The long-running legal battle between Ripple and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) took another unexpected turn this week, as Judge Analisa Torres refused a joint request to alter the final judgment in the XRP case. Legal experts are now offering possible reasons behind her rejection, suggesting personal and political motivations may have influenced the decision.

Background: Ripple and SEC Attempted to Modify $125M Penalty

Ripple and the SEC jointly filed a motion seeking to revise the final judgment in their case, requesting relief from a $125 million civil penalty and a permanent injunction imposed by the court. The motion was part of an attempt to bring a conclusive end to litigation that has stretched on for over four years.

However, Judge Torres denied the request, stating that the motion failed to present the “exceptional circumstances” required to alter a final judgment. According to the judge, once a ruling has been finalized, it cannot be changed by mutual agreement between the parties. Instead, such changes must come through a proper appeal process.

Lawyer Offers Two Bold Theories

Attorney Fred Rispoli took to social media platform X on June 25 to share his take on the court’s decision. He pointed to two possible motivations behind Judge Torres’ firm stance:

“One, she was pissed that the parties wasted 4.5 years of her time with bitter litigation. This reason is 100% in play.”

Rispoli’s first theory suggests the judge may be frustrated with the lengthy nature of the case, which began in 2020 and has seen multiple twists and high-profile statements. In his view, the refusal to adjust the penalty could be a reaction to the extensive time and effort invested in the proceedings.

“Two, she is hostile to the Trump administration and will do what she can to throw up obstacles. This reason is 100% in play for some federal judges …”

Rispoli’s second explanation attributes potential political bias, speculating that Judge Torres might be opposed to the Trump administration’s pro-crypto stance. While this remains speculative, Rispoli emphasized that political considerations sometimes influence decisions, even in federal courts.

What the Ruling Means for Ripple and XRP

Despite the court’s rejection, Rispoli believes the end of the legal battle may be near. He suggested that although the SEC previously signaled it might drop its appeal, the move hasn’t been made official. The agency still has the power to withdraw its challenge and allow Ripple’s appellate brief to go unopposed, but Rispoli placed the odds of this happening at “0%.”

Instead, he anticipates a settlement in the range of $50 million, with the injunction likely to remain in effect. This outcome, he noted, would allow both parties to exit the litigation with minimal additional damage.

“The parties will drop their appeals, settle at $50M, and move on with the injunction in place,” Rispoli predicted.

Injunction Doesn’t Impact XRP on Secondary Markets

One point of clarity is that the court’s ruling—and the standing injunction—does not affect XRP trading on secondary markets. Rispoli assured that the injunction is limited to Ripple’s institutional sales and will not interfere with potential XRP ETF approvals.

Ripple’s Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty also confirmed that the judge’s decision doesn’t alter XRP’s current legal status. XRP remains classified as not a security in secondary transactions, which has been a core issue since the beginning of the case.

“XRP’s legal status as not a security remains unchanged. In the meantime, it’s business as usual,” Alderoty said.

Judge Torres Cites Lack of Legal Grounds

In her ruling, Judge Torres reaffirmed that neither Ripple nor the SEC presented adequate justification to change the court’s final decision. She explained that the court does not allow finalized judgments to be renegotiated or revised by post-judgment agreements, regardless of how both parties view the case’s evolution.

“The parties do not have the authority to agree not to be bound by a court’s final judgment,” Torres wrote, highlighting the importance of maintaining legal precedent and the integrity of the judicial process.

Conclusion: Legal Closure Still in Sight

The Ripple and SEC motion rejection marks a symbolic moment in one of crypto’s most watched legal disputes. While Ripple faces a confirmed penalty and injunction, the broader XRP market remains unaffected. Legal experts believe the saga may soon conclude through a negotiated settlement, clearing the way for Ripple to move forward—possibly with a renewed focus on compliance and global expansion.

With no change to XRP’s legal standing in public markets, investor confidence appears intact. Now, attention turns to whether both parties will follow through on finalizing their appeals or settle the matter once and for all.