The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Ripple Labs have officially ended their nearly five-year legal battle over the classification of Ripple's XRP token. Both parties filed a joint dismissal of their appeals, effectively closing the case without a final court ruling. The dismissal leaves intact the July 2023 district court ruling by Judge Torres, which determined that XRP trades on public exchanges are not securities, providing regulatory clarity for the cryptocurrency. As part of the resolution, Ripple agreed to pay a $125 million fine for selling XRP as unregistered securities. The conclusion of this high-profile lawsuit is seen as a pivotal moment for the cryptocurrency industry, clarifying secondary market rules and allowing Ripple to operate free from ongoing legal uncertainty. XRP's market value responded positively, with the token experiencing a notable price increase following the announcement.