Breaking: US SEC to Appeal Judge Torres’ XRP Ruling

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced its intention to appeal the recent XRP ruling made by Judge Analisa Torres.

The ruling had been widely regarded as a partial victory for Ripple Labs, the company closely associated with the XRP cryptocurrency, but the SEC’s decision to appeal throws the case back into uncertainty and raises questions about the regulatory landscape for cryptocurrencies in the US.

Issues Raised by the SEC in the Appeal Push

In a letter submitted to the Southern District of New York, the SEC’s appeal is centered around the Court’s assertion that certain aspects of Ripple’s XRP transactions did not involve the offer or sale of securities under the precedent set by the Howey test.

At the heart of this appeal lies the interpretation of whether Ripple’s “Programmatic” offers and sales to XRP buyers, as well as its “Other Distributions” in exchange for labor and services, constitute the sale of securities. 

In addition, the SEC revealed its decision to seek interlocutory review, essentially a review of a decision before the conclusion of the full trial. This approach is informed by the desire to avoid prolonged litigation and the possibility of multiple trials, as well as to address the implications for other pending actions that may hinge on the resolution of these issues.

What the SEC Appeal Will Look Like

The SEC’s decision to appeal Judge Torres’ ruling adds another layer of complication to the ongoing case. This decision to file an appeal suggests that it is unwilling to accept the judge’s interpretation of the law and is determined to argue for its own classification of XRP as a security. 

However, this action calls into question the SEC’s stance on crypto regulation as well as its willingness to adapt to the quickly changing digital asset landscape.

Meanwhile, the appeal process could take months or even years, further prolonging the uncertainty surrounding XRP’s regulatory status. During this period, the crypto market and investors will be in oblivion, unsure whether XRP will be classified as a security, a commodity, or anything in between.

This uncertainty could potentially impact XRP’s market value and the broader crypto market, as investors may adopt a cautious approach until regulatory clarity is achieved.