A US district court judge has referred the Ripple lawsuit to a magistrate judge for possible settlement. This development comes after the court partially granted and denied the defendants' motion for summary judgment in the Zakinov v. Ripple case. The judge also disagreed with a previous ruling that XRP programmatic sales are not securities, sparking debate in the XRP community.

The class action lawsuit against Ripple, XRP II, and CEO Brad Garlinghouse has been ongoing in the District Court for the Northern District of California. Judge Phyllis Hamilton recently issued an order granting the defendants' motion for summary judgment on federal and state class claims. However, the defendants were denied summary judgment on plaintiff Sostack's individual claim under California law.

The judge also denied motions to exclude testimony from various experts, including Steven P. Feinstein, S.P. Kothari, and M. Laurentius. In a separate order, Judge Hamilton referred the case to Magistrate Judge Robert Illman for resolution between the parties. This move suggests a potential settlement may be on the horizon.

The Ripple community is closely watching the case, as it may have implications for the ongoing SEC vs. Ripple lawsuit. Some experts believe that the SEC may use this California case in its appeal against Judge Torres' summary judgment on XRP. However, the court must first determine whether XRP sales were security before addressing fraud issues.

In conclusion, the Ripple lawsuit has taken a new turn with its referral to a magistrate judge for potential settlement. While the outcome is uncertain, the case's impact on the XRP community and the broader cryptocurrency market is significant. As the legal proceedings unfold, investors and enthusiasts alike will be watching closely for any developments that may affect the future of XRP.