Santiment charts, whale moves, and ETF speculation often dominate crypto headlines. But sometimes, it’s the retail community itself that ends up shaping history. That’s exactly what happened in the long-running SEC vs. Ripple lawsuit – and Ripple’s own legal team is now openly recognizing the role of the so-called “XRP Army.”
Santiment recently spotlighted a new podcast clip from What’s at Stake by Penta, featuring Deborah McCrimmon, Ripple’s Vice President and Deputy General Counsel. McCrimmon explained Ripple’s mission to build an “internet of value” where money moves as seamlessly as information. But she also opened up about the lawsuit that nearly derailed the company – and how retail holders made a difference.
What you'll learn 👉
Ripple vs. SEC: A Case That Shook Crypto
The SEC sued Ripple in December 2020, right before Christmas, accusing the company of illegally selling XRP as an unregistered security from 2013 to 2020. Unlike fraud cases, this was all about whether XRP should legally be considered a security. Ripple pushed back, saying XRP is just a digital asset used for payments and liquidity, not a share of stock.
The case was brutal. Discovery lasted six months in 2021, with endless subpoenas and depositions. But the turning point came when the court ordered the SEC to hand over internal documents – a shift that gave Ripple breathing room.
Public interest was staggering. Some hearings maxed out at 5,000 phone listeners, far above the norm. For many, it wasn’t just Ripple on trial – it was the future of crypto innovation in the U.S.
No credible person can argue that the XRP Army didn’t make a difference in the Ripple case. If they do they’re either ignorant to the facts and truth or intentionally lying. We have conclusive evidence that we made a difference. There were over 2K exhibits filed in the case. In… https://t.co/WK2MfOb6wS
— John E Deaton (@JohnEDeaton1) September 3, 2025
How the XRP Army Changed the Game
This is where the XRP community came in. Known online as the “XRP Army,” retail holders organized, shared evidence, and built awareness that the SEC’s lawsuit wasn’t only about Ripple’s executives – it threatened everyday users and developers building on the XRP Ledger.
John E. Deaton, a pro-Ripple lawyer, filed an amicus brief on behalf of XRP holders. In her final decision, Judge Analisa Torres cited that brief, along with XRP holder affidavits and even Deaton’s oral arguments from another case (the LBRY trial). That citation alone was proof, Deaton later said, that their involvement mattered.
“No credible person can argue that the XRP Army didn’t make a difference,” Deaton wrote in response to McCrimmon’s interview. “We have conclusive evidence that we made a difference… The proof is in the decision itself.”
In July 2023, Judge Torres ruled XRP itself is not a security – a landmark victory. While some institutional sales by Ripple were deemed securities, the ruling cleared the token’s status on exchanges, donations, and employee payments. Ripple eventually settled the case with a reduced $50 million fine, now in escrow.
Read also: Can 1,000 XRP Tokens Make You Rich?
Why It Still Matters
The ruling didn’t just help Ripple. It created a precedent other crypto projects have cited in court. Some judges leaned on it, others rejected it, leaving a split that highlights the need for Congress to step in with actual legislation.
McCrimmon said Ripple’s fight shows why policy clarity is so urgent. The SEC has since pulled back on many non-fraud crypto cases, but the lack of clear rules still leaves the industry in limbo.
For the XRP Army, though, the victory is proof that retail holders are not powerless. Thousands of voices, coordinated evidence, and grassroots advocacy helped secure one of the most important legal wins in crypto history. As Deaton put it, one person can inspire many – and together, they can change the game.
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