News View Non-AMP

Did the SEC Fear XRP’s Collapse? Leaked Emails Expose 2021 Doubts About Ripple

Published by
Anjali Belgaumkar

Ripple’s long legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) may have wrapped up in the company’s favor, but newly released documents show how deeply the agency once worried about the future of XRP.

SEC Worried About XRP’s Survival Without Ripple

According to a fresh batch of files obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request by Coinbase, SEC officials were actively debating the stability and security classification of various crypto assets back in 2021. Among them, XRP was very much on their radar.

As reported by The Block, in one internal email, SEC officials questioned what might happen if Ripple, the company behind XRP, suddenly “walked away” or “disappeared.” The agency appeared concerned about what risks could surface for the XRP blockchain in such a scenario — a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into how regulators were viewing crypto projects under pressure.

At the time, the SEC had already kicked off a major lawsuit against Ripple, accusing it of operating illegally by selling XRP as an unregistered security. While Ripple has since emerged victorious from that battle — even winning back some of the penalties it had previously paid — these newly uncovered emails show just how uncertain regulators were about the decentralization and resilience of the XRP network itself.

Coinbase FOIA Request Sheds Light on Crypto Regulation

The revelations come amid a broader series of disclosures this week from Coinbase, which published dozens of SEC communications related to crypto oversight as part of its own ongoing legal standoff with the agency.

This isn’t the first time SEC deliberations on crypto assets have made headlines. The same document dump also revealed how, in 2023, the New York State Attorney General had formally asked the SEC to declare Ethereum’s Ether (ETH) a security — a request that was ultimately ignored.

Anjali Belgaumkar

Writer by choice, CryptoCurrency Writer, and Researcher by chance. Currently, focusing on financial news and analysis, as well as cryptocurrency news and data. One may not call me a crypto “Enthusiast” but trust me I'm getting there.

Recent Posts

Sei Crypto Surges Amid DeFi Boom and Institutional Buzz: What’s Next for SEI Price?

The crypto market is back in action, and one token making serious noise is Sei…

June 24, 2025

3 Best Layer 1 Tokens to Buy Now—But Kaanch Is the One Crypto That Could Deliver a 200x Gain

The blockchain world is constantly changing, and some Layer 1 tokens have become the most…

June 24, 2025

Bitcoin Price Prediction Analysts Agree: Bitcoin Solaris Could Make Early Investors Wealthy Within Months

Bitcoin’s historic rise created thousands of crypto millionaires. But almost none of them entered during…

June 24, 2025

Ethereum Price Surge to $2,434 After Trump’s Iran‑Israel Ceasefire Deal

The crypto market lit up after Donald Trump announced a dual-phase ceasefire between Israel and…

June 24, 2025

Sei Price Breaks Out with 40% Surge, Here’s What to Expect Next!

The Israel-Iran ceasefire announcement has breathed life into global markets, and crypto is no exception.…

June 24, 2025

Can Pi Network Price Hit $50 Next?

Pi Coin recorded 4.5% gains in the past 24 hours, currently trading at $0.5335. This…

June 24, 2025