A dinner between Ripple’s leadership and President-elect Trump has sparked speculation that Ripple’s legal battle with the SEC may soon conclude, potentially reshaping crypto regulation.

Ripple’s Trump Meeting Could End SEC War – Is XRP About to Skyrocket?

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse and Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty attended a private dinner with President-elect Donald Trump on Jan. 6. Garlinghouse disclosed the meeting on social media platform X the next day, calling it a “great dinner” and a “strong start to 2025.” The high-profile meeting has since sparked widespread speculation regarding Ripple’s ongoing legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The SEC lawsuit, which began in December 2020, alleges that Ripple unlawfully sold XRP tokens as unregistered securities. The case is seen as a landmark for the cryptocurrency industry, with potential implications for how digital assets are classified and regulated in the U.S. Market observers have noted the timing of the dinner as significant, particularly as speculation grows about how regulatory policies might evolve under a potential second Trump administration.

The dinner drew reactions from industry experts, who suggested the SEC lawsuit against Ripple over XRP may soon conclude. For example, lawyer Jeremy Hogan, a prominent commentator on the Ripple case, reacted to the news by posting on X: “You know everything I’ve said about the Ripple lawsuit for the last four years? The hours and hours of videos, analysis, posts, research? Nevermind.”

Garlinghouse recently credited the Trump administration for driving U.S. crypto growth, citing Ripple’s resurgence and increased domestic hiring. He highlighted that 75% of Ripple’s new roles are U.S.-based, reversing years of overseas recruitment under SEC constraints. He praised Trump’s pro-crypto appointees, including Scott Bessent, David Sacks, and Paul Atkins, for fostering innovation and economic momentum. The Ripple chief also welcomed the 119th Congress, calling it the most pro-crypto in history, signaling optimism for industry growth and regulatory relief.