Ripple’s journey has been nothing short of a rollercoaster, filled with legal battles and regulatory uncertainty. With the recent shift in the U.S. presidency to Donald Trump, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse sees a pivotal opportunity to push for a regulatory overhaul that could finally resolve the ongoing standoff between Ripple and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). 

This latest turn of events has sparked a wave of excitement and anticipation across the crypto space, as many believe that a favorable regulatory environment could bring XRP’s full market potential.

Hints of a possible settlement have already begun to stir the crypto community. Some users on social media have speculated that a settlement has already been reached but that Ripple has not paid the agreed amount until the case and any appeal are concluded. 

Former SEC lawyer Marc Fagel, however, clarified that there was never a formal settlement. Instead, the court ordered Ripple to pay a penalty, which Ripple has already placed into escrow, awaiting the resolution of the appeal process.

He wrote on X, “No, there was never any settlement. The court ordered Ripple to pay a penalty, and Ripple has paid that money into escrow awaiting resolution of the appeal.”

Market Leaders Call For Clearer Regulations

Garlinghouse has called for urgent action from the new administration, outlining a roadmap he believes Trump should prioritize within his first 100 days. Chief among his recommendations is the removal of SEC Chair Gary Gensler, whose tenure has been marked by aggressive enforcement actions that many in the crypto community argue have stifled innovation in the U.S. Garlinghouse and other crypto leaders argue that the U.S. is losing its competitive edge in the global digital asset race due to regulatory overreach.