Judge Denies Ripple Bid, Jeopardizing XRP ETF Hopes

- The court upheld a $125 million fine against Ripple and blocked its institutional XRP sales. - The ruling stalls XRP ETF ambitions amid ongoing SEC litigation. On June 26, 2025, Cryptopolitan, Blockworks, and Watcher.Guru reported that Judge Analisa Torres denied a joint motion from Ripple and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in their longstanding legal battle. The two parties had sought an indicative ruling. The decision leaves Ripple liable for a $125 million fine and prohibits its institutional XRP sales. This ruling creates significant barriers to Ripple’s plans for an XRP-based exchange-traded fund (ETF). The bid for an indicative ruling aimed to resolve the dispute through a mutual agreement. However, Judge Torres found no compelling grounds to overturn previous judgments. Emphasizing the public interest, the court clarified that private negotiations cannot undo existing rulings. As a result, the litigation will proceed, with appeals expected to begin on August 15, 2025. For Ripple, the ruling complicates efforts to establish an XRP ETF, which many view as critical for advancing the institutional adoption of its digital asset. Despite the setback, XRP’s market performance showed resilience, trading between $2.17 and $2.19. Reports of heightened "whale activity" revealed large-scale XRP accumulation, which fueled speculation of a breakout toward $3. Without a major catalyst, analysts predicted the price would consolidate within the $2.10–$2.20 range. Meanwhile, Ripple continues to expand its operational capabilities despite its legal hurdles. On June 26, RippleX, the firm’s development division, announced a partnership with the cross-chain protocol Wormhole. The partnership will integrate multichain interoperability into the XRP Ledger. This collaboration extends the ledger's connectivity to over 35 blockchain networks, enabling decentralized app creation and seamless cross-chain token transfers. On June 26, CoinMarketCap reported that XRP traded at $2.12 as of 18:15 UTC, reflecting a 3.04% drop in 24-hour trading volume.