Ex-SEC Lawyer Affirms Settlement in XRP Lawsuit

The Ripple SEC case is in debate again as the deadline for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to file its initial brief approaches. A former US SEC lawyer said the parties will likely settle as ruled earlier by Judge Analisa Torres. The incoming Donald Trump administration and SEC Chair Paul Atkins may decide to not pursue the appeal in XRP lawsuit.

Ex-SEC Lawyer Says Settlement in Ripple SEC Case Most Likely

Marc Fagel, a former SEC enforcement attorney, on January 6 posts explained to the crypto community that the government agency didn’t lose, but won in part and lost in part. This requires a settlement between parties as both Ripple and SEC appealed the part they lost.

“Because both parties appealed the part of the case they lost. So the penalty is on hold pending appeal,” he added. The court ordered Ripple to pay $125 million in penalty for $700 million in unregistered securities sales to institutional investors.

Marc Fagel asserts the odds of new SEC administration deciding not to pursue the appeal is higher, which will make parties settle Ripple SEC case on what the court ruled. However, he affirmed that the SEC under Gary Gensler will file appeal by January 15.

Pro-XRP Lawyer Expect May End Timeline for XRP Lawsuit

As reported first by CoinGape Media, lawyer Jeremy Hogan has predicted an April or May timeline for the end of the Ripple SEC case. He added that the decision may not come before that as it takes a lot of time to get reports, memos, requisite SEC meetings and others.

Today, he again commented that Paul Atkins will definitely drop the appeal and settle with Ripple to end XRP lawsuit in 2025.

I definitely think that’s the most likely scenario (with the Ripple case being a non-fraud/no investor’s harmed case). Like most of these things, it’s just the timing that is difficult to lock down – maybe April or May?

— Jeremy Hogan (@attorneyjeremy1) January 5, 2025

What’s Next Under Paul Atkins?

Experts and the crypto community believe the end of Ripple SEC case will boost the odds for XRP ETF approval. This may also trigger a rally in XRP price.

CEO Brad Garlinghouse in a post on Sunday criticized the SEC under Gary Gensler saying the actions “froze our business opportunities here at home for years.” He highlights that 75% of Ripple’s open job roles are now US-based and the company has signed new deals in the U.S. in the last six weeks.

“Team Trump is already jumpstarting innovation and job growth in the US with Scott Bessent, David Sacks, Paul Atkins and others at the helm, and they aren’t even in office yet! Say what you want, but the “Trump effect” is already making crypto great again.”

Meanwhile, analysts expect XRP price to see another rally to double-digit figures, similar to a 400% rally after Trump’s re-election.

In short-term, XRP price to consolidate at the current range for weeks and then rally towards a new all-time high, as per analyst CrediBULL Crypto. “Currently trading at around where I closed my last long. We’ve taken some liquidity above us into local supply. Currently eye-ing up the orange zone for another potential long trade,” he predicted.