Author: Ambre HOAREAU
Publication date: 17.07.2024
A major lawsuit has shaken the crypto market at the end of 2020 when the SEC went after Ripple’s XRP. While the final verdict came out last year, it is possible that the issue brings more challenges in the future, for XRP but also other cryptocurrencies as well. Who are they ? What happened ? It is completely legitimate to ask these questions and that is why we’ll try to give them some answers below.
XRP and Ripple
- XRP is a cryptocurrency created by Ripple Labs. It is designed to facilitate fast and cost-effective cross-border payments. Transactions with XRP are confirmed within seconds, and the fees are very low, making it an attractive solution for international money transfers.
- Ripple is a technology company based in San Francisco, founded in 2012. It develops financial solutions using blockchain technology to enhance the efficiency of global payments. Ripple created the XRP Ledger, the decentralized blockchain that powers XRP, and uses these technologies to provide fast and low-cost payment services.
The SEC
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is a federal regulatory agency that focuses on protecting investors, maintaining fair, orderly, and efficient markets, and facilitating capital formation. The SEC enforces securities laws to ensure that the securities industry is transparent and fair, while also overseeing activities. Such as requiring public companies to disclose financial and other significant information, investigating and prosecuting violations of securities laws like insider trading, fraud, and market manipulation or even overseeing stock exchanges, broker-dealers, investment advisors, and mutual funds. Maintaining investor confidence and the integrity of the U.S. financial markets is crucial for the SEC's role.
Legal Battle
Starting from 2020 and until 2023, a legal battle opposed the SEC to Ripple concerning XRP. The SEC accused Ripple of selling unregistered securities by helding an initial public offering of XRP. However, Ripple asserts that XRP is not a security but rather a cryptocurrency, and claims that the SEC failed to inform them that it would be considered a security. The whole trial revolves around the classification of XRP, with Ripple arguing that it is like any other cryptocurrency, while the SEC maintains that XRP is a security and should have been subject to different regulations that were not adhered to.
The final verdict came out in July 2023 with a partial victory for both parties, affirming that XRP is in fact not a security but emphasizing the fact that certain sales do fall into the unregistered transactions denounced by the SEC.
Conclusion
Overall, the whole situation between Ripple and SEC proved how much and how fast changes can arise in the cryptocurrency industry. One of the main examples being how some crypto platforms stopped selling XRP during the lawsuit. Therefore, this case not only altered the direction of XRP but will probably also affect a lot more cryptocurrencies in the future, regarding potential new policies and regulations. But also serving as an example as for how these types of cases could happen or demonstrate how they can be apprehended.
Seeing how this could have gone for Ripple and XRP users but also for others, it forces us to remember how shifting crypto really is.
You can also read about:
Reference List
Comments