Introduction
The ongoing legal battle between Ripple and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is intensifying. The SEC is reportedly preparing to challenge the summary judgment made by Judge Torres. Legal experts, including John Deaton, who represents 75,000 XRP holders, have been analyzing the potential implications of an appeal.
SEC’s Motivation and Legal Challenges
Many believe the SEC’s main motivation for this move is their dissatisfaction with the court’s decision regarding XRP sales. However, some legal professionals argue that overturning the ruling may be difficult. An analyst suggested that XRP insiders likely know whether the SEC will appeal the lawsuit, but Marc Fagel, a former SEC lawyer, clarified that this is not the case.
The Appeal Process
When asked if the SEC needs to vote on the decision to appeal, Marc explained, “I believe they do. Which helps explain why it’s taking so long; that’s never a quick process.”
SEC’s Burden of Proof
A user questioned how the SEC could argue that Judge Torres’ ruling was wrong when the SEC failed to prove that buyers had any contact with Ripple’s promotional materials or saw XRP as an investment opportunity tied to Ripple. The user pointed out that since buyers didn’t know who they were buying from, it made the SEC’s burden of proof even bigger, especially since key expert testimony was excluded.
Marc Fagel’s Perspective
Marc agreed, saying that the court’s logic suggests a reasonable investor wouldn’t care about Ripple’s involvement, which undermines the case. He wrote, “Under the court’s logic, a reasonable investor should not care at all, because a reasonable investor doesn’t know that XRP’s value has anything to do with Ripple. (Or, less kindly, the court seems to think crypto investors are dumb.)”
1933 Securities Act Intent
He added that the decision goes against the intent of the 1933 Securities Act, as it implies companies could avoid registration by selling through third parties. Lastly, he criticized how the ruling protected institutional investors while leaving retail investors without safeguards, a contradiction the Second Circuit should consider.
Conclusion
The legal battle between Ripple and the SEC is far from over. The SEC’s potential appeal could have significant implications for the future of XRP and other cryptocurrencies. As the case progresses, both legal experts and investors will be closely watching for any new developments. Stay tuned for more updates on this evolving story.
