Supreme Court Hears Argument for Congressional Action on Crypto

In a recent argument heard in the Supreme Court, attorney Paul D. Clement highlighted the need for congressional action to address cryptocurrencies. The statement, which was shared by Ripple CTO David Schwartz, came during oral arguments in the Supreme Court case of Loper Bright Enterprises et al. v. Gina Raimondo, shedding light on the ongoing legal debate over crypto regulation.

Meanwhile, at the Supreme Court today:

“I would think that the uniquely 21st Century phenomenon of crypto currency would have been addressed by Congress. And I certainly would have thought that would have been true in the wake of the FTX debacle. But it hasn’t happened. Why…

— David “JoelKatz” Schwartz (@JoelKatz) January 18, 2024

Clement highlighted the unique and complex nature of cryptocurrencies, calling them a “21st century phenomenon” warranting congressional attention. He expressed surprise that Congress had not taken a more proactive role in examining cryptocurrency regulation, especially following high-profile crypto-related incidents exposing potential industry vulnerabilities.

A key issue raised was determining the appropriate regulatory oversight authority for the cryptocurrency space. Congressman Clement questioned whether a single regulatory agency head, pointing to the SEC, has the unilateral power to address crypto complexities by applying decades-old statutes. He noted concerns about attempts to categorize crypto assets as “investment contracts,” which could bring the entire industry under stringent regulatory control.

Additionally, the Congressman pointed to an apparent inconsistency, given that the same regulatory figure currently asserting oversight authority had previously suggested cryptocurrencies instead fall under the jurisdiction of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), an agency specializing in derivatives and commodities markets.

The Supreme Court’s involvement in resolving this jurisdictional issue signals the high level of significance and potential far-reaching implications of the outcome. The Court’s decision could substantially impact how the cryptocurrency industry operates and the degree of regulatory oversight it faces going forward.

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