XRP Price Steadies at $2.8 After SEC Settlement and ETF Hopes

XRP price is holding near $2.81 following the SEC’s August 8, 2025 settlement with Ripple, which imposed a $125 million penalty and confirmed that secondary-market XRP trading is not a security. This regulatory clarity removed a major overhang, encouraging institutions, OTC desks and market-makers. On the ETF front, the SEC is reviewing generic listing standards for crypto exchange-traded products—potentially enabling spot ETFs for XRP as early as late September 2025. Simplified approval rules could deepen liquidity and accelerate product launches. Adoption developments also bolster confidence: Korean custodian BDACS has launched institutional XRP custody, enhancing rails for cross-border payments. Technically, XRP is consolidating between $2.80 and $3.00, with support at $2.80–$2.82 and resistance at $3.00 and $3.10–$3.15. Key near-term drivers include SEC rulemaking updates, U.S. macro risk sentiment and exchange flow dynamics. Risks include ETF delays, cross-venue liquidity fragmentation and divergent global regulations. Traders should monitor regulatory headlines, funding rates, open interest and price action around critical levels.
Bullish
The news removes a major legal overhang with the SEC settlement and opens a clear path for potential XRP spot ETFs under generic listing standards. Institutional custody expansion and regulatory certainty typically drive flows back into digital assets. Similar catalysts—like the Ethereum ETF approval process—have historically led to price rallies. In the short term, positive rulemaking headlines and ETF filings could spark momentum, while long-term impacts include deeper liquidity, broader institutional adoption and sustained price support.