SEC Drops Charges Against Ripple Executives in a Surprise Move

Key Takeaways:

• SEC withdraws civil charges against Ripple leaders.
• Both parties agree to dismiss the lawsuit with prejudice, preventing its reiteration.
• Ripple’s chief legal officer characterizes the SEC’s move as a “surrender.”
• The SEC will continue its claims against Ripple, despite dropping charges against the executives.

In a surprising turn of events, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has abandoned its pursuit of civil charges against Ripple executives Christian Larsen and Brad Garlinghouse. The decision, which came to light through a recent court filing in the Southern District of New York, raises questions about the future of the ongoing legal battle between the SEC and Ripple.

SEC’s Unprecedented Move:

#XRPCommunity #SECGov v. #Ripple #XRP BREAKING: CASE DISMISSED AGAINST BRAD GARLINGHOUSE AND CHRIS LARSEN pic.twitter.com/BYTe9152jM

— James K. Filan 🇺🇸🇮🇪 (@FilanLaw) October 19, 2023

The SEC’s decision to drop the charges against Christian Larsen and Brad Garlinghouse, leading figures in the crypto world, took many by surprise. Nonetheless, it’s crucial to emphasize that the SEC will not abandon its claims against Ripple as an entity, as stated in the filing.

Garlinghouse added, “Instead of focusing on pursuing those responsible for illicit activities involving customer funds on offshore exchanges, which were seeking political support, the SEC chose to target individuals they consider to be on the right side of the law.”

Stuart Alderoty, Ripple’s chief legal officer, minced no words when he referred to the SEC’s action as a “surrender.” In an official statement, Ripple described the SEC’s decision as a “stunning capitulation.” The sudden reversal in the SEC’s stance has left many in the crypto community pondering the motives behind this unexpected move.

Read More: Ripple Price Prediction

Why Did the SEC Drop Charges Against Ripple Leaders?

The reason for the SEC’s withdrawal of charges against Brad Garlinghouse and Christian Larsen before their April 2024 trial remains unclear. Observers, such as Katherine Kirkpatrick, Cboe Digital’s chief legal officer, suspect the SEC’s move may signal an intent to appeal XRP’s security classification, which typically occurs post-trial.

What’s Next for Ripple vs. SEC?

While the exoneration of Ripple’s executives is a notable win, it doesn’t conclude the SEC’s ongoing inquiry into Ripple Lab. The legal battle persists, casting doubt on the April trial and suggesting the potential for an appeal of Judge Torres’s decision on XRP’s programmatic sales and distributions.

Source: Coinpedia