XRP Lawsuit: Is Judge Torres Playing Politics with Ripple’s Fate Amid Trump’s Shadow?

Ripple's legal saga takes a suspicious turn—just as the 2024 election dust settles. Judge Analisa Torres' delayed ruling on XRP's regulatory status sparks whispers of political maneuvering. Could Trump-era tensions still be influencing crypto's most watched case?

Behind the Bench: The Curious Timing

With no major filings since Q1 2025, legal experts note the unusual lull. Torres previously ruled XRP isn't inherently a security—a partial win for Ripple that sent the token soaring 75% in 24 hours. Now, the silence speaks volumes.

The Trump Card Nobody Wants

Sources suggest the DOJ may be pressuring for a harsher settlement before November's administration change. After all, what better legacy item than 'tamed the crypto wild west' for a departing administration? Never mind that XRP transactions grew 210% year-over-year during the case.

Ripple's Billion-Dollar Waiting Game

The company's legal fees reportedly crossed $150M last quarter—chump change compared to the $13B market cap swing hanging in the balance. Meanwhile, hedge funds quietly accumulate XRP at 80% below its ATH, because nothing says 'smart money' like betting on bureaucratic dysfunction.

Final Thought: Justice delayed might just be justice... repriced. Again.

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.

Is Politics Getting Involved?

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.

A Missed Chance for Ripple and the SEC

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.