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The XRP community is celebrating a recent development that could have significant implications for the cryptocurrency’s future. The European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI), a highly respected European think tank focused on corporate governance, published a research paper acknowledging XRP’s status as a utility token, distinct from securities.
This recognition comes amidst an ongoing legal battle between Ripple Labs, the company behind XRP, and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) which claims XRP is a security.
XRP Vs. Security Label
The ECGI paper, titled “Corporate Governance Meets Data and Technology,” examines the evolving landscape of token offerings within the blockchain space.
Authored by academics Wei Jiang and Tao Li, the report explores various fundraising methods like Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) and Security Token Offerings (STOs).
A critical focus of the paper lies in the regulatory grey area surrounding token classification, particularly concerns about whether specific tokens qualify as securities.
The European Corporate Governance Institute notes #XRP was not found a security by the court in this recent paper, “Corporate Governance Meets Data and Technology.”https://t.co/o1iKC6jqRS pic.twitter.com/uJ0bDpKfJE
— WrathofKahneman (@WKahneman) March 14, 2024
The researchers use the SEC’s lawsuit against Ripple as a prime example. The SEC’s argument hinges on XRP being a security, implying that Ripple’s XRP sales violated US securities laws.
However, the ECGI paper highlights a crucial detail often overlooked in mainstream media coverage: the court’s ruling in July 2023. The court determined that XRP sold publicly on exchanges is not a security. This detail offers a potential counterpoint to the SEC’s claims and provides a real-world case study for regulators grappling with how to classify cryptocurrencies.
Beyond The Lawsuit: A Broader Impact For XRP
The recognition from a prestigious institute like ECGI goes beyond the immediate impact on the SEC lawsuit. By acknowledging XRP’s utility token status, the paper lends legitimacy to arguments that XRP functions as a medium of exchange within the RippleNet payment network, facilitating faster and cheaper cross-border transactions. This could pave the way for wider adoption of XRP by financial institutions seeking efficient international payment solutions.
Market Jitters Amidst SEC Deadline
Despite the positive news from ECGI, the XRP market continues to experience price fluctuations. The recent decline, with XRP currently trading around $0.61, likely reflects a broader correction within the cryptocurrency market.
XRP is down almost 5% today, continuing a week-long retreat that began on Monday when it reached its highest point of the year at $0.7440.
With the SEC suing Ripple, an important deadline is approaching on March 22 for the regulator to publish its opening brief regarding remedies, which coincides with the altcoin’s price decrease and a wider retreat in cryptocurrency markets for XRP traders.
While the legal battle with the SEC remains unresolved, the ECGI paper offers a significant boost for the XRP community. The recognition of XRP’s utility token status by a respected institution underscores its potential role within the global financial landscape.
Featured image from Edmond Dantès/Pexels, chart from TradingView
