XRP News Today: Judge Rejects Ripple SEC Motion After 4.5 Year Legal Battle

Judge Analisa Torres recently rejected a joint attempt by Ripple and the SEC to modify the court’s previous judgment with an agreed-upon injunction. Legal expert Fred Rispoli believes this decision reveals something deeper and said, “Welcome to the new SEC — for now, more or less the same as the last one.”

Rispoli made a long post on X, stating that no legal barriers were preventing Judge Torres from accepting the motion. However, she did not. Rispoli breaks down two reasons for the rejection. First, Judge Torres is frustrated that the case dragged on for 4.5 years with intensive litigation. Another reason is that she may have political biases, possibly being resistant to perceived Trump-era influences in the case.

Rispoli says neither the SEC nor Ripple gave a strong enough reason to explain why the court should now ignore or soften the harsh words it previously used, like calling Ripple’s actions “egregious.” He thinks the SEC didn’t take real responsibility for its past actions in the Ripple case. There are two possible reasons for this, as per him. Neither Ripple nor the SEC ever discusses the need to include honest statements from current officials, which would be a big legal mistake. Else, the Ripple did ask, and the SEC refused.

Rispoli joked, likening the effort to a meme from Pawn Stars, saying, “This crappy motion on SEC letterhead is the best I can offer.” He says the SEC hasn’t really changed on crypto. He doubts the SEC will stay silent and let Ripple win, calling that a “0% chance.” Instead, he expects a quiet $50 million settlement, with the injunction left in place.

Rispoli says the court’s injunction doesn’t impact XRP’s secondary market or future ETF approvals. It only matters if the SEC chooses to enforce it, which seems unlikely under current leadership. As he puts it, “It only matters if the SEC wants it to matter.” He adds that the SEC has the authority to grant waivers that remove any restrictions from the injunction, like IPO timing. So nothing’s stopping them from clearing the path if they want to.

Ripple has already claimed it changed its business practices. Rispoli points to their use of the phrase “historic institutional sales” as a sign both sides are ready to move on. The denial of the joint motion by Judge Torres has significant implications for the ongoing lawsuit. It suggests that Judge Torres is taking a cautious approach to the case, ensuring that all legal procedures are followed meticulously. This decision also indicates that the judge is not inclined to make any hasty decisions that could potentially impact the outcome of the case.

The legal battle between Ripple and the SEC has been closely watched by the cryptocurrency community. The outcome of the case could set a precedent for how digital assets are regulated. Ripple has maintained that XRP, its native cryptocurrency, is not a security and should not be subject to the same regulations as traditional securities. The SEC, on the other hand, has argued that XRP meets the definition of a security and should be regulated accordingly.

The denial of the joint motion by Judge Torres has also sparked discussions about the potential for a settlement between Ripple and the SEC. Some analysts have suggested that the ongoing legal battle could be resolved through a settlement, which would allow both parties to avoid the uncertainty and costs associated with a prolonged court battle. However, it remains to be seen whether a settlement is a viable option for both parties.

The latest developments in the Ripple-SEC lawsuit highlight the complexities and challenges of regulating digital assets. As the cryptocurrency industry continues to evolve, it is likely that more legal battles will arise as regulators and companies grapple with the unique challenges posed by digital currencies. The outcome of the Ripple-SEC lawsuit will be closely watched by the cryptocurrency community and could have far-reaching implications for the future of digital asset regulation.