Ripple's ongoing legal battle with the SEC may take a new direction following the appointment of Paul Atkins as the new SEC Chair. Since 2020, Ripple has been embroiled in a dispute with the SEC over $700 million in institutional sales, which the SEC claims are unregistered securities. While a ruling on these sales remains in place, Judge Torres has dismissed claims regarding programmatic sales, marking a significant distinction in the case. Ripple's Chief Legal Officer, Stuart Alderoty, has criticized SEC Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw, suggesting that her actions are even more extreme than those of former Chair Gary Gensler. This criticism comes amid an upcoming vote by the Housing and Urban Affairs Committee on Crenshaw's continuation as an SEC Commissioner. Additionally, there are speculations that the new SEC administration might take a deregulatory approach towards the crypto industry, potentially abandoning the case against Coinbase, which could have broader implications for the sector.