type: timeline_event In a landmark regulatory decision on March 19, 2025, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) dropped its four-year lawsuit against Ripple Labs, a cryptocurrency firm with close political connections. Following a partial legal victory in 2023 and significant changes in SEC leadership under the Trump administration, the agency agreed to return $75 million of a $125 million fine and abandon its appeal. CEO Brad Garlinghouse celebrated this as a major win, highlighting the shifting regulatory landscape for cryptocurrency firms.