The Chamber of Digital Commerce (CDC), an American advocacy organization, on August 1, unveiled a comprehensive “impact and analysis” report on the SEC’s lawsuit against Ripple. The report scrutinizes the case’s verdict, highlighting its profound implications for the crypto industry’s future.
According to the CDC’s evaluation, Judge Analisa Torres’s ruling sets a vital precedent in digital currency. It distinguishes between an investment contract and the underlying asset, representing a groundbreaking development in crypto regulation.
The report examines Judge Torres’s categorization of Ripple’s XRP token distributions into three classes: institutional sales, programmatic sales and other distributions. She applied the ‘Howey Test’ meticulously to determine if these distributions constituted an offer and sale of investment contracts.

Screenshot of the CDC Impact analysis report. Source: CDC Blog
The CDC expressed satisfaction with the ruling, which aligned with their stance as articulated in their amicus brief supporting Ripple, marking an advocacy victory. Perianne Boring, the CDC’s founder and CEO, underscored the ruling’s importance in establishing precedents for future legal encounters in the crypto industry.
Boring stressed the importance of a balanced playing field in the digital asset sector and the group’s commitment to advocating policies supporting U.S. leadership in the digital economy. While Judge Torres’ ruling was a step towards logical crypto regulations, the CDC firmly believes that definitive regulatory clarity can only come through effective legislation by Congress.
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The CDC acknowledges the introduction of multiple blockchain and digital asset regulatory bills in the House and Senate. However, they express uncertainty about the enactment of these bills, primarily due to constraints posed by the legislative calendar.
Despite the challenges, the CDC persists in advocating for a comprehensive legal framework for digital assets, creating a conducive environment for digital asset product launches. In February, the CDC accused the United States Securities and Exchange Commission of overstepping its authority and unfairly labeling crypto assets as securities, in its insider trading case against ex-Coinbase employees.
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