Ripple vs SEC Lawsuit Update: 60-Day Court Pause Explained

The legal battle between Ripple and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is taking yet another twist. While the U.S. Court of Appeals has agreed to pause the case for 60 days, this has sparked fresh speculation and raised new questions: Is something happening behind the scenes? Could a major shift be coming in one of crypto’s most closely watched legal fights?

Prominent crypto lawyer James Farrell has shared some insights that might offer clues – and they’re worth paying attention to.

Why the Pause?

According to Farrell, this pause may be a sign of major developments ahead. Both Ripple and the SEC asked for the pause together, which suggests they might be working on something behind closed doors.

Farrell says there are two possibilities in play: a potential settlement and an “indicative ruling” from Judge Analisa Torres. Ripple is hoping the judge will allow it to sell private tokens under certain conditions—something it’s currently not allowed to do because of past violations.

If Ripple isn’t allowed to sell tokens privately, it may not be able to go public any time soon. While other crypto companies might move ahead with IPOs, Ripple could be stuck waiting for years before launching its own.

Two Possible Paths Forward

Farrell explains that Ripple and the SEC might be considering two paths:

• Settlement Without Rule Change
  Ripple could offer a settlement to the SEC. If the SEC accepts the deal but denies Ripple’s request to change the rules, the case would end. However, Ripple would still need Judge Torres to approve the rule change. That process could take another 3 to 6 months – and there’s no guarantee the judge would say yes.
• Full Agreement With Rule Change
  In this option, the SEC agrees to both the settlement and Ripple’s request. The case would return to Judge Torres, who would then decide how to move forward. But even in this case, it could still take months, depending on how quickly the court acts.

How Soon Could This End?

If Ripple and the SEC reach a full agreement, the appeal could be dismissed as early as next month. But if Ripple has to file separately for rule changes, things could drag on much longer.

If no deal is made at all, the case could go back to the appeals court – possibly stretching the legal battle into late 2026 or even 2027.

The SEC is expected to make its next official move by June 15. Until then, both the crypto world and the legal community will be watching closely to see what happens next.

Ripple’s path forward might be uncertain, but the next few months could shape the future of crypto regulation in a big way.