A crypto lawyer weighs in on Judge Torres’ recent decision and predicts a swift resolution to the long-running Ripple vs. SEC case.
Judge Torres’ Denial: A Political Move?
Crypto attorney Fred Rispoli was surprised when Judge Analisa Torres rejected Ripple and the SEC’s joint motion to settle the XRP lawsuit. He believes her refusal wasn’t about legal flaws, but rather stemmed from either frustration with the lengthy litigation or political motivations related to the Trump administration. He points out the irony that the judge’s order heavily criticized Ripple’s actions, echoing the SEC’s own harsh assessments that justified a billion-dollar fine, yet the SEC offered no official testimony to acknowledge past mistakes or change its stance.
Rispoli highlights the SEC’s failure to include statements from commissioners admitting errors or expressing regret over the lawsuit. He suggests this inaction either resulted from poor communication between Ripple and the SEC or a deliberate choice by the SEC to avoid admitting fault. He believes the SEC’s behavior reflects a pattern of protecting itself regardless of administration or public interest. He further expresses his disillusionment with US regulatory bodies, citing examples of misconduct.
When Will It All End?
Rispoli predicts a settlement is imminent. He outlines two scenarios for the August status update: either the appeal continues, pushing resolution to late 2026/early 2027, or the parties announce a settlement, potentially by the end of July or early August. He strongly believes the latter will occur.
He downplays the impact of the existing injunction on Ripple’s institutional XRP sales, arguing it only matters if the SEC chooses to enforce it. He sees Ripple’s recent statements as a sign that a settlement is near, with both sides finding a way to move forward.
The Settlement Prediction
Rispoli anticipates a settlement around $50 million, with the injunction remaining in place. If he’s right, the drawn-out XRP lawsuit could be over within weeks. At the time of this writing, XRP was trading at $2.099.
