Ripple's recent SEC legal triumph was significantly influenced by the XRP Army, according to Deaton's statement.

In a historic legal battle that shook the cryptocurrency world, the Ripple case against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) concluded in August 2025, with both sides dropping their challenges. This marked the end of a lengthy legal dispute that began in 2020, when the SEC filed charges against Ripple, claiming that it was selling XRP as an unregistered security.

The case, however, was not just a battle between Ripple and the SEC. Thousands of XRP investors played a significant role in shaping its outcome, according to John Deaton, a crypto lawyer who represented XRP tokenholders throughout the legal process.

In July 2023, Judge Analisa Torres decided that XRP sales on exchanges were not a security, but certain institutional sales were a securities violation. This ruling was a turning point in the case, and following it, XRP surged 72%, climbing from $0.47 to $0.81.

John Deaton, who is known for his work in the crypto community, believes that the "XRP Army" made a significant difference in the case. The XRP community's work supported Ripple's fair notice defense during the court case, with over 2,000 exhibits, including affidavits from XRP holders, being filed in court. These exhibits were crucial in the judge's ruling, as cited by Judge Torres.

Deborah McCrimmon, Ripple's Deputy General Counsel, praised the XRP community for providing crucial research. She stated that the work of the XRP community could have cost thousands of dollars if done by lawyers.

The legal victory was not the only triumph for the XRP community. After the final settlement in August 2025, XRP hit a record high of $3.64. John Deaton, reflecting on the case, learned a valuable lesson: one person can inspire many, and together, they can make a difference.

Currently, XRP trades around $2.85, up about 0.43% in the last 24 hours, according to CoinMarketCap. The future of XRP, including the potential approval of an XRP Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF), remains to be seen. However, the Ripple case serves as a testament to the power of community action in the world of cryptocurrency.

Ripple's recent SEC legal triumph was significantly influenced by the XRP Army, according to Deaton's statement.