A verdict in the prolonged legal battle between Ripple Labs and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission could be issued by Judge Analisa Torres within days, potentially concluding a landmark case central to XRP’s regulatory status and influencing cryptocurrency market dynamics.
The imminent ruling addresses the parties’ joint settlement motion, which proposes modifying the Final Judgment by lifting the court injunction against Ripple and reducing its civil penalty. Under the agreement, $50 million would be released to the SEC from the previously escrowed $125 million penalty, reflecting mutual efforts to expedite resolution.
Crucially, the district court’s decision is procedurally separate from the SEC’s ongoing appeal process, meaning Judge Torres could deliver her ruling regardless of appellate timeline extensions requested by regulators. Legal experts confirm this procedural independence, noting potential resolution within weeks rather than months.
The outcome stands to establish critical regulatory precedents for cryptocurrency classifications, with potential implications for XRP’s operational clarity and wider market litigation strategies. Observers anticipate ripple effects across the digital asset sector pending judicial confirmation of the settlement terms.