Categories: U.S. Regulation

SEC Calls Ripple’s Proposed Stablecoin an ‘Unregistered Crypto Asset’

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) appears to be targeting Ripple’s proposed stablecoin in its latest court filing against the crypto company.

In its May 7 redacted remedies reply brief, the regulator described the proposed stablecoin as an “unregistered crypto asset” and further evidence that the company will continue to engage in unregulated activities if there is no permanent injunction against it.

Ripple revealed plans to issue a stablecoin in April but has not provided additional details about the token since then.

SEC argues for a substantial fine

According to the SEC, Ripple’s primary business since its inception has been the unregistered institutional sales of XRP, and it will continue to do so if the injunction is not granted.

The regulator also disagreed with the company’s assurance that it would not violate US securities law because it has licenses in other jurisdictions. SEC lawyers wrote:

“Given the nearly $1 billion Ripple gained violating Section 5, the multi-billion-dollar business it built selling XRP (accounting for the value of Ripple’s massive XRP holdings and its cash on hand), the ‘low’ penalty Ripple demands would be a ‘slap on the wrist’ that neither punishes nor deters.”

The SEC seeks almost $2 billion in fines from Ripple. However, the crypto firm contends that the Court should reject this demand, proposing a civil penalty not exceeding $10 million.

Ripple’s response

Ripple chief legal officer Stuart Alderoty has criticized the SEC’s filing as baseless, saying it was another example of the regulator’s failure to apply the law.

Alderoty also noted the SEC’s disregard for crypto frameworks in other jurisdictions. He said:

“And just when you think the SEC can’t sink any lower, if you are a financial regulator outside the US and have done the hard work of establishing comprehensive crypto licensing frameworks, know that the SEC has no respect for you and thinks you are handing out the equivalent of fishing licenses.”
Terron Gold

Recent Posts

Elon Musk’s xAI Sues Minnesota Over First U.S. AI Nudification Law

Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company xAI has filed a federal lawsuit challenging Minnesota's landmark law banning AI-powered "nudification" technology, arguing…

6 days ago

Bitcoin Nears $65,000 as Treasury Yields Outperform Carry Trade in Rare Market Signal

Bitcoin climbed toward $65,000 as an unusual shift in traditional financial markets created one of the rarest conditions…

7 days ago

Hyperscale Data Sells 100 Bitcoin to Fund Michigan AI Campus as GPUS Stock Surges

Hyperscale Data has sold 100 Bitcoin to accelerate development of its planned artificial intelligence campus in Michigan, sending shares…

7 days ago

PIPEDOG Explodes 140x on Robinhood Chain as Memecoin Frenzy Intensifies

A newly launched memecoin called PIPEDOG ($PIPEDOG) became the latest breakout token on Robinhood Chain, surging more than 140x within…

1 week ago

BNY Brings $8.6 Trillion Fund Business On-Chain in Major Wall Street Blockchain Expansion

BNY, the world's largest custodian bank, is bringing one of its core financial businesses onto…

1 week ago

Senators Strengthen Crypto Ethics Rules in CLARITY Act After Trump Negotiations

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators has reportedly reached a new compromise on the ethics provisions of…

1 week ago