The SEC's appeal was dropped, officially closing the case and resulting in a $125 million fine for Ripple. It was also acknowledged that XRP is not considered a security. Despite this resolution, Ripple's cross-appeal is still pending, keeping the case in the public eye. Some in the crypto community, particularly Bitcoin supporters like Max Keiser, remain doubtful. Keiser argues that XRP is a pre-mined security, a stance reinforced by the SEC's confirmation that Bitcoin and other proof-of-work cryptocurrencies are not securities. The debate centers around Ripple's control of 37 billion XRP in escrow, valued at around $88.39 billion, which accounts for over a third of the total supply. Critics question XRP's decentralization claim due to this centralization, despite Ripple's plans for gradual market distribution.