XRP News Today: Ripple Case Nears End as Paul Atkins Becomes SEC Chair; BTC at $88k

New SEC Chair Sparks Hope for Ripple Settlement, XRP ETF

Paul Atkins officially began his term as Chairman of the US Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday, April 21. The SEC issued a press release stating:

“Prior to returning to the SEC, Chairman Atkins was most recently Chief Executive of Patomak Global Partners, a company he founded in 2009. Chairman Atkins helped lead efforts to develop best practices for the digital asset sector. He served as an independent director and non-executive chairman of the board of BATS Global Markets, Inc. from 2012 to 2015.”

Atkins’ appointment completes a sweeping leadership shift at the agency, replacing Gary Gensler’s enforcement-driven approach to crypto regulation. The SEC potentially held off on a vote to withdraw its appeal against the ruling on Programmatic Sales of XRP until Paul Atkins’ confirmation and swearing-in.

With crypto-friendly Commissioners Mark Uyeda and Hester Peirce also in place, the SEC may be positioned to tip the balance toward dropping the appeal and finalizing a settlement in the Ripple case.

An official end to the Ripple case could pave the way to an XRP-spot ETF market, potentially boosting XRP demand. Bloomberg Intelligence Senior ETF Analyst Eric Balchunas remarked on the importance of crypto ETFs, stating:

“Having your coin get ETF-ized is like being in a band and getting your songs added to all the music streaming services. Doesn’t guarantee listens but it puts your music where the vast majority of the listeners are.”

XRP Outlook: Legal Overhangs, ETF Potential

XRP gained 0.39% on Monday, April 21, recovering from Sunday’s 0.43% drop to close at $2.0855. The token trailed the broader crypto market, which rose 1.81%, taking the total crypto market cap to $2.7 trillion. XRP briefly touched a six-day high of $2.1393 before easing.

Looking ahead, several key factors may influence XRP’s trajectory:

• A finalized Ripple settlement could drive XRP toward its $3.5505 record high.
• Progress on XRP-spot ETF approvals may attract institutional demand, while further delays could weigh on sentiment.
• Broader macroeconomic conditions remain pivotal—hawkish Fed signals or geopolitical instability could pressure XRP back toward $1.70, while easing financial conditions may support a rise toward $3.00.

See our full XRP forecast here.

Bitcoin Tracks Higher on US BTC-Spot ETF Inflows

XRP’s modest gains came as bitcoin (BTC) rallied, supported by the US BTC-spot ETF market recording the largest inflows since January 30. According to Farside Investors, key flow trends for April 21 included:

• ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB) had net inflows of $116.1 million.
• Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) saw net inflows of $87.6 million.
• Bitwise Bitcoin ETF (BITB) reported net inflows of $45.1 million.
• Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) and Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust (BTC) had combined net inflows of $69.1 million.
• Excluding pending flow data for BlackRock’s (BLK) iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), the US BTC-spot ETF market recorded $339.7 million in net inflows after $106.9 million in inflows on April 17.

BTC mirrored gold in a breakout session as investors fled US equities. US equity markets tumbled after President Trump intensified criticism of Fed Chair Powell, raising concerns about the Fed’s policy independence.

The Nasdaq Composite Index dropped 2.55% on April 21, while the Dow and S&P 500 lost 2.48% and 2.36%, respectively. Gold surged 2.92%, reaching a record high of $3,430 before settling at $3,329.

Bitcoin’s recent price trends are increasingly aligning with gold, potentially raising the chances of Congress passing the Bitcoin Act. Senator Cynthia Lummis reintroduced the Bitcoin Act, proposing the US government purchase one million BTC over five years, with a mandatory 20-year holding period.

BTC Price Outlook: Key Catalysts Ahead

On April 21, BTC rallied 2.65%, following Sunday’s 0.24% gain, closing at $87,497.

Near-term price action will hinge on regulatory clarity and macroeconomic trends:

• Bearish Scenario: Tariff escalations, Fed hawkishness, and ETF outflows could push BTC toward $75,000.
• Bullish Scenario: A dovish Fed, easing trade tensions, progress on crypto legislation, and fresh ETF inflows could lift BTC toward $90,000.

What to Watch

Investors should closely track developments in the Ripple case, US-China trade policy, and Fed signals. Macroeconomic indicators and ETF flows remain key catalysts. While an XRP settlement could fuel short-term price appreciation, broader crypto market trends will likely follow the trajectory of global sentiment and regulatory momentum.

Explore what analysts believe is needed for cryptos to reach new highs.