Ripple: UK Regulator Signals XRP Is Not a Security

August 09, 2019

The United Kingdom has issued guidance indicating XRP has “non-security attributes,” according to Ripple.

The crypto remittance company recently filmed a video segment focused on digital asset regulations around the world, and its officials appear to reference a July consultation paper from the UK Financial Conduct Authority that compares XRP to Ethereum.

According to the paper,

“Tokens may have mixed features that may overlap with the above categories, or change over time. For example, Ether can be used as a means of ‘payment’ (exchange token) on the Ethereum platform, and can also be used to run applications (utility token). XRP has similar features.”

The paper lists security tokens, exchange tokens and utility tokens as the three categories.

It remains unclear, however, whether UK regulators have actually taken a concrete step towards classifying XRP as something other than a security.

It’s an important distinction for Ripple which faces a class-action lawsuit in the United States with the plaintiffs alleging that the San Francisco-based company violated state and federal laws by selling XRP as an unregistered security.

Last month, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse penned an open letter to Congress calling on lawmakers to develop a crypto regulatory policy that encourages innovation and recognizes the differences in digital assets.

Ripple notes that the UK, Singapore, Switzerland and Abu Dhabi already have in place digital asset market frameworks “that both support innovation and address risk.”

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