In the past 48 hours, several noteworthy developments have taken place within the Ripple (XRP) ecosystem. Here’s a summary of the key news from this period.

**Ripple Mints $25 Million Worth of RLUSD**

Earlier this week, Ripple minted 15% of RLUSD’s total supply, equating to roughly $25 million. This action increased the circulating supply to around $170 million, with most of it still operating on Ethereum rather than Ripple’s native protocol, the XRP Ledger (XRPL). This minting did not significantly affect XRP’s price, which remained mostly stable with a minor increase of about 1.6%, aligning with the broader market trend.

**1.7 Million XRP Payments Made in a Day**

March 17th was a significant day for the XRP Ledger, as it processed a remarkable 1.7 million payments. Although this number has since decreased to about 900K, it still indicates substantial activity. The volume of payments underscores the XRPL’s usability and its ongoing active and regular use, defying any perception of it being a dormant chain.

**Ripple v. SEC Lawsuit Speculations**

The lawsuit between Ripple and the US Securities and Exchange Commission remains a topic of significant interest, with its outcome expected to influence XRP’s price and the wider market. Speculation is mounting that Paul Atkins might become the next SEC chairman, potentially favorably resolving the case. Attorney Fred Rispoli, a frequent commentator on this legal battle, anticipates the lawsuit concluding before April 16th, coinciding with Ripple’s scheduled appellate brief filing.

**Ripple (XRP) Price Prediction: Important Level**

Regarding XRP’s price, a well-known crypto analyst has shared insights on its future trajectory. Ali Martinez notes that XRP is currently “testing the waters,” warning of a critical price level that, if breached, could lead to a drop down to $1.6.

“XRP is testing the waters! Below $2, a gap with no significant support could pull it to $1.6.”

$XRP testing the waters! Below $2, a gap with no significant support could pull it to $1.60. — Ali (@ali_charts) March 18, 2025