All news is rigorously fact-checked and reviewed by leading blockchain experts and seasoned industry insiders.
- Pro-XRP attorney and Senate candidate John Deaton accused the SEC of causing over $15 billion in financial losses to small investors.
- He has been vocal about the negative impact of the SEC’s regulatory approach on retail investors and plans to challenge its practices while campaigning against Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren.
John Deaton, a popular attorney known for his pro-XRP stance, has raised serious allegations against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). He blamed its crypto regulatory approach and its actions caused substantial financial losses among small investors. Senate candidate Deaton also claims that the SEC’s enforcement actions have caused damages exceeding $15 billion to retail investors.
These allegations come at a time when the SEC has reportedly given up on the appeal while concluding it with a new crypto classification, reported CNF.
XRP Lawyer John Deaton Criticizes The SEC
In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), he accused the regulatory body of “misconduct.” “The SEC’s misconduct and gross overreach caused small investors over $15 billion,” Deaton stated. He added, “On behalf of those 75,000 small investors I represented, we do not accept the SEC’s apology.”
The pro-XRP lawyer has been vocal about the detrimental effects of the SEC’s regulatory practices, particularly on smaller retail investors.
He has consistently criticized the commission’s abuse of power against crypto. Hence, the XRP lawyer plans to fight the SEC head-on. Moreover, his campaign for the U.S. Senate seat in Massachusetts highlights his concerns about the agency’s lack of accountability.
Thus, he plans to challenge the anti-crypto Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, accusing her of being unwilling to scrutinize the SEC’s actions. Deaton also referenced a Writ of Mandamus he filed in early 2021.
He accused the SEC of violating decades of legal precedent by declaring tokens themselves as securities in the 2021 filing. The pro-XRP attorney also maintained that this move went beyond the agency’s authority and created unnecessary confusion.
The lawyer also highlighted his frustration over the SEC’s failure to provide clear regulation. “All I asked was for the SEC to honor the law and make clear that the token itself (XRP) was NOT the security,” Deaton said. In addition, he went on to accuse the agency’s lawyers of targeting him personally during the legal proceedings.
Other Related Developments
In a related development, Paul Grewal, Coinbase’s Chief Legal Officer, shared a court filing suggesting a shift in the SEC’s stance on cryptocurrencies. According to the proposed amendment in the Binance lawsuit, the SEC admitted it no longer considers tokens to be securities, reported CNF.
This marks a major change from its previous position, particularly in relation to XRP, which had been classified as a security in 2020. “The SEC regrets any confusion it may have invited,” the agency stated in the filing.
However, the SEC’s regulatory actions continue with a recent settlement with the trading platform eToro, per the CNF report. The platform agreed to cease trading most cryptocurrencies in the U.S. and pay a $1.5 million fine. However, this move attracted significant backlash as the agency apologized for considering tokens as securities within 24 hours of the amended Binance lawsuit complaint.
Meanwhile, data from Social Capital Markets indicates the total monetary penalties imposed on cryptocurrency firms this year have reached $4.7 billion. It marks a humungous 3,000% rise from the previous year. This included one of its largest enforcement actions wherein the SEC settled a case with Terraform Labs for $4.47 billion.
