Ripple Pushes to Pay $50M SEC Fine in XRP As Settlement Nears Final Stage

YEREVAN (CoinChapter.com) — Ripple may settle its long-running case with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) by paying a $50 million penalty in XRP. CEO Brad Garlinghouse disclosed this proposal during an April 11 interview on FOX Business. The settlement discussions follow Ripple and the SEC dropping their appeals earlier this year.

Garlinghouse said,

“The SEC is going to end up with $50 million and the US government gets $50 million and we talked about making that available in XRP.”

The idea to use the XRP token instead of cash is now part of the official negotiations.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse on SEC Settlement. Source: FOX Business

This update marks a turning point in the Ripple SEC case. The use of XRP payment could change how digital assets are treated in legal contexts.

Judge Initially Ordered $125M Ripple Penalty

In 2024, U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres ordered Ripple to pay a $125 million fine. The penalty was tied to Ripple’s unregistered XRP sales to institutional investors. Ripple placed the funds into an interest-bearing account, delaying further action while appeals continued.

Later, both Ripple and the SEC dropped their appeals. This move brought the case closer to resolution. A new joint court filing confirmed that the Ripple penalty has been reduced to $50 million. The parties reached a preliminary agreement and are now seeking final approval from SEC commissioners.

The filing reads:

“The parties have reached an agreement-in-principle, subject to Commission approval, to resolve the underlying case, the Commission’s appeal, and Ripple’s cross-appeal.”

Ripple’s plan to pay the penalty in XRP token still needs the SEC’s internal approval. The SEC crypto settlement will only proceed if commissioners vote in favor of the proposed terms. Once approved, the parties will ask the district court to issue a final ruling.

The official document added: “There is good cause for the parties’ joint request… The parties require additional time to obtain Commission approval… and if approved… to seek an indicative ruling from the district court.”

Until the SEC approves the Ripple XRP payment, the case remains open. However, both sides confirmed they are working to finalize the deal without returning to full litigation.

Ripple SEC Case Linked to Political and Market Events

The Ripple SEC case gained more attention after the November 2024 U.S. elections. XRP token value increased more than 300% since that time. Analysts linked the price surge to the return of Donald Trump, who has signaled a more open stance toward crypto.

At the same time, financial institutions filed several spot ETF applications tied to XRP. These applications reflect growing interest in digital assets under evolving regulations.

Garlinghouse posted on X,

“We’re moving past the SEC’s war on crypto and entering the next phase of the market – true institutional flows integrating with decentralized finance.”

Brad Garlinghouse Talks Ripple Strategy with Liz Claman. Source: X

The statement reflects Ripple’s focus on restoring institutional trust in XRP.

The SEC’s new Crypto Task Force, formed in January 2025, may influence the final decision on the Ripple SEC case. The unit was launched one day after Chair Gary Gensler stepped down. Mark Uyeda, now the acting chair, took office on January 20.

The Task Force is reviewing how securities laws apply to crypto firms. Ripple’s proposed XRP payment could serve as one of the first high-profile cases reviewed under this structure.

If the commissioners approve the deal, the Ripple penalty payment in XRP would be processed. That would bring closure to one of the most watched crypto lawsuits in U.S. history.