Ripple’s legal battle with the SEC is still in focus, especially after the agency’s recent appeal. The outcome will have a major impact on XRP’s price in 2025. 

XRP is currently trading at $3.15, up 31.1% over the past 30 days. The question right now is how will the recent developments impact XRP’s price and can it reach $15 this year?

To answer, we’ll take a look at the technical data to see what’s happening. 

At the same time, PlutoChain ($PLUTO) is working on a Layer-2 solution that could improve Bitcoin’s scalability and transaction speed. 

Here’s a closer look at both projects’ prospects. 

Can Ripple’s Potential Victory Over the SEC Help XRP Reach $15?

As of January 18, 2025, XRP is trading at $3.16, with a 24-hour range between $3.08 and $3.31.

The market capitalization stands at $182,026,471,264, and the 24-hour trading volume is $11,308,942,763. 

Over the past 24 hours, XRP has increased by 3.1%, and over the past 30 days, it has risen by 31.1%.

The RSI is at 57 right now, which means XRP is in the neutral zone. 

The legal battle between Ripple Labs and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has seen quite a few developments. 

In July 2023, U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres ruled that XRP is not a security when sold to retail investors on exchanges – a big win for Ripple. 

However, the court also determined that institutional sales of XRP qualified as unregistered securities transactions, which resulted in a $125 million penalty for the company.

Unhappy with this mixed ruling, the SEC recently filed an appeal on January 15, 2025. The agency argues that all XRP sales, retail and institutional alike, should be classified as unregistered securities under the Howey test. 

Ripple’s legal team remains optimistic, with Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty expressing confidence that the appellate court will uphold or expand on Judge Torres’s decision. 

Pro-XRP lawyer Jeremy Hogan has also criticized the SEC’s appeal, described it as weak, and predicted another victory for Ripple.

Furthermore, Paul Atkins, known for his pro-crypto stance, will probably take over as the agency’s leader, which could improve the regulatory environment for cryptocurrencies in general.

Lai Jr, an analyst on X, predicts XRP will surge to $4–$8 by January 20 with a “Trump Pump,” and potentially reach $10–$34 by March, contingent on the SEC case outcome.

On a more conservative side, crypto analyst Brian predicts XRP to drop to $2.90–$3.05 before climbing back to $3.90, and emphasizes the fluctuations in pullbacks and rises rather than the current price.

PlutoChain ($PLUTO) Could Turn Bitcoin Into a Scalable Platform for DeFi, NFTs, and More

Bitcoin struggles with slow transactions, high fees, and network congestion. PlutoChain ($PLUTO) offers a hybrid Layer-2 solution that could tackle these issues. 

With an operational parallel network on top of Bitcoin’s blockchain, it could reduce traffic, lower fees, and improve scalability.

PlutoChain’s Layer-2 technology achieves block times of just 2 seconds, a huge improvement over Bitcoin’s 10-minute block times. 

It could also enable efficient smart contract execution while maintaining the reliability of Bitcoin’s infrastructure. 

With EVM compatibility, developers could easily bring Ethereum-based projects to the platform. This could open doors for DeFi, NFTs, and even AI applications.

Testnet results highlight PlutoChain’s potential. It processed 43,200 transactions daily without congestion, which proves its capability to handle real-world demand with ease.

Security is a core focus for PlutoChain, which is why it has passed audits by SolidProof, QuillAudits, and Assure DeFi. Its internal processes include code reviews, stress tests, and adherence to global standards. 

The project values community input. Users can vote on upgrades, partnerships, and new features through its official Discord channel. This inclusive approach strengthens its ecosystem.

The Bottom Line

For XRP, growing adoption is a strength, but market volatility and regulatory uncertainty present challenges. 

Ripple’s legal battle against the SEC is one of the main topics of the market, as it inevitably affects XRP’s price. 

Meanwhile, PlutoChain ($PLUTO) could tackle Bitcoin’s issues with speed and scalability through its innovative Layer-2 solution. 

More than that, it could transform Bitcoin from a store of value into a robust foundation for decentralized applications. 

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Remember, this article is not financial or trading advice. All cryptocurrencies are volatile, and past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Always conduct your own research and/or consult with experts before making any crypto-related decisions. Trade responsibly. Forward-looking statements are uncertain and might not be updated.