Ripple Cites Binance Ruling in Ongoing Legal Battle with SEC to Defend XRP Transactions

• Ripple Labs has filed a supplemental authority notice to assist its legal battle against the SEC.
• This move is a direct response to the SEC’s motion for remedies and final judgment.
• The filing was submitted to the Southern District Court of New York, referencing a recent Binance ruling.

Ripple Labs fortifies its legal defense against the SEC by leveraging recent legal developments, aiming for a decisive resolution in the complex regulatory landscape of digital assets.

Ripple Invokes Binance Precedent

Ripple Labs has anchored its defense on a recent ruling by the US District Court for the District of Columbia in the case of SEC vs. Binance Holdings, Ltd., Case No. 1:23-cv-01599-ABJ-ZMF. The June 28, 2024 decision partially accepted and partially denied the SEC’s claims that Binance engaged in selling unregistered securities.

The court’s determination that the SEC failed to substantiate the accusation that BNB token transactions on secondary markets constituted securities transactions has been a cornerstone of Ripple’s citation. This ruling is highlighted by Ripple to showcase similar analytical themes with its ongoing legal contest with the SEC.

Ripple’s legal team emphasized a critical observation from the Binance case: “[I]ntangible digital assets do not fit neatly into the rubric set forth in the mere seven pages that comprise the Howey opinion.” This observation underscores the inherent complexity of applying traditional securities laws to digital assets.

The submission also highlighted the court’s critique of the SEC’s case-by-case litigation approach, which the Binance court found inefficient and potentially inconsistent. This critique aligns with broader industry concerns about the SEC’s regulatory strategies.

Implications for Ripple’s XRP Sales

Ripple argues for definitive judicial clarity regarding the legality of XRP sales, which it highlighted as a critical outcome of the court’s previous summary judgment. The filing asserts that this clarity is essential not only for Ripple’s operations but for the entire cryptocurrency market. They stress that the lack of previous regulatory guidance mitigates the severity of any penalties against Ripple.

The company also contends that the SEC failed to prove recklessness on Ripple’s part, which should shape the potential remedies. They argue that the absence of clear regulations prior to the ruling supports their position against severe sanctions.

Future of Cryptocurrency Regulation

Michael K. Kellogg of Kellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel, & Frederick PLLC, and Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, who represent Ripple, submitted this supplemental notice. Their submission seeks not only to counter the SEC’s current motions but also to establish a more predictable and coherent regulatory framework for cryptocurrency transactions. This ongoing litigation symbolizes the broader regulatory challenges that digital assets pose to traditional financial and legal systems.

Conclusion

In summary, Ripple’s recent filing is a pivotal move aimed at securing clarity and favorable outcomes in its ongoing SEC litigation. By referencing the recent Binance ruling, Ripple fortifies its defense and emphasizes the need for coherent regulatory frameworks that keep pace with the digital asset industry. As this legal battle progresses, the outcome could set significant precedents affecting the broader cryptocurrency market.