SEC Throws Shade at Ripple Lawsuit Ruling in Coinbase Appeal

• The SEC and the crypto industry have been clashing as the SEC downplays a key ruling in a previous lawsuit.
• The SEC has downplayed the significance of the Ripple ruling in its case against Coinbase.
• Experts have been closely watching the SEC lawsuits, as the outcomes could impact the entire industry.

The ongoing battle between the SEC and the cryptocurrency industry has reached a new boiling point as the SEC attempts to downplay a key ruling in the Ripple lawsuit. This move comes amidst the SEC’s lawsuit against Coinbase , a major cryptocurrency exchange.

Does Ripple Case Set Precedent for Crypto Securities?

The SEC’s argument hinges on the notion that a previous court decision doesn’t hold weight in the current case. Let’s break down the situation. In July 2023, Judge Analisa Torres ruled in favor of Ripple in their lawsuit against the SEC. 

The crux of the case centered on whether XRP , Ripple’s native token, constituted a security. Judge Torres determined that XRP sales through exchanges did not qualify as securities offerings, thereby exempting them from securities regulations.

Fast forward to the present, the SEC is locked in a legal battle with Coinbase. The SEC alleges that Coinbase has been facilitating the trading of unregistered securities in the form of certain cryptocurrencies on its platform. This directly contradicts Judge Torres’s ruling in the Ripple case.

In a recent filing against Coinbase’s appeal request, the SEC argued that “no court has followed the ruling” in the Ripple case. This implies that the SEC views the Ripple decision as an isolated event and doesn’t set a legal precedent for other cryptocurrency-related cases.

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Will Ripple’s Win Be a One-Off?

This argument has legal experts watching closely. Pro-XRP attorney Bill Morgan suggests that if the SEC prevails in its lawsuits against other cryptocurrency companies, Ripple’s victory regarding XRP sales could be a standalone case. 

In simpler terms, Ripple might be able to continue its XRP sales without registering them with the SEC, but this wouldn’t necessarily extend similar protections to other players in the cryptocurrency industry.

The SEC’s attempt to downplay the Ripple case ruling adds another layer of complexity to the already intricate regulatory landscape surrounding cryptocurrency. With both sides armed with legal muscle, the outcome of these cases will likely have a significant impact on the future of cryptocurrency in the United States.

On the Flipside

• Judge Torres’s decision only applied to XRP sales through exchanges, not Ripple’s overall sales of XRP.
• Regardless of the immediate outcome, the SEC’s actions could prompt further legislative efforts to clarify cryptocurrency regulations in the US.
• The SEC may argue that the Ripple case is unique due to the specific characteristics of XRP. They might highlight factors not present in the Coinbase case to justify their different approach.

Why This Matters

The SEC’s dismissal of the Ripple ruling creates uncertainty for cryptocurrency companies. If the SEC wins its case against Coinbase, companies could face security registration requirements even if their tokens share characteristics with XRP, potentially hindering innovation and growth within the US crypto market.

If you’re interested in the legal battle between Ripple and the SEC, you’ll also want to read this article about a lawyer’s prediction on the outcome of the case:
Lawyer Predicts Ripple Win in SEC Case: Good News Looming?

This article discusses the SEC’s objection to Ripple’s plan to launch a stablecoin. If you’re following the legal battle between Ripple and the SEC, you’ll also want to check this out:
SEC Objects Ripple’s Proposed Stablecoin Launch in New Filing