Blog Archive

By John E. Deaton. The US Supreme Court issued the landmark SEC V. Howey decision in 1946, laying out a specific definition of what constitutes a security. Those justices couldn’t have guessed how complex digital commerce over encrypted lines of computer code would fit in almost a century later. The Securities and Exchange Commission under Chairman Gary … Read more

By John E Deaton I started CryptoLaw to provide everyday investors with a “clearinghouse of information, news and analysis on key U.S. legal and regulatory developments for digital asset holders”. After the massive fraud at FTX was exposed, something that unfolded right under the nose of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), I am only … Read more

By John E. Deaton. I write to you on this public platform hoping you will truly understand the damage being inflicted on innocent holders of XRP. I represent 68,700 of those holders. We are users, developers, small businesses, content providers and investors in the digital asset XRP. In 2015, XRP became the first regulated cryptocurrency … Read more

By John E. Deaton, Founder and Host, CryptoLaw. I believe we have reached a turning point in the fight against the Securities and Exchange Commission’s unfair and abusive treatment of XRP holders in its lawsuit against Ripple. So much evidence has come out in this case that exposes the outrageous actions of the SEC and … Read more

By John E. Deaton, Founder and Host, CryptoLaw. The apparent defeat over the crypto tax reporting measure in the infrastructure bill was a vivid warning.  The U.S. government doesn’t know what it’s doing on crypto, but it’s taking action anyway.  A $2 trillion economic sector is too ripe a target for a government that has … Read more

By John E. Deaton, Founder and Host, CryptoLaw. Tomorrow (Thursday 7/15), Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn is scheduled to hold hearing to discuss whether to grant the SEC’s motion to quash the deposition of former SEC Division of Corporation Finance Director, William Hinman. The judge may even issue an order on this pivotal matter during tomorrow’s … Read more

By John E. Deaton, Founder and Host, CryptoLaw. The SEC’s lawsuit against Ripple has been flawed from its inception. But few claims in the suit are more egregious than the allegation that XRP lacks utility, or that every XRP holder has engaged in a “common enterprise” with Ripple. These two allegations combined with the SEC’s … Read more

By John E. Deaton, Founder and Host of CryptoLaw. Former SEC Director of Corporation Finance William Hinman continues his journey around the golden revolving door.  The man who helped take Alibaba public in 2014 as a partner at the Ethereum-connected law firm Simpson Thacher went into the SEC in order to give public regulatory clarity … Read more

By John E. Deaton, Founder and Host of CryptoLaw. You would think that blatant government corruption and self-dealing was the stuff of a Hollywood movie, but when you peel back the layers of the Ripple case, examine its origins, and review key facts related to some of its central figures at the Securities and Exchange Commission, … Read more

By John E. Deaton, Founder and Host of CryptoLaw. Five months ago, almost to the day, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed a lawsuit against Ripple but made it clear it was coming after everyone connected to XRP.  They ignored warnings that this lawsuit would cause serious harm to countless people.  There was never one … Read more

By John E. Deaton, Founder and Host of CryptoLaw The SEC’s attack on Ripple has been a case against all XRP transactions from 2013 to the present day.  That is not only the clear message of the SEC’s complaint, but also in the precedence of its attacks on other digital assets.  Judge Sarah Netburn caught … Read more

By John E. Deaton, Founder and Host of CryptoLaw. Today I filed a pre-motion letter to Judge Analisa Torres to share the reasons why we are asking to intervene in the SEC v. Ripple case. Among other topics, the letter addresses why we should be allowed to intervene in the case and establish our interests … Read more

By John E. Deaton, Founder and Host, CryptoLaw. On December 22, 2020, former SEC Chairman Jay Clayton directed the filing of the most significant SEC enforcement action in modern history on his last day. The SEC complaint named defendants Ripple Labs, along with, co-founder Chris Larsen and CEO Bradley Garlinghouse. The SEC action against Ripple and … Read more

By John E. Deaton, Founder and Host, CryptoLaw. The law doesn’t require a CEO to be clairvoyant. It does not require him to “guess” that maybe 7 years later the SEC “might” consider XRP a security. Today, counsel for Ripple Labs CEO Brad Garlinghouse sent a letter to U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres anticipating a Motion … Read more

By John E. Deaton, Founder and Host, CryptoLaw. Today’s confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate Banking Committee for Gary Gensler to be the new chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission was the first chance to pose direct questions about the future of crypto regulations in the United States.  Three senators posed questions of interest to … Read more

By John E. Deaton, Founder and Host, CryptoLaw. The U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs will hold a hearing today at 10:00am E.T., on the confirmation of Gary Gensler to Chair the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Every digital asset holder in the U.S. must understand that the next SEC chair will be … Read more

By John E. Deaton, Founder and Host, CryptoLaw Two months ago, I made the decision to stand up for cryptocurrency holders who have been wrongly harmed by public officials who are sworn to protect the interests of investors.  In connecting with so many holders of XRP and other digital assets, I’ve seen the growing interest … Read more