XRP News Today: SEC Silence Pressures XRP as Atkins Vote Nears; BTC Holds $83k

SEC Chair Nominee Paul Atkins Confirmation Vote Set

On Monday, March 31, the focus shifted to President Trump’s nominee for SEC Chair, Paul Atkins. After last week’s hearing, Senate Republicans on the Banking Committee scheduled a confirmation vote for Thursday, April 3 at 10 a.m. His confirmation would mark the final step in overhauling the SEC’s regulatory approach, signaling an end to its enforcement-led stance on digital assets.

While Paul Atkins’ confirmation is critical for the US digital asset space, the SEC’s silence regarding its appeal in the Ripple case continues to weigh on XRP price sentiment.

Since Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse announced that the SEC was withdrawing its appeal, XRP has tumbled 19.9%. Despite the announcement, the SEC has yet to issue an official statement, which has kept selling pressure elevated.

The silence could be due to several factors:

• The SEC may be waiting for Atkins’ confirmation before making a formal decision.
• It could be finalizing settlement terms on Judge Torres’ final judgment.
• It may be prioritizing more urgent crypto cases.

Market optimism about the SEC withdrawing its appeal against the Programmatic Sales of XRP ruling has cushioned XRP’s downside. However, selling pressure may intensify the longer the SEC remains silent. Prospects for a US-based XRP-spot ETF may depend on a formal appeal withdrawal.

XRP Price Outlook Hinges on SEC Activity

On Monday, March 31, XRP fell 2.24%, reversing Sunday’s 0.13% gain to close at $2.0898. XRP underperformed the broader market, which rose 0.09%, taking the total crypto market cap to $2.63 trillion.

Tariff concerns, inflation pressures, and recession fears continue to impact risk assets, including cryptos. Nevertheless, a formal end to the Ripple case remains crucial to XRP’s path.

XRP’s near-term trajectory may depend on:

• SEC vs. Ripple Court Filings: Final motions and withdrawal of injunctions could influence market sentiment.
• XRP-Spot ETF Prospects: Approval and strong institutional demand could lift XRP toward $3.5505. Delays may cap gains.
• Broader macro risks: Heightened trade tensions or US recession fears could drive XRP down to $1.7938. Reduced risk aversion may support a rebound toward $3.

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

Bitcoin Snaps Losing Streak as Dip Buyers Step In

While XRP extended its sell-off, bitcoin (BTC) found much-needed support at the end of Q1 2025. MicroStrategy (MSTR) bought the latest BTC dip, boosting demand. Michael Saylor, Chairman of MicroStrategy announced:

“MSTR has acquired 22,048 BTC for ~$1.92 billion at ~$86,969 per bitcoin and has achieved BTC Yield of 11.0% YTD 2025. As of 3/30/2025, MicroStrategy holds 528,185 BTC acquired for ~$35.63 billion at ~$67,458 per bitcoin.

MicroStrategy’s latest purchase countered US BTC-spot ETF outflows.

Institutional Demand Cools Amid Tariff Uncertainty

The US BTC-spot ETF market faces a second day of net outflows on March 31. Concerns about the effects of Trump’s tariff policies on inflation and the US economy impacted flow trends. According to Farside Investors:

• WisdomTree Bitcoin Fund (BTCW) reported net outflows of $32.6 million on March 31.
• ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB) had net outflows of $23.2 million.
• Bitwise Bitcoin ETF (BITB) saw net outflows of $19.9 million.

Excluding flows from BlackRock’s (BLK) iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), net outflows totaled $75.7 million on March 31, following $93.2 million in outflows on March 28.

Bitcoin Price Outlook: Key Scenarios

On March 30, BTC rose 0.13%, partially reversing Sunday’s 0.36%, closing at $82,512.

However, market gains remained limited amid expectations of further tariff announcements. Potential scenarios include:

• Bearish Scenario: Heightened geopolitical risk, opposition to the Bitcoin Act, or sustained ETF outflows could drag BTC toward $70,000.
• Bullish Scenario: Strong macro data, easing trade tensions, bipartisan support for the Bitcoin Act, and healthy ETF inflows may drive BTC toward $109,312.

Market Outlook: Themes to Watch

The following macro and regulatory themes will continue influencing the crypto market direction:

• The outcome of the SEC vs. Ripple case.
• US trade policy developments.
• Legislative progress on the Bitcoin Act.
• US labor market data.
• BTC-spot ETF flow dynamics.

While recent SEC decisions may reduce near-term uncertainty, a transparent and consistent regulatory path remains essential for long-term investor confidence.

Stay updated with our latest insights here.