XRP Price Pops as SEC Roundtable Kicks Off, but Crypto Wasn’t on the Agenda

The digital asset market is seeing a positive jump today as one of its most watched tokens breaks through key resistance. On Thursday, the XRP price (XRP-USD) popped 2% to reach $1.42, outperforming the broader market even as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) holds a major roundtable in Washington. While traders are closely watching the agency for regulatory signals, the real-world utility of the token is driving the current breakout.

SEC Roundtable Opens without Crypto on the Official Agenda

Despite the price jump, the halls of the SEC are currently focused on a very different part of the financial world. The agency’s public meeting has left some crypto enthusiasts searching for a direct link to the CLARITY Act.

The official schedule for today’s event is strictly dedicated to options market structure. The three panels are examining competition among liquidity providers, the retail customer experience, and the long-term growth of the options market. There is no mention of XRP or digital asset classification on the formal agenda.

Investors are bidding up the price in hopes of a passing comment that favors the industry, especially since Commissioners Hester Peirce and Mark Uyeda—who lead the agency’s crypto policy shift—are giving the opening remarks.

Rakuten Integration Fuels the 44-Million User Surge

While the Washington meeting is grabbing headlines, a massive shift in Japan is providing the actual fuel for today’s price pop.

This move has created a new level of demand that is independent of U.S. regulation.

On Wednesday, April 15, Rakuten integrated the asset into its massive payment ecosystem, giving 44 million Japanese users the ability to spend the token at over 5 million stores. Thanks to this partnership, the XRP token has finally cleared the $1.40 mark, which has acted like a brick wall for the price throughout March.

With over $1.2 billion in new ETF inflows recorded since their launch, big money is clearly returning to the asset as it tests its next major resistance level at $1.45. However, the long-term path for the price still depends on whether Washington can pass permanent rules. The political clock is now the biggest obstacle for a sustained rally.

At the time of writing, XRP’s price is sitting at $1.4191.

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