As the legal battle between Ripple Labs and the SEC nears its conclusion, potential unexpected developments loom on the horizon for XRP amidst the ongoing Ripple versus SEC lawsuit.

The Ripple versus SEC lawsuit, which has been ongoing since December 2020, is approaching a critical juncture as negotiations for remedies and other legal details unfold. While a significant ruling in July last year determined that XRP is not classified as an investment contract, new twists may emerge, particularly concerning the sealing of confidential documents as argued by both Ripple and SEC lawyers.

The uncertainty surrounding the lawsuit has had a notable impact on XRP's price, with investors closely monitoring any potential rulings that could affect the market. Despite the previous legal victories, XRP has struggled to surpass the $1 mark, indicating that market participants may be awaiting a resolution before committing fully.

Currently trading at $0.5114, XRP has experienced a slight 1.33% decline in the past 24 hours, maintaining a narrow trading range between $0.4879 and $0.5688 over the last month. While expectations for a price breakout persist, any unexpected turns in the Ripple-SEC case could exert further downward pressure on XRP.

Analysts remain optimistic about XRP's potential breakout, viewing the current phase as a period of consolidation before a potential surge. The anticipation of a breakout is fueled by various catalysts, including the possibility of a spot XRP ETF in the US, a development that Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has expressed confidence in. As spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs gain traction, industry leaders speculate that assets like XRP and Solana (SOL) could follow suit with similar products in the future.