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Ripple Lawyer Cites Mass Support From XRP Holders in SEC Battle

John Deaton says tens of thousands of XRP token holders mobilised to assist Ripple's legal defence against the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Mei-Lin Tan· Jul 12, 2026 · 2 min read
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Reported by U.Today · summarized by QuantorityRead the original →

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John Deaton, a prominent cryptocurrency attorney who has represented XRP holders, says approximately 75,000 token owners participated in backing Ripple's defence against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, according to U.Today. The involvement of this large cohort underscores the grassroots support the payments firm mobilised during its high-profile legal dispute with the federal regulator.

Deaton's Assessment of the Dispute

Deaton has characterised the SEC's role in initiating the lawsuit as a source of considerable friction in the crypto sector. According to U.Today's report, the attorney attributed responsibility for the legal action to the SEC itself, suggesting the regulator's approach warranted criticism on ethical grounds. Deaton's framing places emphasis on what he views as problematic conduct by the SEC lawyers involved in prosecuting the case.

Holder Mobilisation and Support

The figure of 75,000 XRP holders reflects the scale of community engagement that accompanied Ripple's legal proceedings. Rather than the company fighting in isolation, the token's user base apparently organised to bolster the defence effort. This form of distributed support has become increasingly common in major crypto disputes, where affected parties signal their backing through public statements, community organising and legal submissions. The involvement of such a significant number of individuals demonstrates that the outcome of the case held tangible stakes for a broad base of cryptocurrency participants.

Broader Context

Ripple's legal battle with the SEC centred on whether XRP qualified as a security under U.S. law. The case drew widespread attention within the crypto industry due to its potential implications for how regulators might classify and oversee digital assets. Deaton's focus on the ethical dimensions of the SEC's conduct reflects deeper tensions between cryptocurrency advocates and federal oversight bodies around regulatory clarity and enforcement philosophy.

For more details on Deaton's statements regarding Ripple's legal defence and the broader SEC dispute, see the full report at U.Today.

*Source: [U.Today](https://u.today/john-deaton-says-75000-xrp-holders-helped-ripple-executives-fight-sec). Summary by Quantority.*

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Head of Derivatives Research · Quantority

Mei-Lin leads Quantority's derivatives research, focusing on perpetual funding regimes, basis term structure and open-interest dynamics across major venues. She previously built futures analytics at an institutional market-data desk.

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This is an original summary of third-party reporting, with claims attributed to the source outlet. For the full story, read the original. Informational only, not financial advice.