Pro-XRP attorney John Deaton demands SEC transparency on Hinman’s Ether speech

Source Cryptopolitan

Pro-XRP attorney John Deaton has called out the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for holding onto the long-awaited IG report on William Hinman’s speech on Ethereum for too long.

Deaton wants the SEC to make the report public to encourage transparency, especially since the SEC’s approach to regulating crypto remains under scrutiny.

In a recent post on X, Deaton demanded that the SEC make public the internal discussions revolving around Hinman’s statement that led to the investigations. He insists that the report will provide investors and the community with clarity on whether Ethereum was favored over other digital assets like XRP.

John Deaton pushes SEC to release the Hinman report

In 2018, William Hinman (a former SEC official) stated that Ethereum (ETH) was not a security. This comment greatly influenced how the SEC classified various cryptocurrencies as securities, and it also favored Ethereum over other assets, like XRP, which didn’t get the same public clarification. 

Instead of the SEC providing clear guidelines for classifying crypto, it used Hinman’s statement as a basis to sue XRP’s parent company, Ripple, for trading XRP as an unlicensed security. The crypto community rallied behind XRP, accusing the SEC of playing favorites and subjecting other digital assets to stricter regulations.

John Deaton has been at the forefront of fighting for the release of the IG report following the lawsuit against XRP after Hinman’s speech. His complaints resulted from an investigation that revealed Hinman’s connections to the Ethereum Enterprise Alliance, which proves a conflict of interest in the SEC’s decision. 

SEC faces growing pressure over crypto regulations

Deaton believes that the SEC’s failure to release the reports, despite repeated requests from the public, questions the agency’s integrity and impartiality in its selection process.

He even called out SEC officials Paul Atkins, Mark Uyeda, and Hester Peirce to push for releasing this report because they previously campaigned for transparency in the crypto space. 

Deaton says that if the report confirms Hinman’s comments had something to do with the SEC’s lawsuit against XRP and its decision regarding other digital assets, the agency would have to re-examine and restructure its entire regulatory process.

The SEC still hasn’t released the IG report despite increasing public pressure, which only serves to attract more criticism from investors, lawmakers, and industry leaders. 

Watchdog groups that monitor government agencies, businesses, and public institutions to ensure transparency, accountability, and ethical behavior have also found discrepancies in Hinman’s comments. Empower Oversight identified a possible breach of the federal law “18 USC 208” that prohibits government officials from participating in matters that interest them financially.

Cryptopolitan Academy: Coming Soon - A New Way to Earn Passive Income with DeFi in 2025. Learn More

Disclaimer: For information purposes only. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
placeholder
AUD/USD: Current price action is likely the early stages of a recovery – UOB GroupAustralian Dollar (AUD) is likely to trade in a sideways range between 0.6220 and 0.6290. In the longer run, current price action is likely the early stages of a recovery phase that could potentially reach 0.6350, UOB Group’s FX analysts Quek Ser Leang and Lee Sue Ann note.
Author  FXStreet
Jan 22, Wed
Australian Dollar (AUD) is likely to trade in a sideways range between 0.6220 and 0.6290. In the longer run, current price action is likely the early stages of a recovery phase that could potentially reach 0.6350, UOB Group’s FX analysts Quek Ser Leang and Lee Sue Ann note.
placeholder
Bitcoin Outlook 2025As the Bitcoin market continues to mature, its 2025 outlook appears highly favourable, driven by institutional adoption and regulatory developments.
Author  TradingKey
Jan 23, Thu
As the Bitcoin market continues to mature, its 2025 outlook appears highly favourable, driven by institutional adoption and regulatory developments.
placeholder
Dogecoin Price Breaks Resistance Trendline That Could Trigger Breakout Above $1The Dogecoin price looks set to witness a breakout above the psychological $1 level, having broken a resistance trendline. Crypto analyst Trader Tardigrade provided a timeline for when this massive surge could happen as DOGE rallies to a new all-time high (ATH). 
Author  Bitcoinist
Apr 27, Sun
The Dogecoin price looks set to witness a breakout above the psychological $1 level, having broken a resistance trendline. Crypto analyst Trader Tardigrade provided a timeline for when this massive surge could happen as DOGE rallies to a new all-time high (ATH). 
placeholder
Gold Price Forecast: XAU/USD edges lower to near $3,300 as US-China trade tensions easeThe Gold price (XAU/USD) drifts lower to around $3,310 during the early Asian session on Monday. The precious metal retreats after hitting its record high last week amid signs that global trade tensions may be easing.
Author  FXStreet
Yesterday 01: 26
The Gold price (XAU/USD) drifts lower to around $3,310 during the early Asian session on Monday. The precious metal retreats after hitting its record high last week amid signs that global trade tensions may be easing.
placeholder
U.S. Price Hikes Surge: From Amazon, Temu, and Shein to Procter & Gamble and UnileverDue to the impact of high tariff policies, whether it’s U.S. online retailers or offline consumer brands, cheap goods or luxury brands, American consumers are facing a wave of price increases.
Author  TradingKey
21 hours ago
Due to the impact of high tariff policies, whether it’s U.S. online retailers or offline consumer brands, cheap goods or luxury brands, American consumers are facing a wave of price increases.
goTop
quote