In their SEC lawsuit, Ripple Labs made great progress. Securities and Exchange Commission settlement demand dropped from $2 billion to $102.6 million.
Ripple must choose between accepting the settlement and staying unsure about XRP’s legal status or risking a judicial battle.
Initial SEC $2 billion penalty startled crypto community. Ripple replied with $10 million, citing SEC settlements of 0.6% to 1.8% of the defendant’s revenue.
Ripple also mentioned Terraform Labs’ $4.4 billion settlement, which included fund disgorgement and a suspension to operations. The SEC rejected this analogy, citing Terraform’s bankruptcy and shutdown and Ripple’s ongoing operations and lack of comparable terms.
The SEC claims the $102.6 million settlement is required to avoid crypto industry misbehavior. They said Ripple’s actions and reluctance to accept relief warrant the penalty.
Accepting the settlement could give financial relief and show regulator cooperation, but XRP’s security status would remain unclear, deterring institutional investors and harming its market performance.
Rejecting the deal could result in a costly and uncertain legal battle. Ripple faces a high risk if a judge imposes a higher penalty than the SEC. This might harm Ripple and the bitcoin industry.
The SEC’s decreased settlement offer may signal a willingness to talk, reversing their strong attitude. The eventual settlement, whether $102 million or negotiated, could influence future SEC crypto actions. This lawsuit will affect how other crypto firms offer security and interact with regulators.
