XRP News Today: Judge Torres Denies Ripple SEC Settlement Bid, XRP Sales Restrictions Remain

Judge Analisa Torres, a prominent figure in the legal landscape, has played a pivotal role in shaping the future of XRP, the digital asset developed by Ripple Labs. Her rulings have had significant implications for the cryptocurrency industry, particularly in the ongoing legal battle between Ripple and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

When the SEC filed its lawsuit against Ripple in 2020, it landed in the courtroom of Judge Analisa Torres of the Southern District of New York (SDNY). This is a court that handles elite financial disputes and political cases. Crypto commentator Stellar Rippler argues this wasn’t random. According to his analysis, Judge Torres’ background, connections, and rulings reveal a deeper strategy behind the XRP lawsuit. Judge Torres is part of a powerful legal dynasty. She graduated from Harvard and Columbia Law, with a family legacy rooted deeply in New York’s judiciary. Her father, Frank Torres, was a New York Supreme Court Justice, and her grandfather served as a Bronx judge. Stellar Rippler reveals this is a third-generation legal insider with networks spanning decades. In 2013, President Obama appointed Torres to the SDNY. Notably, this was the same year Ripple was incorporated. Stellar Rippler suggests this timing isn’t accidental. The XRP Ledger quietly began onboarding banks, raising the possibility that the legal infrastructure needed to manage Ripple’s future challenges was being prepared early.

Torres’s résumé includes extensive experience in financial fraud, institutional litigation, and real estate law. He believes Torres’s time in the NYC Criminal Court and the New York Supreme Court prepared her for cases with heavy financial and public implications. In July 2023, Judge Torres ruled that XRP sold to retail investors is not a security, but XRP sold to institutions is. Following this, she handed down her final ruling in August 2024, lowering the SEC’s $2 billion demand to $125 million. This allowed retail hype to surge while institutional clarity remained restricted. More importantly, Stellar Rippler noted that the case remained open, and both parties filed appeals shortly after. In 2025, Ripple and the SEC jointly requested to dismiss their appeals, but Torres denied two joint motions aimed at kick-starting the settlement process. Stellar Rippler argues that this was deliberate, maintaining public uncertainty while the institutional ecosystem quietly builds. Attached to this post is a video of BlackRock CEO Larry Fink speaking about tokenization, which reinforces the claim that XRP is tied to broader financial infrastructure. Stellar Rippler also noted that Torres’s Columbia Law background connects her to a pipeline feeding SDNY. Her mentor, Judge Richard Holwell, worked alongside BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, and WEF-linked figures. Stellar Rippler’s analysis suggests that Judge Torres isn’t just ruling on the law, but controlling when the financial system publicly adopts blockchain technology and whether XRP leads that transformation.

Judge Torres' background is notable, with a prestigious educational history that includes Harvard and Columbia. Her legal acumen and experience have positioned her as a key figure in high-stakes cases, including the XRP legal dispute. Her rulings have been meticulous, reflecting a deep understanding of both the legal framework and the nuances of the cryptocurrency market. Recently, Judge Torres denied a joint request from the SEC and Ripple to erase key parts of the final judgment, including a permanent injunction against Ripple's institutional sales of XRP. This denial underscores the judge's commitment to maintaining the integrity of her rulings and ensuring that both parties adhere to the legal standards set forth in the case. The permanent injunction remains in place, prohibiting Ripple from conducting unregistered, direct institutional sales of XRP in the U.S. However, Ripple can continue open market sales and pursue institutional sales under proper regulatory exemptions or registration.

The legal drama surrounding XRP has had far-reaching implications for the cryptocurrency industry. Judge Torres' rulings have not only clarified the regulatory status of XRP but have also set a precedent for how other digital assets may be treated under securities laws. Her decisions have been closely watched by industry stakeholders, who see them as a barometer for the future of cryptocurrency regulation. In summary, Judge Analisa Torres has emerged as a critical figure in the legal fate of XRP. Her rulings have provided much-needed clarity on the regulatory status of the digital asset, distinguishing between retail and institutional sales. Her background and legal expertise have positioned her as a key player in the ongoing legal battle between Ripple and the SEC, with her decisions having far-reaching implications for the cryptocurrency industry.