Settlement Denied: XRP Drops After Ripple Hits Legal Roadblock

Christian Encila

4 weeks ago

3 mins read

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Ripple’s bid to wrap up its long‑running fight with the US Securities and Exchange Commission hit a snag on May 15. A federal judge in New York tossed out the deal because it was filed the wrong way. This hiccup doesn’t change past rulings, but it does force both sides back to the drawing board.

Court Blocks Settlement Motion

According to court papers, Judge Analisa Torres ruled that Ripple and the SEC used the wrong rule to ask for a change. They tried to dissolve an injunction and chop a $125 million fine down to $50 million. But under Rule 60, you need to prove “exceptional circumstances” when you’re asking to revisit a final order. Without that proof, the judge said the motion was “procedurally improper” and tossed it.

Nothing in today’s order changes Ripple’s wins (i.e. XRP is not a security, etc). This is about procedural concerns with the dismissal of Ripple’s cross-appeal. Ripple and the SEC are fully in agreement to resolve this case and will revisit this issue with the Court, together. https://t.co/vBQdBD3FNe

— Stuart Alderoty (@s_alderoty) May 15, 2025

Source: US District Court Southern District NY/SEC.

Parties Must Refile Under Rule 60

Based on reports from attorney James Filan on X, Ripple and the SEC agreed on the deal back on May 8. They even filed papers together. Yet, they skipped the part about showing why they should get a do‑over.

Now, both sides have to write up a new motion. Fred Rispoli, another lawyer, said they’ll have to “do it the hard, messy way” by following the rule book. That means spelling out why a final court decision needs a second look.

Market Reacts With Price Drop

When word got out, XRP took a hit. The price slid about 2.5% in a single day. Open interest also fell by 9% to $4.90 billion, according to CoinGlass data. Long positions worth over $21 million were wiped out as traders scrambled to cut losses. Short‑term traders are watching a key support level at $2.35. If that line holds, we might see a bounce. If it breaks, prices could dip even further.

XRP price down in the last 24 hours. Source: Coingecko

Legal Wins Remain Intact

Ripple’s chief legal officer, Stuart Alderoty, reminded everyone that past victories are safe. In 2023, a judge ruled that XRP wasn’t a security in programmatic sales. Institutional sales still count as securities, but retail sales were cleared.

Alderoty said on X that this recent setback is just about “procedural concerns with the dismissal of Ripple’s cross‑appeal.” He made it clear that nothing in that ruling takes away what Ripple already won.

Next Steps For Ripple And SEC

Now, both sides face a longer road ahead. They’ll need to gather evidence for a new Rule 60 motion. That could push any final settlement into late summer or beyond. Until then, traders will keep their eyes on court calendars and price charts.

Featured image from Bankless Times, chart from TradingView

Christian Encila

They say journalists never truly clock out. But for Christian, that's not just a metaphor, it's a lifestyle. By day, he navigates the ever-shifting tides of the cryptocurrency market, wielding words like a seasoned editor and crafting articles that decipher the jargon for the masses. When the PC goes on hibernate mode, however, his pursuits take a more mechanical (and sometimes philosophical) turn.

Christian's journey with the written word began long before the age of Bitcoin. In the hallowed halls of academia, he honed his craft as a feature writer for his college paper. This early love for storytelling paved the way for a successful stint as an editor at a data engineering firm, where his first-month essay win funded a months-long supply of doggie and kitty treats – a testament to his dedication to his furry companions (more on that later).

Christian then roamed the world of journalism, working at newspapers in Canada and even South Korea. He finally settled down at a local news giant in his hometown in the Philippines for a decade, becoming a total news junkie. But then, something new caught his eye: cryptocurrency. It was like a treasure hunt mixed with storytelling - right up his alley!

So, he landed a killer gig at NewsBTC, where he's one of the go-to guys for all things crypto. He breaks down this confusing stuff into bite-sized pieces, making it easy for anyone to understand (he salutes his management team for teaching him this skill).

Think Christian's all work and no play? Not a chance! When he's not at his computer, you'll find him indulging his passion for motorbikes. A true gearhead, Christian loves tinkering with his bike and savoring the joy of the open road on his 320-cc Yamaha R3. Once a speed demon who hit 120mph (a feat he vowed never to repeat), he now prefers leisurely rides along the coast, enjoying the wind in his thinning hair.

Speaking of chill, Christian's got a crew of furry friends waiting for him at home. Two cats and a dog. He swears cats are way smarter than dogs (sorry, Grizzly), but he adores them all anyway. Apparently, watching his pets just chillin’ helps him analyze and write meticulously formatted articles even better.

Here's the thing about this guy: He works a lot, but he keeps himself fueled by enough coffee to make it through the day - and some seriously delicious (Filipino) food. He says a delectable meal is the secret ingredient to a killer article. And after a long day of crypto crusading, he unwinds with some rum (mixed with milk) while watching slapstick movies.

Looking ahead, Christian sees a bright future with NewsBTC. He says he sees himself privileged to be part of an awesome organization, sharing his expertise and passion with a community he values, and fellow editors - and bosses - he deeply respects.

So, the next time you tread into the world of cryptocurrency, remember the man behind the words – the crypto crusader, the grease monkey, and the feline philosopher, all rolled into one.

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