SEC and Ripple Strike Settlement: What’s Inside the New Deal?

• SEC & Ripple seek Judge Torres’ approval for a new settlement, signed after SEC’s May 8 green light
• The deal cuts Ripple’s fine to $50M (was $125M), lifts XRP sales ban, returns $75M escrow to Ripple
• Legal experts like Filan, Deaton are optimistic for approval, with case appeals currently paused

The U.S. SEC and Ripple Labs have filed a joint motion seeking an indicative ruling from Judge Analisa Torres to enforce the terms of a newly signed settlement agreement.

This comes after the SEC officially approved the agreement during a closed-door session on May 8, 2025, more than a month after Ripple and its top executives, Brad Garlinghouse and Chris Larsen, signed the deal on April 23, 2025.

Settlement Slashes Ripple Fine, Lifts XRP Sales Ban

The settlement significantly reduces Ripple’s financial penalty from $125 million to $50 million. It also seeks to vacate the permanent injunction previously imposed on Ripple’s future sales of XRP. 

If the court agrees, Ripple gets back $75 million from escrow. This agreement shows a major shift, with both sides compromising to end their long legal fight.

Related: Ripple Scraps XRP Reports Post-SEC Case, Switches to Flexible Disclosure

Judge Torres’ Decision Key to Finalizing SEC-Ripple Deal

In their filing under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 62.1, the SEC and Ripple asked Judge Torres for an indicative ruling on whether she would approve the agreed-upon relief.

If she signals she would approve it, the parties will request a limited remand from the appellate court. Upon remand, they’ll formally request the court dissolve the injunction and distribute the $125 million in escrow according to the agreement.

Following that, the SEC’s appeal and Ripple’s cross-appeal will be dismissed, fully resolving the case.

Legal Experts Optimistic on Ripple Settlement Approval

Defense attorney James K. Filan confirmed the filing of the settlement letter and laid out the roadmap for finalizing the resolution, noting that Judge Torres’ ruling will dictate the pace of the next steps.

Crypto attorney Bill Morgan provided a detailed breakdown of the settlement timeline. He emphasized the importance of the public interest standard, which Judge Torres must consider in her decision.

Pro-XRP lawyer John Deaton is also upbeat about approval, citing strong XRP holder support for Ripple. He pointed to the overwhelming support Ripple received from XRP holders during the litigation process.

“I don’t want to jinx anything, but the agreement below makes perfect sense, and it’s difficult to see it not going through,” Deaton said.

SEC vs. Ripple: End Nears Despite Uncertain Timeline

Appeals in the SEC-Ripple case are currently paused at the Second Circuit, awaiting Judge Torres’ initial decision on the settlement. 

Related: Ripple-SEC Deal Looks Real, But Timing Is Weird, Legal Expert Warns

While the exact timeline for a final end isn’t set, these latest filings strongly suggest the landmark SEC v. Ripple legal saga is finally nearing its conclusion.