XRP, the native token of Ripple, has experienced a significant surge in price after a US district court ruled that it is not a security. The token has reclaimed its position as the fourth largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, surpassing Binance Coin (BNB).
Despite the turmoil in the broader cryptocurrency market, with Bitcoin threatening to lose the crucial $30,000 mark and many altcoins starting the day in a sea of red, XRP has remained unaffected.
Ripple, which deals with international money transfers, has a market capitalization of $37.8 billion, making it the fifth largest cryptocurrency in circulation.
On a weekly basis, XRP has shown strong performance. According to crypto market tracker Coingecko, XRP was trading at $0.817, representing an increase of nearly 10% in the last 24 hours. However, over the weekly timeframe, the token has surged by almost 68%.
While Bitcoin and Ethereum, the two largest cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, are currently trading below their psychologically significant price levels of $30,000 and $1,500 respectively, experts suggest that significant price changes are unlikely unless certain crucial events occur.
Ripple has been fighting with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the past three years over allegations of illegal XRP sales totaling $1.3 billion. The company has denied these allegations and claims that XRP resembles a commodity rather than a security.
The court ruling in favor of Ripple is a significant moment for cryptocurrencies, as it sheds light on the regulatory status and classification of digital assets by the SEC. This decision could lead to discussions and clearer regulations for digital assets, fostering investor confidence and a more stable market. The impact of the ruling could also extend globally and influence the regulatory approaches of other countries.
As the cryptocurrency ecosystem matures, regulatory clarity becomes crucial to strike a balance between innovation and consumer protection. Market participants will closely monitor how this ruling affects the future of cryptocurrency regulation.
Had the court ruled in favor of the SEC, it could have set a negative precedent for the treatment of other cryptocurrencies and opened the door to stricter regulations and controls. This would have had repercussions for any company conducting an initial coin offering (ICO) or token sale, including Ripple and XRP.
Investing in cryptocurrencies carries risks, and the content of this article should not be considered as investment advice.
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