As the XRP lawsuit between Ripple Labs and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) inches closer to a ruling on remedies – the final ruling on district court level – the crypto community is abuzz with speculation about the potential repercussions for the XRP price. Notably, Rachelle Renee, a popular crypto pundit, has voiced a dissenting perspective via X, arguing that the forthcoming Ripple-SEC ruling will not significantly impact the price of XRP, contrary to the expectations of many investors.
How Will The XRP Price React?
Renee’s analysis starts with a sobering view on the nature of the legal resolution itself, which will penalize Ripple. “It is simply the details on how Ripple will be punished for the few minor indiscretions committed,” Renee explained.
She expressed skepticism about the potential for this legal closure to serve as a catalyst for a substantial price increase of XRP. According to Renee, the pivotal moment for a possible price surge was when regulatory clarity was initially provided by Judge Torres in July last year, a milestone that has already been passed without a long lasting effect. “The point at which clarity was decided would have been the time to see it move upward in a big way. It did not,” Renee stated.
She further elucidated that institutional investors, who might be considered a primary driver for such a surge, only required confirmation that it was legally permissible to buy, hold, and utilize XRP. This clearance has already been granted. Therefore, the details of how Ripple might be reprimanded for early sales of XRP are unlikely to sway their investment strategies: “Institutions only needed to hear it was legal now to buy, hold and use. That happened. They do not need to hear or if #ripple will be punished for a few early sales of XRP.”
Renee concluded, “I hate to be the one to say it. But I do not think the final Ripple/SEC/Torres event will do anything for the price of XRP. The institutions that might drive a significant price increase already know it’s legal to engage with XRP, and the specifics of Ripple’s punishment are unlikely to influence their decisions further.”
She further conceded that while a minor uptick in the XRP price could occur following the resolution, she firmly believes that “this will not be the moon shot” many are hoping for. Instead, Renee suggested that significant market movements for XRP would more likely result from new developments that demonstrate XRP’s utility and adoption by major global players, such as banks and financial institutions.
Contrasting with Renee’s tempered expectations, Bas van Gestel, another voice from the XRP community, presented a more bullish outlook. Van Gestel argued that the end of the Ripple-SEC case would catalyze a major surge in XRP’s price due to enhanced regulatory clarity attracting more investors, institutional adoption by major banks, and global partnerships that would broaden the currency’s use cases.
Responding to van Gestel’s optimism, Renee reiterated her point that much of what was anticipated to drive a price surge has already occurred, with regulatory clarity being established over a year ago. She posed critical questions about the timing of the institutional adoption and significant global announcements that van Gestel cited as catalysts, suggesting that while these developments are possible and could be impactful, they have yet to materialize in a way that affects the XRP price meaningfully.
“Since regulatory clarity was provided over a year ago, why have we not seen big announcements. I am a believer these announcements will come. But not as part of the final Torres case close,” Renee claims.
At press time, XRP traded at $0.5632.
Featured image created with DALL·E, chart from TradingView.com