The XRP Saga Takes Yet Another Turn with Judge Torres

Good day, folks. Gather ‘round, because today we’re diving back into the wild, winding tale of Ripple, the SEC, and that little digital asset called XRP—a story that’s been twisting through courtrooms and crypto exchanges for years now, with more plot twists than a radio serial from days gone by. If you’ve been following along with me, you know this saga has had its share of cliffhangers, and today, June 26, 2025, we’ve got another chapter to unpack. So, sit back, and let me tell you what's happening with XRP again...

It all started back in December 2020, when the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission fired a legal salvo at Ripple Labs, accusing them of raising over $1.3 billion through unregistered XRP sales—sales they claimed were securities, plain and simple. Ripple, they said, was selling promises of profit tied to their own efforts, and that made XRP a security under the law. The crypto world held its breath. XRP’s price took a nosedive, exchanges delisted it, and investors wondered if this was the end for the token that powered cross-border payments faster than a telegram could cross the Atlantic in the old days.

But Ripple didn’t back down. They fought, and in July 2023, Judge Analisa Torres handed down a landmark ruling that sent shockwaves through the crypto markets. She split the baby, as they say: XRP sales to institutional investors? Those were securities, and Ripple had broken the law. But programmatic sales—those anonymous trades on exchanges to retail investors? Not securities. The third prong of the Howey Test, that expectation of profits from the efforts of others, didn’t hold up. XRP soared, hitting $0.80 overnight, and the crypto faithful celebrated like it was V-E Day. But the SEC wasn’t done. They appealed, and Ripple cross-appealed, and the case trudged on, with a $125 million penalty and a permanent injunction slapped on Ripple in August 2024.

Fast forward to this year, and the plot thickened.

A new SEC chair, a crypto-friendly administration, and whispers of a settlement began to swirl. On June 12, 2025, Ripple and the SEC filed a joint motion, asking Judge Torres for an indicative ruling—a kind of judicial sneak preview—to dissolve the injunction on XRP institutional sales and cut that $125 million penalty down to $50 million. The crypto world buzzed with hope. If both sides dropped their appeals, XRP could break free of its legal shackles, maybe even pave the way for spot ETFs and a price surge past its 2025 high of $3.39. The XRP community was abuzz, with posts flying like teletypes, speculating on a resolution that could redefine crypto regulation.

But here’s where the story takes its latest turn. Today, June 26, 2025, word broke that Judge Analisa Torres denied that joint motion.

Yes, you heard that right—denied it, just as she did the first attempt back in May.

And what about the markets? XRP’s been a rollercoaster, dropping 0.26% today to close at $2.1853, underperforming a crypto market that’s up 0.49%. It’s hovering above the $2 mark, but below the 50-day moving average, with bears eyeing a drop to $1.92 and bulls dreaming of a breakout to $2.65 if Torres ever gives the green light. The 14-day Relative Strength Index sits at a cautious 37.65, whispering that XRP’s not oversold yet, but it’s close.

So, what’s the rest of the story? Well, we don’t know the ending just yet. Judge Torres, like a seasoned storyteller, is keeping us on the edge of our seats.

Will she approve a refiled motion, clearing the way for a settlement that could send XRP to new highs? Or will the appeals drag on into 2026, with the SEC and Ripple locked in a legal dance as old as radio itself?

One thing’s for sure: in the world of crypto, where fortunes rise and fall faster than a stock ticker in ‘29, the XRP saga is far from over.

And now you know the latest drama of XRP yet again.