Top Lawyer Says Hinman Emails Contain No Bombshell, Favors Ethereum Over Ripple

The recent release of emails from the former director of SEC’s Corporation Finance, Hinman, has ignited a passionate debate among Ripple and crypto community members.

Since the documents became available, renowned experts in the crypto and legal fields have been actively expressing their viewpoints and opinions on the matter. 

Notably, in his recent tweet on June 13, prominent attorney Shapiro stressed that the Hinman document might not support Ripple in its case against the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

The Shapiro opinion has sparked significant interest and generated a lively discourse within the community. 

Shapiro Describes Hinman Emails as “nothingburger” in Ripple-SEC Litigation

A series of tweets by attorney Jeremy Hogan Shapiro brought attention to the recently released emails of the former SEC director of the Division of Corporation Finance, William Hinman.

Shapiro dismissed the significance of the emails, referring to them as a “nothingburger” with no substantial benefits for Ripple’s litigation. 

Despite examining specific sections of the documents, Shapiro, remains perplexed by Ripple’s confidence in the emails’ potential to bolster its case.

He acknowledges that his comment may not sit well with the Ripple community, but “fact doesn’t care” about anyone’s feelings.

In his words, “I’d love it if this recent document helped Ripple’s case, but it just doesn’t.”

Meanwhile, Delphi Labs General Counsel Gabriel Shapiro highlighted the positive impact of Hinman’s emails on Ethereum (ETH), emphasizing that the Ex-SEC chairman declared the asset as a non-security making the emails beneficial for ETH.

However, he pointed out that the collaboration between Ethereum’s co-founder, Vitalik Buterin, ConsenSys, and Hinman, before giving the speech might assist Ripple’s fair notice defense.

According to the United States attorney, these facts were known before the release of Hinman’s emails “so the emails themselves don’t change anything.”

Notably, the attorney undermined the exaggerated hype surrounding the email, dismissing the notion that they hold a significant “bombshell” that could help Ripple win its case against SEC.

After analyzing Hinman’s emails on CryptoLaw, a U.S. legal and regulatory news outlet, Shapiro reaffirmed his stance that the emails do not represent a bombshell for Ripple’s legal position.

He said, “it doesn’t change my evaluation that these emails aren’t a bombshell for Ripple’s case.”

In conclusion, Shapiro commends the efforts of CryptoLaw for adding additional “mark-ups in the documents, emphasizing that they’ll provide more understanding and ideas of different people at the SEC.

The Hinman’s Email Will Ripple Fair Notice, Says Deaton

While attorney Shapiro remains skeptical of the Hinman email’s impact, fellow expert John Deaton expresses confidence that these emails will provide crucial support for Ripple’s fair notice defense. 

According to Deaton, Hinman’s emails are expected to “drive attention” in both the Court of Public Opinion and the halls of Congress while the direct influence on the legal proceedings remains uncertain.

“The emails should help drive attention to how hypocritical and reckless the SEC is being,” He added.

With these contrasting viewpoints, the role and influence of the Hinman emails in the case still remain unclear for now.