Ripple vs SEC lawsuit: Crypto enthusiasts following the Ripple versus SEC legal saga, take note! Legal experts are suggesting this case might drag on longer than the Coinbase situation.

Why could it take longer? Well, with a court ruling already on the books and a few other tricky legal hurdles, experts think Ripple’s fight is shaped by different issues compared to Coinbase’s recent agreement with regulators.

Ripple Vs SEC Lawsuit May Take Longer To Settle

With the SEC’s recent announcement about wrapping up the Coinbase lawsuit, everyone’s been buzzing about what it means for the Ripple case and when we might see an end to it. But here’s the thing: legal eagles are pointing out that the Ripple situation might not be as straightforward as the Coinbase resolution. A big reason for this? Judge Torres already made a ruling in the Ripple case, ordering them to cough up a $125 million penalty as part of a settlement with the SEC.

So, where does that leave Ripple? Experts say their options now involve trying to get that penalty lowered, which means both Ripple and the SEC would need to find common ground. Legal expert Sherrie recently chatted about this on X, mentioning that while a settlement is still possible, the way Judge Torres divided up Ripple’s sales probably isn’t going to change.

According to Sherrie, both Ripple and the SEC will have to really weigh up any request to cut down the penalty. And just to be clear, if they decide to drop the appeal, Judge Torres’s original ruling? Yeah, that stays exactly as it is.

“Because of the existing ruling, things are more complex for Ripple. That penalty is still on the table unless both sides agree to bring it down,” Sherrie explained.

Ripple’s Cross-Appeal and the Clock Ticking

Let’s not forget, the Ripple vs SEC case has another layer of complexity: Ripple’s cross-appeal. Legal brains are saying that when Ripple makes its next filing – expected in April – could be a real turning point for where this case goes next.

And get this, Ripple has even asked to push back the filing deadline all the way to April 16, 2025! That definitely hints that we might be in for a longer wait than some hoped. As Ripple’s legal team gears up for the appeal, both they and the SEC are going to have to carefully plan their next moves. While Ripple aims for an agreement or maybe even a settlement, figuring out how to reduce that penalty is likely still on their mind.

“That April deadline for Ripple’s next filing? It basically gives both sides more breathing room to talk and negotiate,” explained legal expert Bill Morgan.

The Appellate Court Factor in the Ripple Lawsuit

Another thing that could stretch out the Ripple vs SEC timeline? The Appellate Court getting involved. Unlike a District Court, this court uses a panel of three judges to review and weigh up the case, which naturally adds more time to the whole process. This is different from what happened with Coinbase, where things moved faster to a settlement, perhaps because they didn’t have this extra layer of appeal.

Eleanor Terrett, a journalist from FOX, pointed out that the SEC could still try to work out a deal with Ripple at the district court level. Judge Torres, who’s been overseeing the case, is still in charge until August 2025, and any changes to the original ruling would need her OK.

“With the Ripple case, there’s a lot up in the air. We don’t know exactly what the SEC will do next, and any big moves will likely need Judge Torres to sign off,” Terrett highlighted.

Adding to that, Jeremy Hogan also hinted that the Ripple vs SEC saga could take longer to play out because of all the extra steps that come with an appeal.

“This isn’t a simple case where they can just settle or drop everything easily,” Hogan commented.