Ripple CEO Says Former SEC Chair’s “Hypocrisy is Shocking”

Godfrey Benjamin
October 28, 2023 Updated July 22, 2025
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Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse Kamala Harris Crypto regulation

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has lashed out against Jay Clayton, the former Chairman of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for showing hypocrisy when it comes to discussions around corporate litigation and the agency’s role.

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Ripple CEO Recalls Lawsuit’s Initiator

Responding to a CNBC roundtable talk featuring Jay Clayton as shared by Gemini CEO, Cameron Winklevoss, the Ripple CEO recalled that the close to 3-year lawsuit Ripple battled was initiated by Clayton.

One major concern that appeared to anger Garlinghouse was the fact that Clayton left the SEC days after the Ripple lawsuit was filed. The CNBC interview saw Clayton criticizing current SEC Chairman Gary Gensler for abuse of power with respect to the agency’s mode of bringing enforcement actions against crypto firms.

Since taking over the reins at the SEC, Gary Gensler has sued Kraken Exchange for its staking program earlier this year. The markets regulator scored a $30 million settlement with the trading platform agreeing to stop the offering. Besides Kraken, Coinbase Exchange and Binance have also come under the crosshairs of the regulator as the commission claims both platforms facilitated the trading of unregistered crypto securities.

Some of the securities alleged include Cardano (ADA), Solana (SOL), Filecoin (FIL), and Decentraland (MANA) amongst others.

Despite the high-profile cases under Gary Gensler’s SEC, Ripple Labs’ lawsuit as initiated by Clayton is considered the highest-profile legal brawl in the crypto ecosystem in the past few years. It was not until July that the payments firm snatched its first major win as Judge Analisa Torres declared that the programmatic sales of XRP do not constitute an investment contract.

The aspect of the lawsuit that entangled Garlinghouse and Ripple founder Chris Larsen was also dropped by the SEC this month.

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Positive Precedent Set

The Ripple vs SEC lawsuit has formed a precedent for other related legal cases in the industry according to experts even though there is an institutional aspect of the case to settle in the coming weeks. The ruling from Judge Analisa Torres favored the SEC in that she claimed Ripple’s sales of XRP to institutional investors violates securities laws.

For this, the SEC is demanding a settlement and conversations around this is billed to start as from November 9. In all, with Coinbase and Binance cases still pending, expectation mounts that these firms can benefit from the ruling in the Ripple case.

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Investment disclaimer: The content reflects the author’s personal views and current market conditions. Please conduct your own research before investing in cryptocurrencies, as neither the author nor the publication is responsible for any financial losses.
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Why Trust CoinGape

CoinGape has covered the cryptocurrency industry since 2017, aiming to provide informative insights Read more…to our readers. Our journal analysts bring years of experience in market analysis and blockchain technology to ensure factual accuracy and balanced reporting. By following our Editorial Policy, our writers verify every source, fact-check each story, rely on reputable sources, and attribute quotes and media correctly. We also follow a rigorous Review Methodology when evaluating exchanges and tools. From emerging blockchain projects and coin launches to industry events and technical developments, we cover all facets of the digital asset space with unwavering commitment to timely, relevant information.

About Author
About Author
Benjamin Godfrey is a blockchain enthusiast and journalists who relish writing about the real life applications of blockchain technology and innovations to drive general acceptance and worldwide integration of the emerging technology. His desires to educate people about cryptocurrencies inspires his contributions to renowned blockchain based media and sites. Benjamin Godfrey is a lover of sports and agriculture. Follow him on X, Linkedin
Investment disclaimer: The content reflects the author’s personal views and current market conditions. Please conduct your own research before investing in cryptocurrencies, as neither the author nor the publication is responsible for any financial losses.
Ad Disclosure: This site may feature sponsored content and affiliate links. All advertisements are clearly labeled, and ad partners have no influence over our editorial content.