XRP Faces Legal Setback as Judge Rejects Ripple’s Motion

XRP is under renewed pressure after a U.S. judge dismissed an important motion filed by Ripple in its ongoing legal struggle with the SEC. This decision delivers a fresh blow to the blockchain company as its efforts to reshape the legal narrative around its case fell flat in court.

U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres turned down Ripple’s request to modify the penalties from a previous judgment. Ripple, with support from the SEC, proposed reevaluating the $125 million penalty, aiming to reduce it to $50 million. Their legal argument fell under Rule 60(b), a procedural rule that allows relief from a final court decision under certain conditions. However, Judge Torres saw no compelling basis to reopen the case.

In her ruling, the judge emphasized the importance of maintaining judicial integrity, stating that court decisions are made in the public interest, not merely to accommodate parties involved. She noted there was no substantial shift in circumstances to justify altering the judgment. The SEC had previously advocated for even harsher penalties, citing Ripple’s ongoing potential for legal violations. According to the court, the underlying issues remain unchanged.

This development not only prolongs the legal battle but also intensifies uncertainty for XRP, as both Ripple’s appeal and the SEC’s cross-appeal will likely proceed. As legal expert Bill Morgan pointed out earlier, if the motion were rejected—as it now has been—the courtroom drama would continue unfolding through the appellate process.

Meanwhile, other digital assets and blockchain developments are making headlines. Metaplanet, a publicly traded investment firm based in Japan, announced a significant acquisition of Bitcoin. Through its official statement, the company revealed the purchase of an additional 1,234 BTC, bumping its total holdings to 12,345 BTC. This strategic move places Metaplanet as the seventh-largest corporate Bitcoin holder globally and the only company from Asia in the top 10 ranking.

Initially a hospitality-focused business, Metaplanet shifted its strategy in April last year to include Bitcoin, kickstarting the transition with a $6.5 million BTC investment. With ambitions of amassing 21,000 BTC by year-end 2026 and targeting a staggering 210,000 BTC by 2027, the firm aims to secure 1% of Bitcoin’s total circulation. Most of these acquisitions will be financed via equity warrants issued by its Florida-based unit, highlighting the company’s aggressive strategy of tapping U.S. capital markets.

Elsewhere in the crypto space, Shiba Inu (SHIB) demonstrated resilience amidst market fluctuations. According to IntoTheBlock data, a significant 66.3 trillion SHIB tokens are concentrated between $0.000009 and $0.000012—forming a robust support level. Of this, 43.9 trillion SHIB are currently in profit, suggesting a strong investor base. Another 22.4 trillion tokens are at breakeven levels, reinforcing the firmness of this price zone.

This clustering of high wallet density creates an effective barrier against downward pressure. Unless a significant market shakeout occurs, this consolidation zone acts as a cushion, making substantial downside moves less likely. As of the latest data, SHIB was trading at $0.00001126, reflecting a marginal 0.02% dip over 24 hours, according to CoinMarketCap.

Related: Expert Advice: Sell XRP If You’re Confused

In summary, while XRP grapples with continued legal headwinds, both Bitcoin and SHIB are seeing strategic accumulation and structural support, respectively. Ripple’s courtroom challenges are far from over, and their outcome will likely shape the company’s regulatory landscape and market trajectory in the coming years.