XRP faces ongoing uncertainty as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) remains silent about its appeal plans in the Ripple lawsuit. Earlier this year, XRP surged to a high of $3.39 amid speculation that the SEC might withdraw its appeal against a court decision favorable to Ripple.
However, since reaching that peak, XRP’s price has fallen below $2 multiple times. Broader economic issues, such as President Trump’s tariff policies and developments involving Crypto Strategic Reserve Assets, have further weighed on XRP. Yet, the SEC’s continued silence remains a major factor impacting token’s value negatively.
Crypto lawyer Bill Morgan expressed concerns about the ongoing uncertainty. He suggested that as time passes without clarity on whether the SEC will settle or continue its appeal against Ripple, this uncertainty could increasingly put downward pressure on XRP’s price.
How the OIG Investigation May Impact the Ripple Case
The SEC has also not commented on findings from an Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigation regarding potential conflicts of interest within the agency. This inquiry centers around claims of bias against Ripple in favor of Ethereum (ETH).
Former SEC official William Hinman, who publicly declared Bitcoin and Ethereum non-securities in 2018, is at the center of this controversy. Hinman allegedly received significant payments from Simpson Thacher, a firm linked to promoting Ethereum. Despite warnings from the SEC Ethics Division, Hinman reportedly continued interactions with Simpson Thacher, further complicating the Ripple case.
Should the OIG investigation reveal conflicts, the SEC might reconsider its appeal in the Ripple lawsuit. Empower Oversight and former Fox Business journalist Eleanor Terrett have requested the release of the OIG report through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
XRP Price Outlook and ETF Prospects
On March 19, XRP price rose slightly by 0.35%, reaching $2.28.
Uncertainty over the SEC’s next moves continues to restrain XRP’s price potential. If the SEC decides to withdraw its appeal, this could provide a major support for token, potentially pushing prices above $3.55. Conversely, prolonged uncertainty might push prices below $1.50.
Approval of an XRP-spot Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) would likely boost institutional investment in XRP, similar to Bitcoin’s spot ETF, which saw substantial inflows and price increases this year.
XRP Attracted $1.8 million in institutional inflows Last Week
Despite overall market pressure, Ripple’s native token has shown resilience. Weiss Crypto talked about XRP’s strong performance, noting $1.8 million in institutional inflows last week despite heavy outflows from Bitcoin and Ethereum.
