Key Insights:
- In recent Ripple news, the escrow program is still in operation, giving the firm flexibility after 13 years in business.
- The long-standing Ripple vs SEC lawsuit is finally concluded
- Ripple acquired Hidden Road and Rail to build its stablecoin business.
The latest Ripple news features the blockchain-based payments firm’s 13th anniversary since its founding in 2012. While Ripple has achieved significant milestones since its inception, the past decade has been remarkable.
Ripple’s major milestones include its XRP escrow program, the launch of RLUSD, and the resolution of the SEC lawsuit. The company is also pursuing acquisitions and exploring IPO plans to expand its market presence.
Ripple News Highlights Escrow Strategy and Potential XRP Sales Shift
Ripple Labs introduced the XRP escrow system in 2017 to hold XRP, the native crypto of the XRP Ledger (XRPL). The firm releases one billion XRP monthly to ensure the coin’s supply remains predictable and prevents market flooding.
This system has given Ripple flexibility. The company could use unlocked tokens to support liquidity, operational expenses, fund partnerships, or grow the network.
Ripple news reports that the company typically returns 700 to 800 million unused XRP tokens to escrow each month. These tokens are placed in new contracts, extending the release timeline and helping regulate market supply.
This process ensures controlled distribution and mitigates concerns about excess XRP supply. There are several claims that Ripple might reduce its XRP sales in the future. This could ease pressure on the price of the coin.
Biggest Ripple News: SEC Drops XRP Lawsuit
The U.S Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a lawsuit against Ripple in December 2020. The agency accused Ripple of selling XRP as securities.
In July 2024, District Judge Analisa Torres ruled that XRP is not a security when traded on exchanges. However, the court found that XRP sales to institutions constituted unregistered securities offerings.
Consequently, the court fined Ripple $125 Million, a far less severe penalty than the $2 Billion sought by the SEC. After filing for appeals, the SEC eventually dropped the case in August. Ripple also countered this with a cross-appeal.
Ripple news confirms that both Ripple and the SEC filed with the Second Circuit to dismiss their appeals. This officially ends their four-year legal battle, clarifying XRP’s regulatory status. The ruling clarified XRP, boosting investors’ confidence and increasing prices.
The RLUSD Stablecoin Debut
Ripple news highlighted the launch of its stablecoin, RLUSD, set for December 17, 2024. This USD-backed asset aims to offer enterprise-grade stability and regulatory compliance across global exchanges.
RLUSD went live on the XRPL and Ethereum blockchains. This happened after Ripple received approval from the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS).
The Ripple USD (RLUSD) stablecoin is designed to facilitate secure, transparent, and compliant cross-border payments. U.S. dollar deposits and short-term U.S. government Treasuries fully back the stablecoin.
Upon launching, RLUSD quickly became available on major exchanges. This includes Bitso, CoinMENA, Uphold, Moonpay, B2C2, Keyrock, and Archetchers.
In August 2025, Ripple signed a memorandum of understanding with SBI Holdings of Japan to increase RLUSD adoption. The agreement covers RLUSD distribution through SBI VC Trade starting in the first quarter of 2026.
The Major Ripple Acquisitions
Another top Ripple news has made strategic acquisitions to expand its payments, custody, and blockchain infrastructure capabilities. After emerging victorious from the SEC lawsuit, Ripple acquired prime brokerage Hidden Road for $1.25 Billion.
Through the acquisition, the company has strengthened its growing stablecoin business. Ripple also aimed to position XRPL as a key option for institutionally oriented decentralized finance (DeFi).
Shortly after the Hidden Road deal, Ripple announced the acquisition of stablecoin payment platform Rail for $200 Million.
According to the announcement, this deal will see Ripple and Rail provide a comprehensive stablecoin payment solution for the market. Other investments include partnerships with firms like SBI Holdings and acquiring smaller fintech startups.
Future Ripple IPO Plans
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has previously expressed interest in an initial public offering (IPO). However, plans were kept on hold in 2022 due to the SEC lawsuit and a challenging regulatory environment.
With the SEC lawsuit now resolved, Ripple could revisit IPO plans. However, Garlinghouse indicated in a 2024 interview that an IPO is not a high priority for Ripple.
He said the company focused on RLUSD, XRP Ledger development, and global expansion. Nevertheless, considering Ripple’s size, an IPO remains a possibility for future capital raising.
Moses K is a crypto journalist covering markets, regulation, and blockchain trends. He has written for The Coin Republic, Coinchapter, Cryptopolitan, Cryptotale, Coinspeaker, and MPost. Known for his concise, data-driven reporting, Moses focuses on price analysis, on-chain metrics, and policy developments shaping the global digital asset landscape.
