XRP News Today: SWIFT Talks, Spot ETF Bets Fuel XRP Adoption Speculation

XRP Price Trends Hinged on Demand Trajectory

On Saturday, March 22, XRP fell 0.37%, following Friday’s 2.27% loss, closing at $2.3711. Despite Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse announcing the SEC’s appeal withdrawal on March 19, XRP extended its losing streak to three sessions. XRP also underperformed the broader market, which dipped 0.05% to a total market cap of $2.71 trillion.

Since the appeal withdrawal, key drivers include institutional demand, Ripple’s cross-appeal and settlement prospects, and the adoption of Ripple’s cross-border payment platforms.

Ripple Calls for Regulatory Clarity

Ripple continued its push for regulatory clarity on Friday, March 22. Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty remarked on SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce’s February 21 statement, noting:

“Today, Ripple submitted to Commissioner Hester Perice’s Feb. 21 statement: ‘There’s too much confusion, I can’t get no relief.’ The prior administration thrived on confusion to mask its failure to follow the law. We urge the SEC’s Crypto Task Force to stay focused: return to first principles, stay within its statutory bounds, and finally bring relief through clarity.”

The letter, addressed to Commissioner Peirce and members of the Crypto Task Force, stated:

“Consistent with Howey, the Blue Sky laws that informed the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and the Acts themselves, the Crypto Task Force should affirm that the ordinary meaning of ‘investment contract’ requires an enforceable agreement: one party must invest money or capital in an enterprise with the expectation of profit, while the other must commit to take action to generate that profit.”

Referring to the Biden administration, Ripple stated that until recent efforts to broaden the Howey Test, every investment contract case involved a financial exchange tied to a performance obligation from the recipient.

Ripple’s Cross-Appeal and Settlement Talks

The timing of the letter was notable as Ripple considers its cross-appeal options amid speculation about a potential settlement. Ripple filed its cross-appeal in October 2024, challenging Judge Torres’ Final Judgment.

In August 2024, Judge Torres ordered Ripple to pay a $125 million penalty for violating Section 5 of the US Securities Act. Judge Torres also granted the SEC’s request for an injunction, prohibiting XRP sales to institutional investors. Vacating the injunction order could be crucial to Ripple’s US expansion goals and XRP’s broader adoption.

Settlement speculation gained traction in March. Pro-crypto lawyer James ‘MetaLawMan’ Murphy commented on Judge Torres’ injunction order and fine:

“BUT. The (a) finding of securities law violations and the (b) injunction (with attendant “bad boy” provisions) are not so great for Ripple.”

Former Fox Business journalist and Crypto America host Eleanor Terrett reported that Ripple’s legal team was:

“Negotiating more favorable terms regarding the August district court ruling, which imposed a $125M fine on the company and included a permanent injunction preventing the company from selling XRP to institutional investors.”

A favorable outcome could open the floodgates to XRP adoption, especially through Ripple’s cross-border payment network. On March 21, reports surfaced that SWIFT was nearing an agreement with Ripple to use XRP for cross-border payments. According to reports, a SWIFT agreement could see billions of XRP locked in escrow as liquidity reserves, shifting supply-demand dynamics firmly in XRP’s favor.

XRP Price Trends: Regulatory Action, Adoption, and Spot ETFs

XRP’s near-term trajectory remains tied to:

• Ripple’s cross-appeal strategy.
• The outcome of settlement negotiations.
• The potential approval of XRP-spot ETFs.

Potential Price Scenarios:

• Bullish Scenario: A favorable settlement and a SWIFT partnership could drive XRP past its all-time high of $3.5505. Approval of XRP-spot ETFs could further fuel institutional demand, pushing prices toward $5.
• Bearish Scenario: If settlement talks break down, Ripple pursues its cross-appeal, SWIFT deal stalls, or the SEC rejects XRP-spot ETFs, XRP could drop below $1.50.

XRP Price Action

Daily Chart

After a three-day losing streak, XRP sits below the 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA), indicating lingering resistance, but it holds above the 200-day EMA, signaling long-term support.

If XRP breaks above the 50-day EMA, the bulls may target the March 19 high of $2.5925. A return to $2.5925 could signal a move toward the January 16 high of $3.3999. Favorable settlement news may bring the all-time high of $3.5505 into sight.

Conversely, an XRP drop below $2.2 may bring the $1.9299 support level and the 200-day EMA into play.

With a 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) reading of 49.72, XRP could fall below the 200-day EMA before entering oversold territory (RSI below 30).

Market Outlook: Uncertainty Remains a Headwind

XRP’s outlook depends heavily on regulatory developments, particularly any settlement agreement. However, broader macroeconomic conditions, including US tariffs, economic indicators, and Federal Reserve policy expectations, also weigh on investor sentiment.

In January, XRP surged to $3.3999 on optimism over a potential SEC appeal withdrawal and US Government support. Yet, trade tensions and a more hawkish Fed pushed XRP below $2 before the token staged a rebound.

Investors should remain vigilant. Any SEC decision on Ripple’s cross-appeal or XRP-spot ETF applications may act as catalysts for the next significant price shift.

Don’t miss our latest price forecast—click here.