Is XRP Security? SEC Veteran and XRP Advocate Sort Out

As a researcher with a background in law and experience following the regulatory landscape of digital assets, I find the recent legal developments surrounding Ripple’s XRP an intriguing case study. The court’s decision to dismiss most claims against Ripple is indeed a victory for the company but does not definitively answer the question of whether XRP should be classified as a security.


In a recent legal advancement, Ripple achieved a major success as the judge in the Northern District of California dismissed the majority of claims in a class action lawsuit concerning XRP. The ruling now focuses on a minor state law allegation regarding supposedly misleading statements.

The central issue of the ongoing controversy revolves around whether XRP should be categorized as a security. A recent court decision in California, which favored Ripple, doesn’t necessarily mean that XRP won’t be considered a security under specific conditions. This perspective contrasts with Judge Torres’ earlier ruling in New York, where she determined that XRP does not meet the criteria for being classified as a security when sold to institutional investors.

As an analyst, I would rephrase your question as follows: “I noticed that California has recently adopted the Howey test for determining if a transaction falls under its securities law definition, as stated in Corp. Code section 25019. Is this correct?”

— Fred Rispoli (@freddyriz) June 29, 2024

Expert opinions from Fred Rispoli and Marc Fagel provide insights into the possible repercussions of recent developments, particularly concerning the potential influence of California law on the definition of securities in relation to XRP, according to Rispoli’s perspective as a strong advocate for the digital asset.

As a seasoned analyst with a background in SEC regulations, I’ve observed the intricate differences between federal and state laws regarding the classification of XRP transactions as securities.

“According to Rispoli’s interpretation of the court decision, there is a chance that XRP may be categorized as a security under California legislation, even if it hasn’t been definitively labeled as such under federal law.”

Fagel expressed his opposition, pointing out that although California’s use of federal benchmarks like the Howey test shapes local understandings, the overall impact on federal courts in need of clarification is relatively minimal.

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2024-06-30 16:00