SEC's Motives Questioned Amid Ripple Verdict's Potential Impact on Crypto Market

Ripple and the SEC agree that the Hinman Emails, which contain the former official's past remarks on the status of ether, should not govern current policy. The emails offer insights into the SEC's views on the crypto-as-securities debate, but they do not create precedent or establish law. The SEC has not relied on Hinman's position in recent years and has moved on with other remarks from SEC Chair Gary Gensler that suggest a different view. The issues debated around Hinman's speech have no legal bearing until the SEC's five commissioners make a new rule, issue guidance, or bring an enforcement action that explicitly makes the case that ETH is a security.