The XRP Army has proven to be an influential force in the cryptocurrency world, playing a pivotal role in Ripple’s legal win against the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This landmark case, which concluded in August 2023 with both sides dropping appeals, highlighted the power of community advocacy in shaping legal outcomes.
Ripple vs. SEC: A Battle Over XRP’s Legitimacy
The SEC’s lawsuit against Ripple began in 2020, alleging that XRP was sold as an unregistered security. The turning point came in July 2023 when Judge Analisa Torres issued a mixed ruling. She concluded that tokens sold on public exchanges did not meet the definition of a security, though institutional sales did. This complex decision marked a partial victory for Ripple and the broader crypto community, with XRP’s market value soaring by 72% immediately after the announcement.
The XRP Army: A Game-Changing Movement
According to renowned crypto advocate and lawyer John Deaton, the grassroots efforts of XRP tokenholders were instrumental in Ripple’s defense. Deaton noted, “No credible person can argue that the XRP Army didn’t make a difference. If they do, they’re either ignorant of the facts or intentionally lying.”
Deaton rallied thousands of XRP holders who provided affidavits, testimonies, and evidence. This documentation proved invaluable to Ripple’s legal stance, particularly in supporting its ‘fair notice’ defense. Ripple’s Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Deborah McCrimmon, confirmed this during a recent episode of The Penta Podcast. She explained that the XRP Army’s research into past SEC rulings, blockchain-related talks, and governmental speeches significantly bolstered Ripple’s argument.
The Ripple Effect on XRP’s Market
Following the court’s mixed ruling, XRP’s price surged to a high of $0.81 from $0.47, according to CoinGecko, reflecting renewed market confidence. Speculation around the end of the legal battle further fueled price rallies later in the year, albeit with some volatility as the token established a new all-time high of $3.65 in July 2023.
How to Support Ripple and Join the Movement
The significance of community advocacy in this landmark case serves as a reminder of the power of collective action. If you’re interested in getting involved in cryptocurrency communities or want to start your crypto journey, consider starting with supportive products like Ledger hardware wallets, which ensure secure storage for your digital assets.
The XRP Army’s actions demonstrated how a united community could influence outcomes and set a precedent for other cryptocurrency cases and projects taking on legal challenges. This case also serves as a broader endorsement of the growing influence of decentralized ecosystems in the modern regulatory landscape.