Ethereum

Freedom

Empower

<p>The post <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://coinpedia.org/news/crypto-vs-sec-alleged-double-standards-at-sec-ethereum-favoured-ripple-snubbed/">Crypto Vs SEC: Alleged Double Standards at SEC – Ethereum Favoured, Ripple Snubbed?</a> appeared first on <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://coinpedia.org">Coinpedia Fintech News</a></p> 
<p>The plot thickens in the narrative surrounding the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and potential conflicts of interest in its cryptocurrency enforcement. Twitter user Digitalassetinvestor.xrp raises provocative questions after analyzing the documents obtained by Empower Oversight from the SEC.</p> 
<h2 id="empower-oversight-uncovers-crypto-conflict-within-sec" data-name="empower-oversight-uncovers-crypto-conflict-within-sec" class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Empower Oversight uncovers crypto Conflict within SEC</strong></h2> 
<p>Empower Oversight, through a persistent two-year Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit, has obtained a series of revealing documents from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Empower Oversight unveiled the influential role of Consensys founder, Joseph Lubin, in shaping the views of former SEC Director of Corporation Finance, William Hinman.&nbsp;</p> 
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
 <div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> 
  <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> 
   <p lang="en" dir="ltr"><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/14.0.0/72x72/1f6a8.png" alt="🚨" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;">BREAKING: <a href="https://twitter.com/EMPOWR_us?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">@EMPOWR_us</a> releases trove of new <a href="https://twitter.com/SECGov?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">@SECGov</a> emails obtained in multiple FOIA lawsuits against agency. <br><br><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/14.0.0/72x72/1f6a8.png" alt="🚨" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;">Lubin "played a much more central role than previously known in driving Hinman's thinking and goals" with 2018 'Ether speech'<a href="https://t.co/icif1fmfIH" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://t.co/icif1fmfIH</a></p>— CryptoLaw (@CryptoLawUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/CryptoLawUS/status/1687188133467627521?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">August 3, 2023</a> 
  </blockquote> 
  <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 
 </div> 
</figure> 
<p>The bombshell information, which details Lubin’s significant input into Hinman’s pivotal 2018 speech classifying Ether as a non-security, also hints at potential misconduct. Allegedly, Hinman met with Simpson Thacher’s partner, Chris Lin, while he was representing a crypto sector client – a move that contradicts SEC Ethics Office advice and raises questions considering Hinman’s lucrative financial ties to Simpson Thacher.&nbsp;</p> 
<p>This exposé brings to light the integrity of the SEC’s decision-making process in cryptocurrency enforcement.</p> 
<h2 id="two-sides-of-the-coin-ethereum-vs-ripple" data-name="two-sides-of-the-coin-ethereum-vs-ripple" class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Two Sides of the Coin: Ethereum vs. Ripple</strong></h2> 
<p>In a series of tweets, the Digitalassetinvestor.xrp raises pointed questions about the treatment of Ethereum’s Vitalik Buterin and Joseph Lubin, compared to Ripple’s Brad Garlinghouse. </p> 
<p>The user, reviewing the documents obtained from the SEC, questioned why former SEC Director of Corporation Finance, Bill Hinman, appeared to go to great lengths to accommodate Ethereum’s creators, while allegedly giving Ripple’s CEO the proverbial cold shoulder.</p> 
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
 <div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> 
  <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> 
   <p lang="en" dir="ltr">Just went through the <a href="https://twitter.com/EMPOWR_us?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">@EMPOWR_us</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/JsnFostr?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">@JsnFostr</a> SEC FOIA documents and the obvious question is:<br>Why was Bill Hinman doing backflips to accommodate <a href="https://twitter.com/ethereumJoseph?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">@ethereumJoseph</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/VitalikButerin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">@VitalikButerin</a> while at the same time giving <a href="https://twitter.com/bgarlinghouse?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">@bgarlinghouse</a> the run-around with the help of Jay Clayton and even…</p>— Digital Asset Investor.XRP (@digitalassetbuy) <a href="https://twitter.com/digitalassetbuy/status/1687217716082438144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">August 3, 2023</a> 
  </blockquote> 
  <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 
 </div> 
</figure> 
<p>This query hints at a potential bias within the SEC that favored Ethereum over Ripple, further deepening the controversy surrounding the organization’s cryptocurrency enforcement decisions.</p> 
<h2 id="favoritism-in-the-ethereum" data-name="favoritism-in-the-ethereum" class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Favoritism in the Ether(eum)?</strong></h2> 
<p>The allegation suggests that Hinman might have been bending over backward to accommodate Ethereum’s founders, possibly assisting them to ensure Ether was not classified as a security in his controversial 2018 speech.</p> 
<p>On the flip side, Ripple was seemingly not afforded the same courtesy. Digitalassetinvestor.xrp pointed out that Hinman, in partnership with former SEC Chairman Jay Clayton, was allegedly giving Brad Garlinghouse, Ripple’s CEO, a difficult time and even came back to the SEC after he left to make sure the lawsuit against Ripple went through.</p> 
<h2 id="unraveling-the-ripple-lawsuit" data-name="unraveling-the-ripple-lawsuit" class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Unraveling the Ripple Lawsuit</strong></h2> 
<p>Ripple Labs and its top executives have been battling a lawsuit from the SEC since December 2020. The SEC alleges that Ripple’s sale of its native cryptocurrency, XRP, was an unregistered securities offering worth over $1.38 billion. The crux of the argument lies in whether XRP should be classified as a security or not.</p> 
<p>If Digitalassetinvestor.xrp’s insinuations hold water, it would imply that the SEC might have played favorites in its enforcement decisions, potentially creating a significant scandal.</p> 
<p>The implications of these revelations could reverberate through the crypto industry and beyond. The fight for fairness and transparency within cryptocurrency enforcement is far from over, and Empower Oversight shows no signs of backing down.</p>

Crypto Vs SEC: Alleged Double Standards at SEC – Ethereum Favoured, Ripple Snubbed?

Table of Contents

CoinPedia News

Other articles published on Aug 4, 2023

Tether's Bitcoin Holdings Expand Amid Surplus Reserves

Tether CTO claims USDT price being manipulated, some suggest Binance involvement

InQubeta’s Rapid Growth Surpasses Avalanche (AVAX)

Coinbase to Make Major Move in SEC Lawsuit, Here It Is

Bitcoin and Ethereum Jump as Tradecurve Revives Bullish Market Sentiments

Revolut Suspends Crypto Trading Services for U.S Customers

Join our free newsletter for daily crypto updates!