Judge Analisa Torres has rejected a joint request from Ripple and the SEC to reduce Ripple’s $125 million penalty and lift a court order restricting the company.
Judge Torries Denies Ripple – SEC Penalty Request
Ripple and the SEC had asked the court to cancel Ripple’s $125 million penalty and replace it with a $50 million fine, returning the other $75 million to Ripple. They also wanted the court to lift an order restricting Ripple’s activities. The goal was to end their long-running legal fight without more appeals.
But Judge Torres refused, saying the parties can’t change a court decision with a private deal unless they show “exceptional circumstances,” which they failed to do.
The case started in 2020 when the SEC sued Ripple for selling XRP tokens as unregistered securities. In 2023, the court ruled that Ripple only broke the law with institutional XRP sales. Ripple was fined $125 million in 2024, while the SEC’s request to recover profits (disgorgement) was denied.
Ripple’s Battle Is Not Over Yet
The SEC recently softened its stance on crypto after new leadership took over, dropping other lawsuits and forming a crypto task force. But the judge said this wasn’t enough reason to change Ripple’s penalty.
She added that Ripple and the SEC can still pursue or withdraw their appeals, but Ripple’s legal responsibilities remain.
Ripple’s Chief Legal Officer, Stuart Alderoty, said on X that despite the ruling, “XRP’s legal status as not a security remains unchanged.”
Meanwhile, the XRP price fell 3% to trade at $2.11, on a 17% increase in the daily trading volume to $3.14 billion.
