Crypto Investors Bet on XRP while the Broader Market Struggles

In late 2020, the U.S SEC filed an action against Ripple Labs Inc. and two of its executives, who are also significant security holders. The SEC alleges that they raised over $1.3bn through an unregistered, ongoing digital asset securities offering.

The Details

According to the SEC press release, the complaint alleges that Ripple raised funds, beginning in 2013, through the sale of digital assets known as XRP in unregistered security offering to the U.S and worldwide investors. Ripple also allegedly distributed billions of XRP in exchange for non-cash consideration, such as labor and market-making services.

Additionally, co-founder Larsen and former CEO Garlinghouse also affected personal unregistered sales of XRP totaling $600m. The complaint alleges that the defendants failed to register their offers and sales of XRP or satisfy an exemption from registration. This was deemed in violation of the registration and provisions of the federal and securities laws.

Investors Bet on Favorable Outcome

As a result of the complaint, XRP had slumped from $0.78 levels to $0.17 levels back in late 2020. Market forces had driven XRP back to $1.96 levels in April of this year before sliding back to $0.50 levels.

In recent weeks, however, XRP has seen greater price stability than its peers. Following a modest decline of 0.84% in the week ending 19^th December, XRP was on the move at the start of this week.

Investors are betting that Ripple will find a compromise with the SEC. News updates in recent months have also been positive, with some suggesting a hefty fine would satisfy the SEC. With an all-time high of $3.35 and a current level of sub-$1.00, there’s plenty of upside. Suggestions are that news of a favorable outcome could drive XRP to a new ATH. This would give Ripple the ways and means to settle a hefty fine…

XRP Price Action

Ripple’s XRP rallied by 5.39% to end the day at $0.8800 on Monday, with a day high of $0.9159. Looking at the day ahead, the next key resistance level would be at $0.92 levels. A breakout from $0.92 could give XRP momentum to take a run at $1.00. We can expect resistance at $0.97 levels to break down in such a momentum run.

Investors will be wary, however. While Ripple does not expect the complaint to be concluded until next year, negative news could see a return to $0.50 levels.

The first major support level of the day sits at $0.83 levels, in the event of a pullback.