Ripple’s Secret: XRP Promotion Was a Risky Game! 🚨

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A draft provision in the U.S. Clarity Act, dated January 1, 2026, proclaims that any token acting as the principal asset of a U.S.-listed ETF shall not be deemed a security under the 1933 Act. XRP, it seems, is among those fortunate few. 🎩

This matter holds significance, for Ripple, in its sagacity, had long refrained from publicizing XRP. The rationale was straightforward: excessive discourse might have bestowed the SEC with a more formidable argument. How prudent of them, albeit with a dash of regretful restraint. 😕

Ripple lawyer Bill Morgan broke down the situation on X, with the fervor of a man unburdened by caution. 🧐

“Ripple could not promote XRP or the XRPL, lest it incur the SEC’s wrath for marketing an unregistered security. Even then, it was sued,” quoth Morgan, with a sigh of exasperation. 🧐

Ripple’s Foreknowledge of Peril: A Tale of Caution 🕵️‍♂️

Morgan posits that Ripple foresaw the regulatory tempest as early as 2013. Upon the SEC’s investigation in 2018, the company retreated into silence, much like a timid mouse evading a cat. 🐭

Between 2018 and 2020, Ripple maintained a hush while Bitcoin and Ethereum basked in the spotlight. Morgan notes that a senior SEC official, Bill Hinman, publicly endorsed Ethereum, while Michael Saylor freely championed Bitcoin. A curious disparity, indeed. 🤔

Ripple, however, found no such liberty. Even post-lawsuit, it has only promoted XRP indirectly via acquisitions and its RLUSD stablecoin. A most circumspect approach, though perhaps not without its drawbacks. 🧩

Not Everyone Blames the Lawsuit: A Divergent View 🤔

Wietse Wind, a prominent XRPL developer, offers a differing view. He claims the timing issues with XRPL predated the SEC case. “While the lawsuit may have hindered business/chain deployment, I think what Ripple/XRPL gained is brand awareness,” he opines. A rather optimistic outlook, if not a tad naive. 😅

“While the lawsuit may have hindered business/chain deployment, I think what Ripple/XRPL gained is brand awareness,” Wind wrote.

Morgan, ever the pragmatist, demurs. He argues that even features predating the lawsuit could not be promoted, for any marketing would have bolstered the SEC’s case. How could this not impede adoption…? 🤷‍♂️

But the things that predated the lawsuit, or more importantly, the start of the SEC investigation against Ripple in Early 2018, could not be promoted by Ripple, as evidence of promotion would have strengthened the SEC case. How could this not have a retarding impact on adoption…

– bill morgan (@Belisarius2020) January 13, 2026

The Clarity Act: A New Dawn for XRP? 🌅

If this provision passes, XRP shall attain a legal status Ripple could never secure in court. The token shall no longer be ensnared by securities law. For Ripple, this opens doors long sealed since 2018. A most auspicious development, though one wonders if it shall prove as enduring as a fleeting fad. 🎉

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2026-01-13 18:13