The never-ending legal battle between Ripple and the SEC just took another unexpected turn. In a recent development, Judge Analisa Torres denied a joint request from both Ripple and the SEC asking her to ease the penalties against Ripple and lift the existing restrictions.
The motion was meant to signal that the case was moving toward a settlement and that both sides were ready to put the past behind them. But instead, Judge Torres rejected it, saying the parties hadn’t shown a good enough reason to change her earlier ruling.
This decision caught many by surprise. Attorney Fred Rispoli, who’s been closely watching the case, shared that he fully expected Judge Torres to approve the request. He believed it would’ve been an easy way for the judge to acknowledge the SEC’s previous harsh approach to crypto, especially during the Gary Gensler era.
But now that the motion has been denied, Rispoli suggested there might be two possible reasons:
One, Judge Torres might simply be fed up. The case has dragged on for over four years, filled with endless delays, bitter arguments, and wasted court time. She could be sending a message to both sides that she’s done making this easy for them.
Two, and this is where things get interesting, Rispoli raised the possibility that politics might be playing a role. He explained that in the U.S. legal system, some judges quietly push back against whichever administration is in power.
Rispoli isn’t saying for sure that Judge Torres is doing this, but it’s a theory he now wants to test by watching how she handles other cases moving forward.
The language Judge Torres used in her denial was a problem for both Ripple and the SEC. In her ruling, she essentially repeated the SEC’s past claims that Ripple’s actions were reckless and deserved a $1 billion fine.
For now, the case moves ahead as planned in the appeals court. The next official update is expected in August 2025, when both sides have to submit a status report. Many in the XRP community are still hoping for a settlement before then, but this latest ruling makes it clear that the road ahead might be bumpier than expected.
Judge Torres denied the request to ease penalties and lift restrictions because both parties failed to show “exceptional circumstances” that would justify altering her prior judgment while the appeal is ongoing.
Her denial echoed the SEC’s past claims that Ripple’s actions were reckless and warranted a higher fine, potentially strengthening the SEC’s position and making future settlement negotiations more challenging for Ripple.
The case continues in appeals court. The next official update is a status report due in August 2025. Both Ripple and the SEC must now decide whether to proceed with their appeals or attempt a different settlement approach.
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