In a significant milestone for the cryptocurrency industry, Ripple Labs Inc. faced a major legal challenge. The company was found guilty of selling XRP tokens to institutional investors without obtaining approval from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and was ordered to pay a civil fine of up to $125 million. Although this penalty is significantly lower than the SEC's initial demand of $2 billion, it may be seen as a positive precedent for cryptocurrency companies that are currently or will soon be embroiled in legal disputes with the SEC. The outcome of this case highlights the legal consequences of issuing and selling tokens without registration, which may encourage more cryptocurrency companies to seek legitimate and compliant pathways before engaging in such activities.