
Lawyer Fred Rispoli criticizes Ripple's leadership for settling part of the SEC's charges, believing they missed an opportunity.
Ripple is appealing the court's decision regarding institutional sales of XRP.
The SEC's appeal doesn't question the court's decision that XRP is not a security when sold to retail investors.
Lawyer Fred Rispoli has openly criticized Ripple’s CEO Brad Garlinghouse and Executive Chairman Chris Larsen for settling part of the SECโs charges instead of fighting them all in court. According to Rispoli, they missed a big chance to fully defend themselves, especially against the “aiding and abetting” claims.
He believes Ripple had a strong case, and taking it to trial might have worked in their favor, as the SEC didnโt seem to have enough solid evidence.
Was this a missed golden opportunity? Let’s see if Rispoli is right.
What a Trial Could Have Revealed
Rispoli also pointed out that going to trial could have brought key witnesses like former SEC Chairman Jay Clayton to the stand. This could have provided important insights into how the SEC views cryptocurrencies like XRP. These testimonies might have strengthened Rippleโs defense and given other crypto companies valuable information for future legal battles.
Rippleโs Counter Strategy
Despite the settlement, Ripple is filing a cross-appeal to challenge parts of the 2023 court ruling. While the judge ruled that XRP sales to retail investors were not considered securities, the SEC is still trying to contest other parts of the decision, especially regarding institutional sales. Rippleโs legal chief, Stuart Alderoty, is confident they will prevail, saying their case is even stronger now.
This gives XRP a solid position in the market, free from immediate regulatory threats, and keeps investors optimistic about its future.
Did the SEC Miss Its Deadline?
Thereโs been some debate about whether the SEC submitted its appeal on time. Some observers noticed the agency filed its brief a day late, but the SEC insists it met the deadline. Importantly, the SECโs appeal doesnโt challenge the decision that XRP is not a security when sold to retail investors, meaning that part of the ruling remains intact.
XRP Price Outlook
XRP was trading around $0.55 on Friday, showing a small gain of less than 1%. Traders are reacting to the SECโs appeal, which doesnโt question XRPโs status as a non-security, confirmed in the July 2023 ruling. This legal clarity is a positive sign for XRP, with hopes that it might lead to the approval of an XRP ETF in the U.S. Technical analysis suggests XRP could rise by 10%, with a target of $0.60.
If prices drop, support might be found at $0.5319 or as low as $0.3843.
What do you thinkโdid Ripple miss a golden opportunity, or was settling the smart move?