XRP Lawsuit: Stuart Alderoty Slams US SEC As Ripple Weighs Cross Appeal

XRP Lawsuit: Ripple CLO Alderoty criticizes SEC's appeal, highlighting potential cross-appeal and unchanged status of XRP as non-security.
Ripple Moves Another 60M XRP After 200M, What's Happening?

Highlights

  • Ripple considers cross-appeal against $125M penalty and institutional sales ruling after SEC's latest appeal.
  • SEC's Enforcement Director resigns just before the agency appeals court ruling favoring Ripple on XRP sales.
  • XRP price drops 11% following SEC's appeal notice, despite Bitwise's recent filing for an XRP ETF.

XRP Lawsuit: Ripple’s Chief Legal Officer, Stuart Alderoty, has voiced his frustration with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) following the agency’s recent notice of appeal.

Ripple is now contemplating filing a cross-appeal, potentially targeting both Judge Analisa Torres’ ruling on institutional sales or the $125 million penalty imposed in August.

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XRP Lawsuit: Stuart Alderoty Slams US SEC

In a recent X post, Ripple CLO Stuart Alderoty addressed the SEC’s decision to appeal parts of the court’s ruling. In this case, the company has until October 18 to let the court know if it will appeal the decision, as per Fox Journalist, Eleanor Terret. According to her, the aspects of Ripple’s appeal could be based on Judge Torres’ findings that the XRP sales to institutional investors were unlawful under securities laws and the $125 million fine.

The cross-appeal would be wrapped into the same case now heading to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Alderoty stated that he was dissatisfied with the decision of the SEC to pursue the litigation, adding that the complaint was a complete embarrassment to the commission. He noted that the court dismissed allegations of negligence on the part of Ripple, as well as lack of fraud and harmed investors. As much as the US SEC has been adamant, Stuart Alderoty was insistent that Ripple would continue its defense and more so for the rest of the cryptocurrency companies.

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Agency’s Appeal and Brad Garlinghouse Response

The SEC filing of its notice of appeal in the XRP Lawsuit is just days before the October 7 deadline, signaling its intent to challenge Judge Torres’ ruling from July 2023. In that ruling, the court found that while XRP’s programmatic sales through exchanges were not securities transactions, sales to institutional investors did violate securities laws. The reason to appeal to the Securities and Exchange Commission can therefore be either or both of these points though more details have not been confirmed yet.

In his response to the decision, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse also stated that the SEC has continued to squander taxpayers’ funds on what they described as a “losing fight.” Garlinghouse further noted that the SEC had not served the interest of investors but instead harmed itself by stating “I’m not surprised. I’m pissed.” He also pointed out that XRP’s status as a non-security for programmatic sales remains unchanged despite the Securities and Exchange Commission’s appeal.

Alderoty also noted the timing of Gurbir Grewal’s resignation, the SEC’s Director of the Division of Enforcement, who stepped down one hour before the SEC filed its appeal on the XRP Lawsuit. Grewal’s departure has raised more questions on the future of the Securities and Exchange Commission and its leadership since Chair Gary Gensler has been under fire over the handling of cryptocurrency and enforcement.

Both Ripple CLO Stuart Alderoty, Brad Garlinghouse  and the rest of leadership, have constantly lambasted the Securities and Exchange Commission for its handling of the case, accusing the agency of being in bad faith. This comes as Grewal departs from the agency, leaving room for speculations whether or not there will be changes to the US SEC’s approach to enforcing laws in the crypto space.

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XRP Price Tanks Over 10% Post Appeal

After the US SEC notice of appeal on the XRP lawsuit, the token’s price has decreased significantly. At press time, XRP price was trading at $0.5331, an 11% decline from the 24 hour high.

Despite this dip,  cryptocurrency commentator CredibleCrypto highlighted Bitwise’s recent filing for an XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF), signaling growing interest in the asset.

 

The analyst as a result suggested that XRP could be the next cryptocurrency after Bitcoin and Ethereum to receive ETF approval, despite the ongoing legal case. The appeal, according to CredibleCrypto, is unlikely to affect XRP’s market trajectory in the long term.

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Kelvin Munene Murithi
Kelvin Munene is a crypto and finance journalist with over 5 years of experience, offering in-depth market analysis and expert commentary . With a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Actuarial Science from Mount Kenya University, Kelvin is known for his meticulous research and strong writing skills, particularly in cryptocurrency, blockchain, and financial markets. His work has been featured across top industry publications such as Coingape, Cryptobasic, MetaNews, Cryptotimes, Coinedition, TheCoinrepublic, Cryptotale, and Analytics Insight among others, where he consistently provides timely updates and insightful content. Kelvin’s focus lies in uncovering emerging trends in the crypto space, delivering factual and data-driven analyses that help readers make informed decisions. His expertise extends across market cycles, technological innovations, and regulatory shifts that shape the crypto landscape. Beyond his professional achievements, Kelvin has a passion for chess, traveling, and exploring new adventures.
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