Ripple CLO Stuart Alderoty calls SEC’s Gensler ‘struggling political liability’

Amid surging spot Ethereum ETF rumors, Ripple CLO Stuart Alderoty calls SEC Chair Gensler a “struggling political liability,” suggesting political motives behind potential SEC moves.

In what could be a watershed moment for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ripple’s Chief Legal Officer, Stuart Alderoty, suggests that SEC Chair Gary Gensler is risking his position by becoming a “struggling political liability.”

In an X post on May 22, Alderoty criticized Gensler’s approach, saying “he thought crypto was an easy target,” but eventually “overplayed his hand.” Alderoty’s statement came amid rumors swirling about the SEC potentially approving a spot Ethereum exchange-traded fund (ETF), a move that perceived by many in the crypto industry and beyond as a bid to court voters.

As Chris Brummer, professor of law and Faculty Director of Georgetown’s Institute of International Economic Law, noted in an X post, this might be “the first time the SEC has become a subject of presidential politics.”

The speculation surrounding the spot Ethereum ETF approval gained traction despite the SEC’s previous stance against greenlighting any new crypto-related spot ETFs. This development intensified the competition between the Biden administration and former president Donald Trump, particularly in the context of their contrasting approaches to crypto regulation.

As the 2024 elections approach, the clash between Trump’s crypto-friendly stance and Biden’s hesitancy becomes a focal point in a heated political battle. Despite indications from the Biden administration that it remains steadfast in adhering to the SEC’s stance on crypto regulation, the pressure from crypto voters seems to be intensifying as the SEC gears up to potentially approve spot Ethereum ETFs in the coming weeks.