Ripple Legal Chief Stuart Alderoty Says Firm Had No Choice but to Fight SEC
“Ripple had no choice. If we didn’t fight and win, they were going to crush us,” Alderoty said, according to a post shared by Whale Insider on X.
The comment reflects Ripple’s long-running legal battle with the SEC over the company’s sales of XRP, a case that became one of the most closely watched regulatory disputes involving a major cryptocurrency company in the United States.
Ripple’s Legal Fight With the SEC
The SEC sued Ripple in December 2020, alleging that the company and its executives conducted an unregistered securities offering through XRP sales. Ripple disputed the allegations and maintained that XRP itself should not be classified as a security.
The litigation continued for several years, with both sides contesting how U.S. securities laws should apply to digital assets and the circumstances surrounding XRP transactions.
A July 2023 ruling by U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres found that Ripple’s institutional sales of XRP constituted investment contracts, while programmatic sales of XRP on exchanges did not meet the same standard under the facts before the court. Ripple described the decision as a major legal development for the company and the broader cryptocurrency industry.
Alderoty had previously argued that the case carried implications beyond Ripple itself. In 2023, following the court ruling, he said the decision could be used by other cryptocurrency companies facing regulatory action from the SEC.
Case Ultimately Reached a Resolution
The legal dispute continued after the 2023 ruling through additional proceedings and appeals. In August 2025, the SEC announced that it and Ripple had filed a joint stipulation dismissing their appeals, resolving the civil enforcement action against Ripple and its executives. The agency said the district court’s final judgment, including a $125,035,150 civil penalty and injunction, would remain in effect following dismissal of the appeals.
The resolution brought the formal appeals process to an end after years of litigation. Ripple has continued to advocate for clearer rules governing digital assets in the United States, including through submissions to the SEC’s Crypto Task Force. In a 2025 filing, Alderoty argued that securities-law obligations should be based on enforceable contractual rights and legal claims rather than simply expectations of profit.
Alderoty’s latest remarks, as reported by Whale Insider, frame Ripple’s decision to contest the SEC action as a necessary defense of the company. The quote comes against the backdrop of a case that has now moved beyond the appeals stage, with the underlying district court judgment remaining in effect.
Writer: Ethan Collins
Crypto Journalist
Ethan Collins reports on developments across the cryptocurrency and blockchain sector. His work covers market movements, protocol updates, regulatory changes, and emerging trends in digital assets.
He focuses on presenting complex topics in a clear and accessible manner for a broad readership.
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