XRP News Today: SEC Silence on Appeal Clouds XRP Demand; BTC Rises on ETF Inflows

SEC Silence on Appeal Strategy Clouds XRP Outlook

The SEC was under the spotlight on Thursday, March 27, amid expectations of a formal withdrawal of its appeal against the Programmatic Sales of XRP ruling. The SEC held a closed meeting on March 27, fueling speculation about a potential vote on withdrawing the Ripple appeal. However, the SEC has remained silent since, impacting XRP demand.

Eleanor Terrett, journalist and host of CryptoAmerica, commented:

“No Ripple here but I’m not entirely surprised because, again, it is slightly different to these other cases in that (as Stuart Alderoty mentioned in his post) the SEC now has to go to the Southern District and ask Judge Torres to lift the standard injunction. Once that is done, they can vote on everything at once, including the withdrawing of the appeal.”

Terrett referred to the SEC’s latest update on crypto litigation dismissals, which listed Kraken, Consensys, and Cumberland Says.

Notably, Ripple withdrew its cross-appeal of Judge Torres’ Final Judgment, contingent on:

• The SEC withdrawing its appeal against the Programmatic Sales ruling.
• Reducing the penalty for violating US securities laws from $150 million to $50 million.
• Removing the injunction, prohibiting XRP sales to institutional investors.

A formal SEC withdrawal may be a prerequisite to filing a motion with Judge Torres for fine reduction and injunction relief. These legal uncertainties continue to weigh on XRP demand.

XRP Price Outlook Hinges on Appeal Outcome

On Thursday, March 27, XRP fell 0.46%, following Wednesday’s 4.08% loss, closing at $2.3406. The token underperformed the broader market, which rose 0.40%, taking the total crypto market cap to $2.8 trillion.

The SEC’s appeal withdrawal remains the crucial catalyst to the potential launch of an XRP-spot ETF.

Key factors influencing XRP’s price outlook:

• SEC vs. Ripple Court Filings: The SEC’s appeal withdrawal vote and anticipated court filings to vacate the injunction
• XRP-Spot ETF Prospects: An ETF approval could send XRP toward $3.5505, while delays may cap gains. There are 18 XRP ETF applications pending SEC review.
• Macro Risks: Escalating trade tensions or US recession fears could pressure XRP toward $1.7938, though easing risks may offer support for a climb back toward $3.

Read expert analysis on what could drive XRP to new highs here.

BTC Holds Ground Amid Tariff Uncertainty

Despite XRP’s recent losses, bitcoin (BTC) has remained relatively stable. After rebounding from its March 11 low of $76,642, BTC has traded within a narrow range. Ongoing market uncertainty, partly stemming from President Trump’s tariff proposals, has weighed on risk appetite.

The Nasdaq Composite Index ended the Thursday session down 0.53% after tumbling 2.04% on Wednesday.

BTC-Spot ETF Inflows Reflect Institutional Optimism

Institutional demand remains strong as hopes grow for Congress to pass the Bitcoin Act. Senator Cynthia Lummis reintroduced the Bitcoin Act on March 11, proposing the US government acquire one million BTC over five years with a 20-year holding mandate. If passed, the Bitcoin Act could significantly impact BTC’s long-term supply-demand balance.

The Bitcoin Act and the US BTC-spot ETF market are crucial to BTC’s supply-demand trajectory. Increasing demand through ETFs and approval for the US government to acquire and hold BTC would tilt the supply-demand balance firmly in BTC’s favor.

On March 27, the US BTC-spot ETF market reflected optimism toward Congress passing the Bitcoin Act. According to Farside Investors:

• Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) reported net inflows of $97.1 million on March 27.
• Invesco Galaxy Bitcoin ETF (BTCO) and WisdomTree Bitcoin Fund (BTCW) saw net outflows totaling $12.1 million.
• Excluding BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), the US BTC-spot ETF market had net inflows of $85.0 million on March 27, potentially extending its inflow streak to ten sessions.

Resilient institutional demand has played a pivotal role in BTC’s recent price trends. From February 10 to March 11, BTC-spot ETFs saw $5.25 billion in net outflows, dragging BTC to multi-month lows. Inflows of $949 million since March 12 have helped BTC recover toward $87,000.

Bitcoin Price Outlook: Key Scenarios

On March 27, BTC rose 0.34%, partially reversing Wednesday’s 0.54% loss closing at $87,236.

Potential scenarios:

• Bearish Scenario: Rising geopolitical or macroeconomic tensions, political pushback on the Bitcoin Act, or extended ETF outflows could pressure BTC toward $70,000.
• Bullish Scenario: Strong macro data, easing trade concerns, bipartisan backing for the Bitcoin Act, and steady ETF inflows may lift BTC toward $109,312.

Market Outlook: Themes to Monitor

Several macro and regulatory factors will influence market direction

• The final resolution of Ripple’s legal battle with the SEC.
• Changes in US trade policy.
• Progress on the Bitcoin Act.
• US Personal Income and Outlays Report (inflation).
• BTC-spot ETF inflows.

While recent SEC actions provide near-term relief, a transparent regulatory framework is essential for sustained investor confidence.

Stay updated with our latest insights here.