XRP’s Legal Battle Intensifies as Judge Torres Rejects Ripple-SEC Settlement

In a surprising turn of events, Judge Analisa Torres has rejected a proposed settlement between Ripple and the SEC, maintaining the $125 million penalty and leaving XRP’s regulatory status uncertain. This decision prolongs the legal battle and keeps the cryptocurrency market on edge regarding XRP’s future.

Ripple v. SEC: Legal Uncertainty Looms as Judge Torres Rejects Settlement Proposal

Judge Analisa Torres delivered a surprise ruling in the ongoing SEC vs. Ripple case, denying a proposed settlement that would have reduced Ripple’s penalty from $125 million to $50 million and eliminated a permanent injunction. The decision maintains regulatory pressure on XRP, leaving the cryptocurrency’s legal status in limbo.

Crypto expert Ashley Prosper suggests Judge Torres may revisit her ruling under specific conditions, though the court’s firm stance signals heightened scrutiny of digital asset securities violations. The rejection of the indicative ruling motion underscores the judiciary’s unwillingness to fast-track resolutions in high-profile crypto cases.

Ripple Partners with The Giving Block to Enable XRP and RLUSD Donations for U.S. Education

Ripple has teamed up with The Giving Block to facilitate cryptocurrency donations for education initiatives in the United States. The partnership allows Americans to contribute XRP and RLUSD to support classrooms and teachers through nonprofits like DonorsChoose and Teach For America.

"We’re proud to partner with Ripple to empower nonprofits with the tools they need to fundraise in the digital age," said Pat Duffy, co-founder of The Giving Block. The platform specializes in helping organizations accept and convert crypto donations into operational funds.

This initiative builds on Ripple’s longstanding commitment to education philanthropy. Since 2018, the company has donated over $200 million to universities and nonprofits globally. A recent $25 million contribution in RLUSD has already funded more than 31,000 classroom projects.

Volatility Shares to Launch First 1x XRP Futures ETF in US

Volatility Shares is set to introduce the first 1x XRP futures ETF in the U.S. on May 22, 2025. The ETF, named "XRPI," will trade under the ticker symbol "XRPI" and aims to provide investors with a lower-risk avenue to track XRP futures. Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas confirmed the launch, noting the existing 2x XRP ETF has $120 million in assets under management and averages $35 million in daily trading volume.

The 1x product is designed to appeal to both retail and institutional investors seeking exposure to XRP’s price movements without the unpredictability of Leveraged ETFs. This development comes as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) continues to delay decisions on other crypto-related ETFs.

XRP Price Prediction: Key Support Levels in Focus Amid Quiet Market

XRP’s price action remains subdued, hovering NEAR a critical support zone between $2.30 and $2.34. A daily close below $2.30 could trigger a decline toward $2.10–$2.15, though the broader structure retains bullish signals.

Higher lows and higher highs suggest sustained upward momentum, but temporary pullbacks are expected even in strong trends. Market participants await a decisive breakout or breakdown to confirm the next directional move.

THORChain to Integrate XRP, Enabling Cross-Chain Trading Next Week

THORChain has confirmed the imminent integration of XRP, marking a significant expansion of its cross-chain capabilities. The decentralized liquidity protocol will activate XRP scanning upon network churn resumption next week, with vault creation and pool bootstrapping to follow shortly thereafter.

Technical preparations are complete, with the XRP daemon now enabled by default in THORChain’s node-launcher. Developers must execute ’pull’ and ’make install’ commands to implement the update. This integration unlocks native XRP trading without wrapped assets, potentially increasing liquidity across decentralized exchanges.

The announcement has generated substantial anticipation within crypto circles, as THORChain continues bridging major blockchain ecosystems. Market observers note this development could further cement XRP’s utility in decentralized finance applications beyond its traditional payment network use case.

First-Ever XRP Futures ETF Set to Launch on Nasdaq

Volatility Shares will debut the first 1x XRP futures ETF on May 22, trading under the ticker XRPI. The fund marks a milestone for XRP, offering regulated exposure through Nasdaq-listed derivatives.

According to SEC filings, the ETF will allocate at least 80% of assets to XRP-linked investments via a Cayman Islands subsidiary. This launch follows the existing 2x leveraged XRP product, signaling institutional demand for the token.