In early 2021, MoneyGram made headlines when it decided to end its partnership with Ripple Labs. The reason behind this move was the challenges posed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) lawsuit against Ripple, which alleged that the company had conducted unregistered securities offerings through its sale of XRP.
As one of Ripple’s most prominent partners, MoneyGram had been using RippleNet and XRP-based solutions for cross-border settlements. However, the regulatory uncertainty surrounding the lawsuit made it impossible for the partnership to continue.
MoneyGram CEO Alexander Holmes spoke about the decision in an interview with CoinDesk, stating, “We had a great experience with Ripple, but with the changes and challenges that the SEC put forward, it was very difficult for us to continue in that relationship. We both agreed to move on.”
Following the end of the partnership with Ripple, MoneyGram turned to Stellar (XLM) as its next choice. Stellar, co-founded by Jed McCaleb, who was also one of Ripple’s original founders, offered a different approach compared to Ripple. Stellar focused on consumer-facing solutions and stablecoin integration, which appealed to MoneyGram.
Holmes explained, “Ripple tends to focus on the back-end, cross-border funds flow through RippleNet. Stellar approached us with a front-end consumer model — the ability to operate between fiat and stablecoins. It was a great idea, and we wanted to be proactive and progressive in blockchain innovation.”
With Stellar, MoneyGram was able to pilot on/off-ramp services for USDC stablecoin, making it easier for consumers to convert between digital assets and fiat currencies across multiple countries. Holmes emphasized that Stellar and Ripple could complement each other in unique ways, bridging the gap between traditional finance and blockchain.
The long-running Ripple vs. SEC lawsuit finally came to an end in August 2025, marking a turning point for the crypto industry. This resolution lifted market sentiment and allowed Ripple to focus on real-world adoption. The growth drivers for XRP post-lawsuit included the expansion of new payment corridors, rising stablecoin adoption, and more tokenized assets launched on the XRP Ledger (XRPL).
With legal uncertainty behind it, XRP showed strength in its price performance. The token broke out from its previous range near $2.80 and climbed above $3.20. Ripple continued to build momentum on the business front, extending its digital asset custody partnership with BBVA and adding a new retail service in Spain.
Overall, the end of the lawsuit opened up new opportunities for Ripple and XRP, signaling a positive outlook for the future of the crypto industry.