XRP News Today: SEC Silence Pressures XRP Below $2.25; BTC Dips on Whale Activity

SEC vs. Ripple Case: SEC Silence Sends XRP Below $2.25

Another week of SEC silence in the Ripple case left XRP in limbo. Investors awaited the SEC to announce its plans to withdraw its appeal against the Programmatic Sales of XRP ruling. However, despite Ripple declaring it would drop its cross-appeal on June 27, the SEC has yet to make a statement regarding its appeal. The SEC has also failed to comment on Judge Analisa Torres’ multiple rejections of joint motions for an indicative ruling on settlement terms.

The ongoing legal uncertainty has left XRP well below its 2025 high of $3.3999 and the 2018 all-time high of $3.5505 (Binance Exchange).

On Thursday, July 3, the SEC held its closed meeting, which typically happens weekly. The meeting provided SEC Chair Paul Atkins and the Commissioners the first opportunity to vote on whether to drop the appeal without an indicative ruling on settlement terms. Investors may have to wait for the July 10 closed meeting for a formal announcement.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse commented on dropping the cross-appeal and the SEC’s potential appeal strategy, stating:

“Ripple is dropping our cross-appeal, and the SEC is expected to drop their appeal, as they’ve previously said. We’re closing this chapter once and for all, and focusing on what’s most important – building the Internet of Value. Lock in.”

SEC Atkins Faces Criticism on Crypto Stance

Former SEC enforcer John Reed Stark criticized SEC Chair Atkins and the agency’s stance on digital assets, stating:

“This morning on Squawk Box, Andrew Ross Sorkin specifically asked SEC Chair Paul Atkins about policing meme coins, like the satirical “Sorkin” Meme Coin, which (incredibly and absurdly) apparently reached a market cap of over $200M. Chair Atkins answered that the SEC would always act to protect investors. But how can the SEC protect meme coin investors when the SEC has explicitly stated that meme coins are not securities and caveat emptor applies.”

Stark questioned how the SEC can protect crypto investors if crypto-related activities, including sales, transactions, transfers, and fraudulent promotions do not involve securities. He concluded:

“The Stark reality is that the SEC cannot protect investors in meme coins or any other so-called digital assets, because the SEC has decided, despite an avalanche of case law to the contrary, that digital assets are not securities.”

Stark highlighted the SEC’s stance on digital assets, a marked shift from Gary Gensler and the Biden administration’s anti-crypto agenda. It could be farfetched to assume the SEC would progress its appeal against the Programmatic Sales ruling if it deems digital assets non-securities.

XRP Price Outlook: SEC Appeal News and ETF Developments

XRP slid 1.65% on Friday, July 4, reversing Thursday’s 1.1% gain to close at $2.2219. The token tracked the broader market, which fell 1.78% to a total crypto market cap of $3.28 trillion.

The near-term XRP price trajectory hinges on the SEC’s appeal move and US XRP-spot ETF-related headlines.

A breakout above $2.25 could pave the way to the June 30 high of $2.3275. A sustained move through $2.3275 may bring the May high of $2.6553 into play. The next key resistance levels would be $3 and the 2025 high of $3.3999.

Conversely, a drop below the 50-day EMA could expose the 200-day EMA and potentially the $1.9299 support level.

Explore our full XRP forecast here for key breakout zones and timing insights.

Bitcoin Dips as Satoshi Era Wallets Sell Out

While XRP remains under the SEC’s influence, whale activity pressured bitcoin (BTC) on the Fourth of July holidays. Crypto exchange and blockchain analytics platform Arkham identified unusual BTC activity, stating:

“A single entity moved $8.6 BILLION of BTC from 8 addresses in the past day. All of the Bitcoin was moved into the original wallets on either 2nd April or 4th May 2011 and has been held for over 14 years. Currently, the Bitcoin is sitting in 8 new addresses and has not been moved subsequently.”

The move to new addresses raised concerns about a potential oversupply on exchanges, impacting BTC demand at $110k levels.

Founder of Alpha Lions Academy and crypto enthusiast Edo Farina remarked:

“Markets are already in panic mode because 8 dormant Satoshi-Era BTC Wallets reactivated after 14 years, moving a total of $8.6 BILLION in BTC.”

US BTC-Spot ETF Flows Bolster BTC’s Supply-Demand Balance

The whale activity overshadowed a fourth consecutive week of net inflows into the US BTC-spot ETF market. According to Farside Investors, weekly net inflows totaled $769.5 million. Key flows included:

• BlackRock’s (BLK) iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) saw weekly net inflows of $336.8 million.
• Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) had net inflows of $248.4 million.
• ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB) reported net inflows of $160 million.
• Meanwhile, Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) saw weekly net outflows of $84.9 million.

ETF Store President Nate Geraci remarked on IBIT’s dominance in the US BTC-spot ETF market, stating:

“The nearly $75bil iShares Bitcoin ETF has only one month of outflows since Jan 2024 launch… Now generates more fee revenue for BlackRock than its largest ETF, the iShares S&P 500 ETF. Simple a machine.”

Since launch, IBIT has drawn $52.646 billion in net inflows, countering GBTC’s $23.333 billion of net outflows, leaving total net inflows of $49.622 billion. FBTC is a distant second to IBIT, with net inflows of $12.218 billion, underscoring IBIT’s impressive 18-month run.

BTC Price Outlook: Trade Developments and Legislation in Focus

BTC fell 1.42% on July 4, reversing Thursday’s 0.74% gain to close at $108,097.

The near-term price trajectory depends on several key developments, including upcoming US economic data, Fed monetary policy signals, legislative developments, tariff-related news, and ETF flow trends.

Potential scenarios:

• Bearish Scenario: Escalation in trade war, legislation setbacks, hawkish Fed signals, strong US data, and ETF outflows. A combination of these may push BTC toward the 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA), potentially exposing $100,000.
• Bullish Scenario: Easing trade tensions, bipartisan support for crypto bills, dovish Fed cues, softer US data, and ETF inflows. Under these scenarios, BTC could climb to its all-time high of $111,917.

What to Watch

Investors should monitor several key drivers, which could dictate whether XRP and BTC can revisit record highs. These include:

• Ripple case updates.
• Legislative developments.
• US trade news.
• Fed guidance.
• ETF market flows.

See where analysts expect XRP and BTC to head as legal and political risks evolve.