Ripple’s Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty has pushed back against what he calls the mainstream media’s “lazy and inaccurate” portrayal of crypto as a tool for crime and corruption.
In an Oct. 17 post on X, Alderoty argued that the real story is far more practical, millions of Americans use blockchain technology every day for legitimate purposes like payments, lending, and proof of ownership.
For the second time in as many weeks the NY Times ran a “guest essay” painting crypto as no more than a tool of crime and corruption. It’s a convenient narrative, but a lazy and inaccurate one.
Crypto is a technology used by more than 55 million Americans, and over three-quarters…— Stuart Alderoty (@s_alderoty) October 17, 2025
He noted that digital assets run on transparent, traceable ledgers, making illicit activity easier to spot, not harder. “Crime doesn’t thrive in plain sight,” Alderoty wrote, adding that the visibility of blockchain data allows regulators and users alike to track flows in real time.
The Ripple executive described crypto as a toolkit for efficiency and transparency, enabling faster settlements, fewer intermediaries, and permanent, auditable records. The focus, he said, should be on the everyday Americans using crypto to save time and cut costs, not on the small minority exploiting it for wrongdoing.
Alderoty also spotlighted the work of the National Cryptocurrency Association, a nonprofit launched with a $50 million Ripple grant, which he leads as president. The group aims to promote public literacy, share user stories, and demonstrate how open blockchain systems benefit consumers and small businesses.
By shifting the discussion toward education and real-world utility, Alderoty hopes to replace sensationalism with evidence, and remind policymakers that transparency, not secrecy, defines the modern crypto economy.
