Ripple-SEC Settlement Clears Way for BlackRock Spot XRP ETF
Ripple Labs and the US SEC have dropped their appeals, finalizing Judge Analisa Torres’s 2023 ruling and ending a nearly five-year legal battle. The settlement confirms XRP is not a security in retail trades and requires Ripple to pay $50 million. This regulatory clarity spurred XRP price to surge over 11% above $3.30. Polymarket odds for an XRP ETF briefly rose to 88% before settling around 76%. ETF expert Nate Geraci says the ruling paves the way for BlackRock to file an iShares XRP ETF application, following its spot Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) ETFs. Bloomberg analyst Eric Balchunas is less optimistic about an immediate filing. Meanwhile, Ripple announced a $200 million deal to acquire Rail, boosting its RLUSD stablecoin infrastructure and cross-border payment capabilities. As the third-largest cryptocurrency, XRP could see significant liquidity and price gains with an institutional spot ETF. Traders should watch for an iShares XRP ETF filing and related market shifts.
Bullish
The final dismissal of appeals removes a major regulatory overhang for XRP, boosting trader confidence. The legal clarity led to an immediate price surge and heightened ETF speculation. If BlackRock proceeds with a spot XRP ETF, institutional demand could further increase liquidity and drive prices higher. The Rail acquisition adds fundamental growth for XRP’s stablecoin ecosystem. In the short term, traders may anticipate volatility around ETF filings and Polymarket odds updates. Long term, an approved spot ETF and expanded infrastructure point to sustained bullish momentum for XRP.