review process.
Disclaimer Icon
Disclaimer
Crypto is a high-risk asset class. This article is provided for informational purposes and does not constitute investment advice. You could lose all of your capital. 99Bitcoins may receive advertising commissions for visits to a suggested operator through our affiliate links, at no added cost to you. All our recommendations follow a thorough review process.

After nearly four years of battle, the U.S. SEC ended its legal fight with Ripple, sparking a significant XRP rally. According to Coingecko, XRP is up nearly 7% in the past 24 hours, pushing weekly gains above 15%.

EXPLORE: Best New Cryptocurrencies to Invest in 2025

SEC Drops Case Against Ripple

The rally was anticipated. By dismissing the case and not appealing, the SEC has lifted a massive burden from XRP and Ripple, which had been contending with the strict regulator.

In its December 2020 lawsuit, the U.S. SEC alleged that Ripple, the for-profit company using XRP in some solutions, illegally raised $1.3 billion via an ICO by selling unregistered securities in XRP. Ripple denied these claims and has battled the determined regulator for four years.

With the case concluded, it marks a pivotal moment not only for Ripple but also for the broader crypto market. Had the SEC won, it would have set a precedent for classifying digital assets—especially those launched by U.S. founders—as securities.

Under the Biden administration, the SEC sought to regulate cryptos as securities rather than commodities. This approach would subject most tokens, including some of the best cryptos to buy, to stricter financial regulations, akin to stocks and ETFs.

The SEC even failed to clarify whether Ethereum was a commodity or an unregistered security, despite approving a spot Ethereum ETF in July 2024. With no clarity, ETH has been struggling for momentum, underperforming some of the hottest crypto presales to buy in 2025.

However, under the new Trump administration, regulatory policies are shifting rapidly. Alongside David Sacks, the new crypto and AI czar, the U.S. aims to create a favorable environment that encourages crypto development. Sacks has been buying Bitcoin since 2012 saying it would be the “preferred form of currency over time.”

Following through on his campaign pledges, Trump has adopted a pro-crypto stance. Over the past three months, since Gary Gensler’s resignation, the SEC has withdrawn lawsuits against several crypto firms and exchanges, including Robinhood and Coinbase.

Explore: 20+ Next Crypto to Explode in 2025

Time to Build? Will XRP Break $3.4?

The withdrawal of the case against Ripple is another win for the industry, signaling a trend where crypto firms find relief and can now focus on growth rather than funneling money to lawyers.

In a post on X, Brad Garlinghouse, Ripple’s CEO, expressed relief, stating, “The case has ended—it’s over.”

Bitnomial, a crypto exchange, is launching the first-ever CFTC-regulated XRP futures in the U.S. This physically settled product begins trading today, March 20.

Multiple spot ETF applications are also awaiting approval. Punters on Polymarket give an 83% chance that the first spot XRP ETF will go live in H2 2025.

On the daily chart, XRP remains in an uptrend. However, prices are stuck in consolidation, moving sideways after hitting $3.4 in January 2025.

The coin has found strong support at $2, and as long as traders and institutions accumulate, buyers might gain the strength to push higher—potentially to new all-time highs.

According to Santiment, the number of whales holding at least 1 million XRP—controlling over $114 billion worth of the coin—has risen 6.5% in two months. Meanwhile, XRP appears to be decoupling from the “altcoin pack.”

Accompanying this uptick is a surge in on-chain activity: new wallet interactions on the XRP Ledger jumped 600% in March compared to previous months, pointing to growing interest.

Ripple-SEC Case is Over, Will XRP Spark An Altcoin Rally?

  • SEC Case Dropped: Lawsuit alleging Ripple’s $1.3 billion XRP ICO as unregistered securities ends 
  • Pro-Crypto Shift: Trump’s administration and new crypto czar David Sacks ease regulations, withdrawing SEC suits against firms like Coinbase 
  • XRP Momentum: Whales up 6.5%, on-chain activity surges 600%, with XRP eyeing $3.4 and ETF hopes for H2 2025 

Why you can trust 99Bitcoins

10+ Years

Established in 2013, 99Bitcoin’s team members have been crypto experts since Bitcoin’s Early days.

90hr+

Weekly Research

100k+

Monthly readers

50+

Expert contributors

2000+

Crypto Projects Reviewed

Google News Icon
Follow 99Bitcoins on your Google News Feed
Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now!
Subscribe now
Dalmas Ngetich
Dalmas Ngetich
Crypto Journalist

Dalmas is an experienced journalist with over a decade in crypto, technology, and blockchain. His work and that of his partners have been featured in top news outlets, including Forbes, investing.com, and Entrepreneur, among others. He is passionate about crypto... Read More

Free Bitcoin Crash Course

  • Enjoyed by over 100,000 students.
  • One email a day, 7 days in a row.
  • Short and educational, guaranteed!
Back to top