Ripple Legal Chief Calls For Investigation Into The Motivation Behind the Hinman Speech

The crypto community has been buzzing with comments and reactions after the public release of the now infamous Hinman speech documents. 

Stuart Alderoty, Ripple’s chief legal officer, joined other industry figureheads in discussions calling for a probe into the former SEC commissioner, William Hinman.

Alderoty posted a series of tweets analyzing the Hinman emails and drafts on June 13. The lawyer noted the ignored conflicts of interest highlighted in the documents, saying there is a need to investigate the issue.

Hinman’s Speech Threw Crypto Into Chaos

The chief legal officer wants to probe into the factors that motivated the former SEC official Hinman to deliver the infamous speech in 2018. 

The fact that the document revealed that Hinman moved ahead with the speech, ignoring warnings from other SEC departments, raises questions about what motivated him. 

In his June 13 tweets, Ripple’s chief legal officer argued, citing the just-released document, that Hinman ignored all warnings that suggested the analysis in his speech has no legal basis.

He also said Hinman’s speech or documnets sent confusing messages regarding what makes an asset security to the crypto space or industry.

In 2018, William H. Hinman, then former Director of SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance, asserted in a speech that Ether is not a security. 

The former director noted that Ether is not a security because it is sufficiently decentralized while elaborating on the factors that qualify his analysis. The legal officer said unelected bureaucrats should apply the law and desist from trying to create new ones. 

He added that Hinman’s speech is not worth mentioning in any serious discussion concerning what assets are securities. Meanwhile, other high-profile individuals in crypto weighed in on Alderoty’s criticism of the former SEC official. 

In a June 13 tweet, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse condemned Hinman’s decision to deliver the speech despite warnings from other officials, “throwing an entire industry into chaos.”

Ripple (XRP) CEO Brad Garlinghouse described Hinman’s behavior as “unconscionable” and unbecoming of a regulator. 

CryptoLaw founder and crypto enthusiast, John E. Deaton, weighed in on Hinman’s speech. Deaton said he believes the matter calls for an investigation. 

The pro-XRP lawyer added that Hinman dubbing the infamous speech as the “Ether Speech” raises eyebrows about what motivated him. 

Possible Reasons Behind Aldeority’s Remarks

Alderoty and Deaton’s remarks regarding what drove Hinman to produce the speech, ignoring warnings, may have referenced the former director’s alleged connection with the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance. 

The Enterprise Ethereum Alliance is an advocacy organization that seeks to promote Ethereum blockchain technology adoption. The law firm was allegedly a member of the Ethereum advocacy organization. 

Hinman had worked at the law firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLC before and after working with the US Securities and Exchanges Commission (SEC).

A watchdog agency dubbed EMPOWER previously raised questions regarding Hinman’s continued ties with Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLC. 

EMPOWER filed a suit claiming that former Securities and Exchange Commission officials had potential conflicts of interest regarding crypto.