Ripple has secured a legal victory confirming XRP's decentralized status amid a prolonged SEC lawsuit. The court ruled that XRP is not a security when traded in secondary markets, despite Ripple's significant holdings. This decision underscores XRP's decentralized nature, supported by 75,000 holders across 143 countries and over 150 validators. Ripple's CEO, Brad Garlinghouse, highlighted the importance of utility, transparency, and security over decentralization alone. The SEC lawsuit, initiated in 2020, accused Ripple of selling XRP as an unregistered security, concluding on May 8, 2025, with Ripple agreeing to a reduced penalty. The XRP Ledger's governance remains in the hands of a global community, not Ripple, reinforcing its decentralized framework.