Ripple, a controversial cryptocurrency, continues to make headlines as the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) demands repayment of unjust gains from discounts offered to institutional clients.

The SEC alleges that Ripple's sales of XRP to these clients violated securities laws, and the company must pay back $1.95 billion in fines and prejudgment interest.

Crypto-friendly lawyers James Murphy and Bill Morgan analyzed the SEC's stance, labeling the gains as "unjust enrichment." The regulatory body seeks to recover $198 million in prejudgment interest, $876 million in fines, and $876 million in unjust gains.

Ripple's price consolidates around $0.50, but technical indicators suggest a short-term bearish trend may be forming.

The MACD indicator signals negative momentum, and the RSI shows further downside potential. Ripple's requests to keep institutional sales undisclosed raise suspicions of discounted XRP sales, potentially harming investors.

This controversy has plagued Ripple for five years, making it a "lame duck" in the cryptocurrency market. As the legal battle intensifies, Ripple's future remains uncertain.