- Ripple Labs and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are engaged in a long-running legal battle.
- Lawyer Bill Morgan, known for his insights, predicts an intense legal battle between Ripple and the SEC.
- The SEC initially sought over $1 billion in penalties from Ripple, which was later revised down to $770 million.
The long-running legal case between Ripple Labs and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is expected to ramp up, not wind down, according to analysis by crypto lawyers.
In a series of tweets, lawyer Bill Morgan, known for his keen insights into the case, reviewed the remedies phase roadmap laid out in recent court filings. He predicts a “full-on” battle between the parties.
“How do you get a settlement out of all that? I don’t think so at this time,” Morgan stated.
The SEC initially sought over $1 billion in penalties from Ripple before revising it down to $770 million. Ripple aims to substantially reduce that amount by excluding certain XRP sales to commercial customers.
Ripple, in its letter to the court, provided insight into the specific areas of contention that are set to dominate the proceedings. One of the pivotal issues revolves around distinguishing institutional sales from non-institutional ones, according to Morgan.
This matter is particularly contentious due to the significant amounts involved, especially concerning post-complaint sales to On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) customers for cross-border payments. These sales, as Morgan pointed out, don’t seem to fit the definition of investment contracts, given that ODL customers are not investing in XRP for profit.
Additionally, Morgan also highlighted that unresolved questions linger over the SEC’s jurisdiction in transactions involving institutional sales, where many transactions did not have any connection to the United States.
Lawyer John Deaton, who has closely followed the case, agreed with Morgan’s assessment. In a reply tweet, Deaton said he does not believe any serious settlement talks have occurred.
He emphasized Ripple’s desire to drastically reduce the $770 million penalty by excluding ODL transactions and making cuts in various expenses.
Drawing parallels to another case involving LBRY, Deaton highlighted the arduous and time-consuming nature of these legal proceedings. It took eight months of additional litigation before a fine of $130,000 was ultimately imposed.
The remedies phase will involve significant additional discovery and litigation, which could drag on for months. Deaton predicts a final judgment no sooner than late summer 2023, with appeals likely pushing well into 2024.
The ongoing Coinbase lawsuit against the SEC could be a pivotal factor. If Coinbase succeeds in getting the case dismissed, Deaton believes the SEC may be forced to soften its stance against crypto companies like Ripple. Until then, both sides appear braced for a prolonged courtroom slugfest.
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