XRP News Today: Legal Battles and Market Volatility—What’s Next for XRP? BTC at $98K

SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce Discusses Task Force

On Tuesday, February 4, SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce issued a press release outlining the Crypto Task Force’s mandate. The crypto-friendly Commissioner criticized the agency’s handling of the US digital asset space, saying,

“It took us a long time to get into this mess, and it is going to take us some time to get out of it. The Commission has engaged with the crypto industry in one form or another for more than a decade. […] Throughout this time, the Commission’s handling of crypto has been marked by legal imprecision and commercial impracticality. Consequently, many cases remain in litigation, many rules remain in the proposal stage, and many market participants remain in limbo.”

Regarding ongoing litigation cases, including the Ripple case, Commissioner Peirce said,

“Determining how best to disentangle all these strands, including ongoing litigation, will take time. It will involve work across the whole agency and cooperation with other regulators. Please be patient. The Task Force wants to get to a good place, but we need to do so in an orderly, practical, and legally defensible way.”

She also reinforced the agency’s commitment to holding bad actors accountable, stating there would be no tolerance for fraud and misconduct.

Ripple Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty commented on the press release, stating:

“Throughout the former administration’s War on Crypto, Commissioner Peirce remained a steady voice for regulatory sanity. Today’s memo is another rapid step toward turning the page on the mess we all inherited (and suffered through).”

Pro-crypto lawyer Bill Morgan pointed out that Peirce remained silent on specific enforcement cases, saying:

“But she can’t talk about current crypto enforcement proceedings because SEC commissioners can’t talk about current enforcement proceedings.”

XRP Price Trends: SEC Appeal Uncertainty Weighs on Demand

On Tuesday, February 4, XRP slid by 6.44%, reversing a 4.81% gain from Monday, closing at $2.5283. Significantly, XRP underperformed the broader market, which dropped by 3.90% to a total crypto market cap of $3.16 trillion. Uncertainty over the SEC’s appeal in the Ripple case remained a headwind.

The SEC’s next move could influence XRP’s trajectory, with potential outcomes depending on whether the appeal proceeds or is withdrawn.

• If the SEC withdraws its appeal, XRP could surge past its all-time high of $3.5505.
• If the appeal proceeds, XRP may drop below $1.50.

Expert Analysis: How will the SEC’s next move shape XRP’s future? Read more here.

Bitcoin Faces Pressure Amid US-China Trade Tensions

While markets consider the chances of the SEC withdrawing its appeal, bitcoin (BTC) also faced selling pressure as China retaliated to US tariffs. China imposed 15% duties on coal and LNG and 10% tariffs on crude oil, agricultural equipment, large-displacement vehicles, and pickup trucks. Additionally, Beijing announced an anti-trust investigation into Google.

China’s decision to retaliate rather than negotiate fueled fears of a full-blown US-China trade war. Higher US tariffs could push US import prices and inflation higher, potentially forcing the Fed into a hawkish policy stance. Rising interest rates may impact demand for riskier assets such as BTC.

US BTC-spot ETF Market Sees Inflows Amid Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Talks

While BTC trended lower amid rising tensions between the US and China, the US BTC-spot ETF market eyes net inflows. US Crypto Czar David Sacks confirmed the Presidential Working Group on Digital Assets will explore the possibility of a Bitcoin reserve. However, he cautioned that the evaluation process remains in its early stages.

Despite trade-related pressures, ETF inflows suggest sustained investor interest. Hopes for a US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR) remain a BTC tailwind, boosting demand for BTC-spot ETFs. According to Farside Investors, ETF inflows on February 4 included:

• ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB) had net inflows of $56.1 million.
• Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) reported net inflows of $19.5 million.
• Bitwise Bitcoin ETF (BITB) saw net inflows of $16.1 million.

Excluding BlackRock’s (BLK) iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), the US BTC-spot ETF market saw total net inflows of $91.7 million.

Bitcoin Price Outlook

On Tuesday, February 4, BTC declined by 3.54%, partially reversing Monday’s 3.78% gain, closing at $97,979.

BTC’s near-term price trend remained hinged on multiple factors, including US-China tensions, SBR-related news, the Fed rate path, and US BTC-spot ETF flows.

On Wednesday, February 5, the US ISM Services PMI and ADP employment change data could influence the Fed rate path. Better-than-expected numbers would support a more hawkish Fed policy stance, potentially impacting BTC demand.

Potential BTC Scenarios:

• Bearish case: Rising trade tensions, a hawkish Fed, and stalled SBR discussions could drag BTC below $90,000.
• Bullish case: De-escalating trade risks, a more dovish Fed, and increasing political support for an SBR could push BTC toward its all-time high of $109,312.

Market Outlook: Regulatory Developments in Focus

Following the tariff-driven market sell-off, investors are shifting their attention to the SEC’s appeal decision and the potential for a U.S. Bitcoin reserve. Both factors could significantly impact institutional adoption and overall market sentiment.

Stay updated with our expert analysis of these developments and their implications for crypto markets. Explore the full analysis here.