- John Deaton, founder of Crypto-Law.US, foresees Venture Capitalists supporting refined crypto regulations after Ripple’s legal outcome.
- Ripple’s legal battle clarifies the distinction between sales to institutional vs. retail investors.
Venture Capitalists’ Stance Post Ripple Verdict
In a pivotal turn for the crypto community, John Deaton, the spearhead of Crypto-Law.US, divulged his speculations about Venture Capitalists’ (VCs) upcoming moves in the crypto legal space. He expressed that post Judge Torres’ resolution in the SEC vs. Ripple lawsuit, VCs might fervently back precise and sagacious crypto directives. This assertion came about in a dialogue with Digital Asset Investor, a renowned influencer in the XRP ecosystem.
Also I’m not so sure about shared custody @JohnEDeaton1. I trust @UpholdInc but not that much. 😂
— KingricoXRP (@Kingrico72) August 8, 2023
The Ripple Verdict’s Ripple Effect
A recent outreach by Digital Asset Investor prompted Deaton to shed light on the Ripple lawsuit’s ramifications for institutional clientele and VCs. The influencer’s query revolved around the post-Hinman speech sentiment, wherein institutions and VCs perceived a protective shield in token issuances.
Highlighting a particular instance, the influencer mentioned ConsenSys and its Token Foundry, which was instrumental in rolling out several tokens. This reference underscored the diverse strategies adopted by VCs to engage with tokens.
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Deaton’s perspective was enlightening. He underlined that the Ripple verdict has illuminated a crucial facet: the Howey test, which determines whether a transaction qualifies as an investment contract, is indifferent to the investor’s adeptness or sophistication.
Historically, VCs and their institutional counterparts basked in the assumption of enjoying immunity, attributing their “sophistication” as a shield. The SEC vs. Ripple case, however, dispelled this myth. Judge Torres proclaimed that Ripple’s prior direct sales to these institutional mavens were indeed securities. This classification was rooted in the belief that such investors harbored profit expectations stemming directly from Ripple’s endeavors. In a contrasting observation, programmatic sales in secondary arenas were deemed non-securities, given that the retail investor pool didn’t echo similar profit anticipations.
Considering the verdict’s potential dent on VC protections, Deaton conjectures an impending VC shift towards advocating meticulous crypto legislation.
A Historical Tug of War
In a twist of events, Deaton highlighted the paradox where VCs, some of whom engaged with tokens via ConsenSys and partook in Ethereum’s ICO, endorsed the SEC’s stance against Ripple. These VCs had previously stamped XRP as a security. Deaton’s words of caution resonated, warning these entities of the repercussions of their endorsements, especially when the Howey test’s lens could categorize their actions as security engagements.
A noteworthy mention was Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin’s stance, cautioning ETH enthusiasts to steer clear of defending Ripple, citing historical frictions between the two crypto giants.
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