Legal Win For Crypto? Supreme Court Decision Restricts SEC’s Lawmaking Reach

As a researcher with a background in law and experience in following the crypto industry, I believe this Supreme Court ruling is a significant victory for the crypto sector. The decision to limit the authority of federal agencies, including the SEC, to interpret ambiguous laws through the rulemaking process will provide greater clarity and independence in legal disputes within the industry.


In a noteworthy decision, the US Supreme Court has passed a judgment that restricts the power of federal agencies, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), to clarify ambiguous laws via rulemaking. The significance of this ruling for the crypto industry is open to interpretation:

Benefits From Supreme Court Ruling

The Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling contradicted the Chevron deference principle established in 1984, which allowed administrative agencies considerable latitude in deciphering lawmakers’ intent in crafted legislation.

Expert: In his decision, Justice John Roberts underscores the significance of courts exercising their own discretion when assessing if administrative agencies have stayed within the boundaries of their legislative power, as outlined in the Administrative Procedures Act (APA). This judgment disputes the idea that agencies deserve unquestioned deference due to ambiguous statutes alone.

As an analyst, I’d highlight that this ruling significantly affects ongoing disputes in the cryptocurrency sector. In particular, it enhances the autonomy of judges like Judge Torres presiding over cases, such as Ripple‘s ongoing lawsuit with the SEC. With the SEC’s rulemaking powers curtailed, there is now a greater need for these judges to interpret the applicable laws independently.

Major industry leaders such as Coinbase and Uniswap Labs, who have recently been notified by the SEC with a Wells Notice, could potentially benefit from the situation given that the SEC’s case against them hinges significantly on the application of the Howey Test.

Industry Experts Question SEC’s Crypto Cases

Market analyst Scott Melker points out that the recent Supreme Court decision may weaken the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) lawsuit against Coinbase. According to Melker, the SEC’s case hinges largely on the Howey Test being applied to cryptocurrencies, but this test might no longer be relevant following the court ruling.

As a researcher examining this issue, I would note that if the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) fails to classify crypto assets as securities based on the Howey test, it could potentially weaken their argument in the ongoing legal action against Coinbase.

According to Ben Lilly of Jarvis Labs, the laws and regulations governing cryptocurrencies carry some uncertainty. This ambiguity underscores the significance of judicial interpretations in clarifying these legal matters, as stressed by the Supreme Court decision.

Legal Win For Crypto? Supreme Court Decision Restricts SEC’s Lawmaking Reach

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2024-06-28 18:42