XRP Lawsuit Drama: Legal Expert Says Ripple Case Could Drag On Even Longer
The SEC is under fire for how it is handling cryptocurrency cases. While recent moves look like a more relaxed regulatory approach, the XRP lawsuit is still up in the air.
Legal analyst James Murphy, aka MetaLawMan, thinks the SEC is stalling on the Ripple case. Despite closing the Robinhood investigation and dropping charges against Coinbase, the SEC has not given a timeline for the Ripple case. Murphy says the case is being put on the backburner while the SEC focuses on bigger crypto companies like Binance, Gemini and Kraken.
Key Factors Complicating the XRP Lawsuit
MetaLawMan had suggested Ripple might settle before filing its April 16, 2025 appellate brief. But newly emerged developments indicate a quick resolution is unlikely due to the following:
Judge Torres’ Ruling: Judge Analisa Torres’ decision to classify XRP differently from other cryptos complicates the SEC’s enforcement approach.
Ripple’s $125M Fine: The SEC’s big fine on Ripple makes negotiations tricky as both sides haggle over the terms.
Ongoing Precedents: The SEC’s other crypto cases may impact the XRP lawsuit’s outcome and prolong the process.
Conflict of Interest Allegations Shake the Case
A new layer of controversy has emerged after allegations of conflict of interest within the SEC. Empower Oversight, a U.S. government watchdog, has raised concerns about former SEC Director Bill Hinman’s ties to Ethereum-linked law firm Simpson Thacher. Hinman’s classification of Bitcoin and Ethereum as not securities while targeting XRP has raised accusations of regulatory bias.
Hinman’s Ethereum Ties: Allegations say Hinman received millions from Simpson Thacher while advocating for Ethereum’s favorable regulatory treatment.
SEC Under Pressure: If the Office of the Inspector General confirms these conflicts, the SEC may have to back off or drop the appeal against Ripple.
Impact on Case Resolution: More scrutiny may force the SEC to settle out of court or drag out the case.
How Coinbase and Robinhood Cases Influence XRP
Recent SEC actions against big crypto companies might give us a clue about the XRP case:
SEC Drops Robinhood Investigation: The regulator ending the Robinhood investigation suggests a change of heart.* Coinbase Charges Dropped: Dropping charges against Coinbase means a possible shift away from litigious enforcement.
XRP ETF Applications Moving: Grayscale and 21Shares are applying for an XRP ETF and investors are hopeful.
But lawyer Jeremy Hogan thinks the Ripple case might be over by April or May and XRP ETF could follow. However, SEC’s regulatory position still people uncertainty.
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