13 February 2026
Ripple has an ongoing legal battle with the US SEC that is making its way through the courts. Many in the XRP community believe that “judgment day” is near. XRP reached as high as $2 late last year, but has recently fallen back below that level. For most of 2024, the price has been stuck around $0,50, a level that many traders have seen as a barrier. Now, with new legal hurdles looming, believers and skeptics alike are eager to see what the future holds.
According to court records, on May 15, 2025, Judge Analisa Torres rejected a joint settlement offer. Ripple had hoped for a reduced $50 million fine and the lifting of a permanent suspension. However, the judge ruled that the motion filed cited the wrong procedural rule—Rule 62.1 instead of Rule 60. This means that Ripple and the SEC will have to refile their application under the correct rule. While this move doesn’t completely change the timeline, it will involve additional documentation and a delay of several months.
Posts on XRP forums and social media indicate that many holders believe that “price pressure” is keeping the token low. They point to its prolonged stay around $0,50 and believe that external forces have prevented higher gains. After XRP surged above $2 at the end of the year, talk of price pressure dissipated—until the price dropped back below $2. Now, as warnings are sounding that believers should brace themselves for disappointment, optimistic voices say that judgment day will reveal the truth and pave the way for a major rally.
XRP’s role in cross-border payments via RippleNet is often touted, with predictions that it could capture a share of a tokenization market that will exceed $2033 trillion by 18. But competitors are poised to get a piece of the action. SWIFT is introducing faster transaction paths, while platforms like Ethereum, Solana and Algorand are also focusing on tokenized assets. So far, actual XRP volume remains small relative to the total supply, and widespread adoption has yet to materialize.
Some market observers are suggesting price targets of $50, $100, or even $1,000 for XRP once the legal hurdles are lifted. To reach $100, the market cap would need to grow more than 40x from current levels. A price of $1,000 would require an even larger influx of new capital. Few market observers see this happening without a major institutional push or a breakthrough in cross-border payments acceptance.
Ripple and the SEC both say they want to end this dispute quickly. Still, appellate courts move at their own pace. Even the most optimistic projections point to a final decision in late 2025 or early 2026. When “judgment day” arrives, it could either confirm the bullish predictions or underscore how difficult it is for XRP to shrug off legal hurdles. Until then, traders will likely be paying closer attention to every court update than they are to the nut metrics. For now, then, it’s a waiting game—one that could shape XRP’s next big move.
What is the current status of the lawsuit between Ripple and the SEC?
The lawsuit is still in an ongoing phase, with Ripple and the SEC having to resubmit their settlement proposal under the appropriate procedural rule, which could lead to months of delays.
What do XRP holders believe about the price?
Many holders believe that external factors are keeping the price under control, and believe that once the legal issues are resolved, explosive price movements are possible.
What are the expectations for XRP's future?
There are high expectations that XRP can play a major role in tokenization and cross-border payments, but competitors and legal hurdles could hinder this growth.
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