XRP legal battle sparks optimism amid SEC changes

Ripple’s native token, XRP, has seen a strong start to the year, gaining 15% year-to-date to trade at $2.40 as of press time. The token's performance has outpaced many major cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC), and is poised for significant price movements this month due to legal and regulatory developments.

A turning point in Ripple’s legal battle?

The long-standing legal battle between Ripple and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) took a pivotal turn in October last year when the SEC filed an appeal challenging a ruling that partially favored Ripple. The appeal aimed to resolve XRP’s classification as a security or commodity.

While the appeal initially dampened market sentiment, optimism has resurfaced with an anticipated leadership change at the SEC. Gary Gensler, the current SEC Chair, is set to step down on January 20th, paving the way for former SEC Commissioner Paul Atkins to take the helm. Atkins' appointment, supported by the crypto community, is seen as a potential shift toward regulatory clarity and a more crypto-friendly stance.

Ripple’s CEO, Brad Garlinghouse, expressed optimism, noting Atkins could "bring common sense back to the agency." If this leadership change results in the SEC dropping its appeal, XRP could solidify its non-security status, potentially triggering a bullish price trend.

Ripple’s growth under the “Trump Effect”

The election of Donald Trump has already had a ripple effect on Ripple’s fortunes. In the last six weeks of 2024, Ripple signed more deals than in the preceding six months, according to Garlinghouse. He described the early days of 2025 as part of a “Trump bull market,” emphasizing the challenges Ripple faced during Gensler’s tenure, including business disruptions due to regulatory ambiguity.

Michael Saylor’s radical Bitcoin proposal

MicroStrategy Chairman Michael Saylor has floated a bold idea to enhance Bitcoin’s long-term scarcity: burning Bitcoin private keys after death to remove coins permanently from circulation.

With Bitcoin’s capped supply of 21 million, scarcity is a key driver of its value. Saylor’s proposal aims to reduce the circulating supply, similar to the impact of dormant wallets, such as Satoshi Nakamoto’s 1 million BTC.

Saylor argues that such a strategy could strengthen Bitcoin’s position as a scarce, long-term asset. If widely adopted, this approach could reshape Bitcoin’s market dynamics, driving increased demand for the remaining coins.

Robert Kiyosaki eyes more Bitcoin after $100K milestone

Renowned investor and "Rich Dad Poor Dad" author Robert Kiyosaki has announced plans to buy more Bitcoin after its price reclaimed the $100,000 level.

Kiyosaki, who recently predicted Bitcoin could surge to $350,000 this year, highlighted the sudden recovery driven by spot Bitcoin ETFs, which saw $900 million in inflows on Monday. This resurgence follows a period of outflows, reflecting renewed investor confidence.

As of now, Bitcoin is trading at $101,854, up over 3% in the past 24 hours. Kiyosaki’s bullish stance and the influx of ETF investments could signal a strong year ahead for Bitcoin.