Ripple CLO Pays Homage To Ex-SEC Chair, Expresses Gratitude

The Chief Legal Officer of Ripple, Stuart Alderoty, recently took to Twitter to express his deep appreciation for the insights of the late Harvey Pitt, former Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Remembering former SEC Chair Harvey Pitt today. Ripple owes a debt of gratitude to Harvey for explaining that once the SEC files an action, the “Court—not the Commission—decides whether the instrument in question is ultimately a security.”

RIP Harvey. pic.twitter.com/ORZINb5ZB6

— Stuart Alderoty (@s_alderoty) June 8, 2023

Alderoty emphasizes how Pitt’s perspectives continue to reverberate in the crypto industry, highlighting that the definitive classification of a financial instrument as a security ultimately rests in the hands of the court, not the commission.

Remembering Harvey Pitt

Harvey Pitt, an advocate for a comprehensive policy dedicated to the nuances of the burgeoning crypto trade within the U.S., passed away on May 30, 2023, at the age of 78.

Following the downfall of the FTX cryptocurrency exchange late last year, Pitt expressed on CNBC the urgency for a comprehensive policy dedicated to the nuances of the rapidly growing crypto trade within the U.S.

He maintained that crypto regulation was a matter of national importance that transcended political divisions, given the widespread implications for the country’s financial landscape. His departure marks the loss of a dedicated and forward-thinking figure who served as the 26th chairman of the SEC.

Pitt’s Impact: Advocate for Innovation in Cryptocurrency

In retrospect, during a 2005 conversation with the San Francisco Chronicle, Pitt candidly discussed his reasons for leaving the SEC, linking his decision to a perceived rise in political bias within the agency following the Enron fiasco.

He highlighted the strides made by the commission in adopting fresh regulations under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Pitt’s approach to cryptocurrency and blockchain was notably different from his successors, including current SEC Chairman Gary Gensler.

The late chairman was celebrated for recognizing the inherent value and potential for innovation within the cryptocurrency and blockchain sector, a perspective many argue contrasts with the more restrictive stance of the current administration.