In the ongoing legal battle between Ripple and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ripple’s Chief Legal Officer (CLO), Stuart Alderoty, has compared the SEC’s actions to the absurdities depicted in Franz Kafka’s novel, “The Trial.” Alderoty criticizes the SEC for its perceived unfair handling of XRP vs. SEC during the investigation and Wells Notice process, suggesting a broader issue affecting other cryptocurrency firms like Robinhood and Coinbase.

Ripple CLO Criticizes SEC’s Inconsistent Actions

Ripple has consistently argued that the SEC’s handling of the case has been marked by inconsistency and unfairness. Ripple CLO’s reference to Kafka’s work is a pointed critique of what Ripple perceives as the regulator’s opaque and arbitrary actions. This case, according to Ripple, exemplifies the broader challenges faced by cryptocurrency firms, which often receive conflicting feedback from the SEC. Other companies like Robinhood and Coinbase have also reported similar regulatory hurdles.

The SEC continues to seek substantial penalties against Ripple, demanding nearly $2 billion for selling XRP to institutional investors. Ripple has responded by filing and sealing certain documents, emphasizing the potential harm to its business interests if specific financial details were disclosed. The redactions requested by Ripple include sensitive information about earnings, revenues, expenses, and the discounts at which XRP was sold to institutions. While acknowledging the relevance of these discounts, Ripple refuses to disclose the exact financial terms, citing business confidentiality.

House Moves Against SEC Crypto Regulation Overreach

Ripple’s motion to seal documents also seeks to protect the identities of nonparty financial institutions, customers, and employees. The company argues that revealing this information could compromise legitimate privacy interests and harm business relationships. XRPs stance is that such disclosures would not only affect its partners but also hinder its ability to operate effectively in the market.

Despite the SEC’s hefty demands, XRP maintains that any civil penalty should be capped at $10 million. This position reflects Ripple’s belief that the SEC’s pursuit of $2 billion is excessively punitive and does not reflect the actual circumstances. Ripple’s arguments highlight the broader tensions between regulatory enforcement and business operations within the cryptocurrency industry.

XRP’s legal battle has drawn attention to the SEC’s broader regulatory approach. Stuart Alderoty has praised bipartisan efforts in the U.S. House of Representatives to limit the SEC’s overreach in cryptocurrency regulation. Recently, the House voted to overturn the SEC’s Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 121 (SAB 121), which requires financial institutions to include customers’ cryptocurrency holdings on their balance sheets.

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Maxwell is a crypto-economic analyst and Blockchain enthusiast, passionate about helping people understand the potential of decentralized technology. I write extensively on topics such as blockchain, cryptocurrency, tokens, and more for many publications. My goal is to spread knowledge about this revolutionary technology and its implications for economic freedom and social good.

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