Legal expert Jeremy Hogan has predicted that the Ripple vs. SEC saga could end in the first half of this year. This came as the analyst commented on the Commission’s agreement to end its lawsuit against Coinbase and how this could also impact the Ripple case.
Legal Expert Reveals Timeline For Potential Ripple Vs. SEC Settlement
In an X post, Hogan predicted a settlement in the Ripple vs. SEC could happen sometime in April or May. However, the legal expert admitted that an earlier resolution could definitely be in play following the Commission’s agreement to drop its two-year legal battle against the Coinbase crypto exchange.
Hogan noted that the Coinbase case was dismissed with prejudice, meaning the Commission cannot refile the case again. He added that this wasn’t even a settlement agreement with some minor concessions as the SEC agreed to drop the case unilaterally. In line with this, the lawyer opined that the Commission may not be waiting for SEC Chair nominee Paul Atkins to be confirmed before making big crypto moves.
As such, Hogan predicts that Ripple vs. SEC could be the next case to end as the Commission moves to drop its non-fraud cases against crypto firms. Former SEC official John Reed Stark also recently predicted that the Commission could soon drop the lawsuit following the developments in the Coinbase lawsuit.
In addition to the Coinbase lawsuit, the SEC hopes to end the Binance lawsuit soon. The agency has agreed with the crypto exchange to pause legal proceedings for 60 days. This again highlights the new SEC administration’s willingness to create a regulatory-friendly environment for the crypto industry rather than the enforcement approach that Gary Gensler’s SEC adopted.
This is why experts are convinced that the case will be resolved soon. In an X post, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse expressed optimism. He stated that the Commission has demonstrated a clear interest in quickly moving on from the last administration’s failed regulation and enforcement policies.
Why The Lawsuit May Be Harder To Settle
In an X post, expert Sherrie suggested that a Ripple vs. SEC settlement isn’t as straightforward as the Commission’s decision to drop the Coinbase lawsuit. She remarked that the Ripple lawsuit is more complicated, considering the parties have an existing ruling to contend with. This is in reference to Judge Analisa Torres’ ruling in which she awarded a $125 million penalty against the crypto firm.
Sherrie outlined a scenario in which Ripple and the SEC seek a penalty reduction order, lowering the amount the crypto firm is meant to pay. Meanwhile, she added that the likelihood that the appeal will go before the panel is now significantly reduced.
Based on her predictions, the Ripple vs. SEC appeal could be closed as both parties move to drop their appeal and cross-appeal. Then, they proceed back to the district court, seeking a penalty reduction order from Judge Torres.
