Ripple and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are finally talking about settling their long-running legal battle, and today, April 16, could be a major turning point.
In a joint statement filed on April 10, both Ripple and the SEC agreed to pause their appeals and begin settlement talks. They said this would save time and resources. Because of this, Ripple no longer has to respond to the SEC’s previous legal filing that was due today.
Ripple has also shared more details in the statement, showing that they are serious about reaching an agreement.
The move comes just after Paul Atkins, known for being more crypto-friendly, became the new SEC Chair on April 9. Many believe his appointment could lead to big changes , including possibly ending the case altogether.
Crypto expert John Squire says this isn’t just routine legal action—it’s a sign that something major might be happening behind the scenes. He pointed out unusual crypto market activity and big wallet movements as clues that institutions may already be preparing for a settlement.
If a deal is announced today, it could finally remove the legal cloud over XRP. That might even open the door to an XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF), with several companies like Bitwise, Grayscale, and now ProShares already showing interest.
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse had earlier said the lawsuit might end soon , and today’s court case could prove him right. Lawyer Fred Rispoli also thinks there’s a high chance of a settlement or full withdrawal of the case, and only a small chance of more legal filings.
As of now, XRP is trading at $2.10, around 2% down in the last 24 hours. A settlement could push prices higher, while delays might bring them down. Either way, April 16 is shaping up to be one of the most important days in Ripple’s history.
