The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is facing backlash over its reported plan to seek a historic $2 billion fine against Ripple Labs, despite the absence of fraud allegations in the ongoing legal battle. Ripple’s top executives have condemned the SEC’s move as an unprecedented overreach, further fueling concerns about the agency’s approach to regulating the cryptocurrency industry.
In a series of social media post on X, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse and Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty slammed the SEC’s upcoming legal brief, which is expected to be made public on Mar 27, 2024. According to Alderoty, the SEC seeks to demand a staggering $2 billion in “fines and penalties” from Ripple despite the lack of fraud allegations in the case.
“Our response will be filed next month, but as we have seen repeatedly, this regulator trades in false, mischaracterized, and designed misleading statements. They stayed true to form here. Rather than faithfully applying the law, the SEC wants to punish and intimidate Ripple—and the industry at large,” Alderoty stated.
Garlinghouse echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the unprecedented nature of the SEC’s proposed penalty. “The SEC plans to ask the Judge for $2B in a case that involved no allegations (let alone findings) of fraud or recklessness. There is no precedent for this. We will continue to expose the SEC for what they are when we respond to this.”
The Ripple CEO accused the SEC and its chairman, Gary Gensler, of acting outside the law and misusing their power, citing the recent DEBT Box case.
Crypto Community Rallies Behind Ripple
Ripple’s defence against the SEC’s aggressive stance has garnered widespread support from the cryptocurrency community, with many industry leaders and experts voicing concerns over the agency’s apparent disregard for due process and its failure to provide clear regulatory guidance.
John Deaton, a prominent crypto lawyer and founder of the Crypto-Asset Investor Network (CRYPTOIAN), praised Ripple’s legal team for their unwavering stance against the SEC’s overreach. “Ripple’s legal team has been solid in this case, and they have my full support in exposing the SEC’s blatant disregard for the rule of law,” Deaton stated.
Despite the lack of fraud allegations, the SEC’s pursuit of a $2 billion fine against Ripple has further fueled debates about the agency’s approach to regulating the digital asset industry. However, many argue that the SEC’s actions undermine its credibility and hinder the development of a clear and consistent regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies in the United States.
As the legal battle between Ripple and the SEC continues, the crypto community eagerly awaits the company’s response to the SEC’s brief, which is expected to shed more light on the unprecedented nature of the proposed penalty and the agency’s motivations behind its aggressive stance.
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