Regulation
Lawyer Predicts Two Paths To Settlement After Donald Trump Win
SEC v Ripple: The recent win of Donald Trump in the 2024 US presidential election has brought back hope to the cryptocurrency enthusiasts especially on the matter of the ongoing SEC v Ripple lawsuit.
Legal experts and Ripple supporters are speculating that the Donald Trump administration could bring positive changes to the crypto space which could help the company to reach a settlement faster in the ongoing Ripple case.
Potential Settlement Scenarios for SEC v Ripple Case
Fred Rispoli, a lawyer who has been monitoring the SEC v Ripple case has suggested that there are two likely outcomes for the case. According to Rispoli, shifts at the Securities and Exchange Commission that could occur as soon as March 2025 may influence the outcome of the Ripple trial. The first scenario will be the current US SEC leadership, under the chairmanship of Gary Gensler, deciding to act before a new leadership takes over.
According to Rispoli, Gensler’s team may wish to settle the case but keep penalties such as the $125 million fine in place as a means of exercising control over the market.
The second scenario that Rispoli sees is more beneficial for Ripple. The new leadership at the Securities and Exchange Commission may cause the agency to reconsider the case and less the penalties on Ripple or even dismiss some of the charges. According to Rispoli, the current administration of Trump may view the lawsuit as an adverse event for the US crypto industry and may want to settle the case in a way that would be beneficial to Ripple, such as excluding the current sales of XRP from being deemed securities.
Ripple CEO Garlinghouse Responds to Trump Win
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has spoken about the influence that Trump’s victory may have on the regulation of the cryptocurrency industry after “a frustrating journey”. In a statement, Garlinghouse remained hopeful, suggesting that the years of what he has called the SEC’s “interference” in the digital currency sector, could be giving way to a change in regulatory policy that is potentially more favorable.
Brad Garlinghouse, though not directly speaking about the possibility of the lawsuit being settled, pointed out the endurance of the XRP community and noted that “the tide is turning” in their favor.
I’ve shared some thoughts on what the Trump administration could mean for crypto and wanted to also recognize the XRP family’s patience and unwavering support.
A lot has happened since XRP was the 2nd most valuable digital asset. It’s been – at times – a frustrating journey.~6…
— Brad Garlinghouse (@bgarlinghouse) November 7, 2024
Garlinghouse’s comments come in the wake of recent court rulings ordering the SEC to file its opening brief for its appeal in the Ripple case on or before January 15, 2025. If the SEC does not meet this deadline, the appeals could be thrown out, which might limit the Securities and Exchange Commission’s actions as new management comes in.
Donald Trump Administration’s Approach to the SEC
The Trump transition team is reportedly considering candidates for the Securities and Exchange Commission chair role, with names such as Dan Gallagher and Paul Atkins, both former SEC commissioners, being mentioned.
Gallagher, currently Robinhood’s Chief Legal Officer, is viewed favorably by many in the crypto community.
According to Reuters, Trump’s team has also indicated intentions to reverse what they see as regulatory overreach by Gary Gensler’s Securities and Exchange Commission, which has aggressively pursued enforcement actions against crypto companies.
XRP Price To $1 After SEC v Ripple End?
The market has responded positively to Trump’s election and the prospect of a resolution in the Ripple case. XRP, Ripple’s digital asset, recently saw a price surge, reaching its highest level since October. With XRP price currently trading above $0.55, some analysts believe the asset could continue its upward trend, potentially nearing the $1 mark if a settlement appears imminent.
Concurrently, Donald Trump’s administration has already sparked discussion about potential crypto-friendly policies, including the approval of an XRP ETF.
Although the US SEC has previously resisted crypto ETFs, a Republican-led Securities and Exchange Commission could be more open to approving new financial products tied to digital assets, especially those like XRP and Solana following Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF’s earlier approval.
Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.
Regulation
US Federal Reserve Cuts Interest Rate By 25 Basis Point
The US Federal Reserve announced a 25 basis point (bps) rate cut following its November FOMC meeting. This development is undoubtedly significant, considering the impact it could have on the Bitcoin price and broader crypto market.
US Federal Reserve Announces 25 Bps Rate Cut
In a press release, the US Fed announced its decision to cut interest rates by 25 bps, just about two months after it cut them by 50 bps at its September FOMC meeting. This move from the US Central Bank provides a bullish outlook for the Bitcoin price, which is already hitting new highs.
Interstingly, similar to the US Federal Reserve’s decision, the Bank of England (BOE) announced a 25 bps rate cut earlier in the day. This decision from both central banks will likely open up a liquidity cycle, causing more money to flow into risk assets like Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
The crypto community will look forward to US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s speech to see how dovish the Fed is. Positive remarks from him would suggest that the Fed could still cut interest rates at its December FOMC meeting.
In the press release, the US Federal Reserve stated that economic activity has continued to expand at a solid pace. They remarked that since earlier in the year, labor market conditions have generally eased, and the unemployment rate has moved up but remains low. They added that inflation has progressed toward their 2% goal.
Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.
Regulation
Polymarket Faces French Ban After Massive Bets On US Election Results
Polymarket, a crypto-based prediction market, is likely to be prohibited by France’s gambling regulator, the ANJ, after a huge amount of bets were placed on the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Since the global audience engaged in prediction platforms, Polymarket experienced a record jump, with $450 million expected to be distributed to users following the victory of Donald Trump.
This increase of betting volume and large stakes has become a matter of concern for the French regulator because the platform offers unlicensed gambling services.
$450 Million in Payouts Expected After U.S. Election Bets
Prediction markets, which are expected to increase their payout to election bettors to around $450m following Donald Trump’s projected win, are attracting increasing attention.
Although conventional polls pointed to a closer contest, prediction markets such as Polymarket and Kalshi recorded a steep rise in Trump’s chances in the last few days, indicating a strong divergence with poll-based expectations.
Among the active users of Polymarket, a French trader called “Theo” made a $26 million bet on Trump’s win and won $49 million. This big bet made Polymarket popular, as the French authorities paid attention to the platform and its popularity among French residents, which led to concerns about the compliance of the platform with French gambling legislation.
France’s ANJ Considers Blocking Access to Polymarket
The ANJ has claimed that Polymarket is involved in gambling which is only allowed in France by licensed operators. According to local media, the regulator has the power to ban access to unlicensed gambling sites and is expected to restrict access to Polymarket soon.
An ANJ insider said: “Polymarket is just betting on something that is completely uncertain, which is exactly what gambling is.”
If put in place, the ban would prevent the usage of the application in France, despite the fact that users can still try to avoid the restriction by connecting to VPN. The ANJ could also try to influence media outlets and directories to stop advertising or linking to Polymarket and, thus, limit its audiences even more.
Regulatory Concerns Over Market Manipulation
The high level of activity on Polymarket has led to speculations that the platform may be used for market manipulation. Two blockchain analysis firms, Chaos Labs and Inca Digital, recently revealed that there was potential wash trading within Polymarket’s U.S. presidential betting market where the same assets are bought and sold to simply create a fake market. This type of trading is rather manipulative and can lead to the distortion of signals on the market and mislead other participants.
The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission also has concerns about prediction markets and put forward a rule in May aiming at stricter regulation of such markets due to the potential for manipulation.
Although no final decision has been reached, regulatory actions could impact Polymarket’s ability to operate freely in other markets, including the U.S.
Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.
Regulation
FTX Co Founder Gary Wang Appeals For No Jail Time, Here’s Why
FTX co-founder Gary Wang has requested a federal judge not to send him to prison. He noted that he is testifying against the former business partner, Sam Bankman-Fried, someone he has known for a long time in a fraud case.
The lawyer for Wang submitted a sentencing memo in Manhattan federal court wherein he claimed that his client should not be incarcerated as he provided assistance to the prosecutors as well as his role in the scheme was comparatively less.
Wang, who pleaded guilty to fraud and conspiracy when FTX went bankrupt in 2022, is to receive his sentencing on the 20th of November.
FTX Co-Founder Gary Wang Appeals for No Jail Time
The defense counsel for FTX co-founder Gary Wang highlighted his client’s early cooperation with the federal prosecutors as one of the key reasons why the court should consider him for mercy. According to Graff, Wang was one of the first FTX executives to meet with the authorities and share information on the FTX and Alameda Research. Wang gave a testimony in the trial that led to the recent conviction of Bankman-Fried who was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Speaking at the trial, Wang described how he was ordered to change the code of FTX in order to enable Alameda Research to use the assets of the company’s clients, which is one of the key points of Bankman-Fried’s fraud.
FTX co-founder’s lawyer noted that his involvement in the fraud was less than some of the other former executives, including Caroline Ellison, former CEO of Alameda Research, and Nishad Singh, FTX’s former head of engineering. Wang, his lawyer said, did not start or operate the scheme and was not personally involved in the provision of false information to the investors.
“Gary was not involved in the scheme at its inception, was never provided with details of the scheme, and, in contrast to Bankman-Fried, Ellison and Singh, never engaged in any affirmative action of deception,” Graff wrote.
Sentencing Comparisons to Other Executives
Wang’s attorney argued that a prison sentence would create an “unwarranted sentencing disparity” with Nishad Singh, who avoided jail time after pleading guilty and cooperating with the government. Singh, who faced potential decades-long sentences, was ultimately sentenced to time served and three years of supervised release.
Ellison, another major cooperator, received a two-year prison sentence. FTX co-founder Gary Wang contended that Wang’s level of involvement was even lower than Singh’s, supporting a non-custodial sentence for Wang as well.
Graff also noted Wang’s personal circumstances, stating that Wang is expecting the birth of his first child shortly after his sentencing date. Wang’s attorney suggested that allowing him to remain with his family would align with the court’s treatment of other cooperators in the case.
“Gary wants nothing more than to be a good husband and father and to continue his work to facilitate FTX victims’ recovery,” Graff wrote.
Separately, the U.S. government is working to reclaim approximately $13.25 million in political donations made by FTX executives, including Bankman-Fried and Singh. Judge Lewis Kaplan however granted the government additional time to negotiate the return of these funds, extending discussions with the PACs until January 15, 2025.
Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.
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