Community-Driven ‘XRP Army’ Seen as Key in Ripple’s SEC Fight

Ripple Credits ‘XRP Army’ With Helping Shape SEC Case Outcome

Ripple’s prolonged clash with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ended this August, nearly four years after regulators first accused the company of raising funds through an unregistered securities sale. Beyond Ripple’s lawyers, both the judge and executives acknowledged the role of the so-called “XRP Army” in shaping the case.

Attorney John Deaton, who represented XRP holders through an amicus brief, emphasized the community’s influence. “Anyone denying their role is either ignorant of the facts or intentionally lying,” Deaton wrote on X. Judge Analisa Torres cited Deaton’s filings, affidavits from XRP investors, and arguments he raised in a separate LBRY case when she ruled that XRP itself was not a security.

Ripple’s Deputy General Counsel Deborah McCrimmon echoed the sentiment, noting that the XRP Army’s research was instrumental to Ripple’s “fair notice” defense. “They mined speeches, talks, and statements from the SEC and government. I could have paid lawyers thousands to do that, but they were already finding and posting it online,” she said on The Penta Podcast.

The case had far-reaching implications for crypto regulation. In July 2023, Judge Torres ruled that XRP traded on exchanges did not constitute securities, though some institutional sales did. While not a full victory, the decision energized XRP’s market. The token spiked 72% immediately after the ruling, later soaring to a record $3.65 in July 2025.

XRP currently trades near $2.85, down about 1% in the last 24 hours.