Ripple vs SEC Case Settlement: MetaLawMan Warns of a Possible Delay

As the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) takes progressive steps to resolve ongoing crypto lawsuits, attention is now focused on the landmark XRP lawsuit. Though many believe that the Ripple vs SEC case settlement is imminent, legal experts like MetaLawMan warn of a possible delay in the case.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is reportedly delaying the resolution of the XRP lawsuit due to the complexities involved in the case, according to legal experts.

Despite hopes for an imminent settlement, lawyer James Murphy, known on Twitter as MetaLawMan, suggests that the SEC might be prioritizing other pending crypto lawsuits. In a recent post, Murphy speculates that Ripple's case may not conclude swiftly.

Previously, Murphy stated that the XRP lawsuit could be settled before Ripple files its appellate brief on April 16, 2025, suggesting that a swift resolution is unlikely.

The lawyer bases his assumptions on the complexities surrounding the Ripple vs SEC case, particularly Judge Analisa Torres' XRP judgment and Ripple's $125 million penalty.

"The only reason I list Ripple last is the complexity involved in negotiating a resolution," wrote MetaLawMan. "Ripple is the only live crypto case with a final judgment in place. So, the SEC & Ripple lawyers must negotiate what to do about the judgment & the money escrowed for that judgment. That takes time."

In a surprising turn of events, US government insider Empower Oversight (EO) has raised concerns over the potential conflicts of interest within the SEC. In particular, EO alleges that Bill Hinman, the former SEC Director, was biased against Ripple and XRP.

This view arises from Hinman's classification of Bitcoin and Ethereum as the only non-securities, a decision that has been heavily contested by the crypto community.

Significantly, the Hinman controversy revolves around his ties to the law firm Simpson Thatcher which has connections to Ethereum. EO alleges that Hinman received millions from the law firm for classifying Ethereum as a non-security.

Despite warnings, Hinman continued meeting with Simpson Thacher employees, raising concerns about conflicts of interest. If the Office of the Inspector General confirms conflicts of interest, the SEC may face increased pressure to withdraw its appeal. This could significantly be influencing the ongoing XRP lawsuit.

In a recent development, the SEC dismissed charges against Coinbase and terminated its investigation into Robinhood. Additionally, the SEC acknowledged XRP ETF applications submitted by various investment firms including Grayscale, CoinShares, Canary Capital, 21Shares, and Bitwise.

This marks a significant shift from the agency's previous “regulation by enforcement” moves, which saw several crypto companies having to settle with the SEC over claims that their tokens were unregistered securities.

Though the regulator's recent moves have sparked optimism, uncertainty still surrounds the resolution of the XRP lawsuit. Lawyer Jeremy Hogan is optimistic that the Ripple lawsuit will conclude by April or May, ahead of a potential US SEC approval for an XRP ETF.