Ripple and Six Major Blockchains Submit Comment Letters Supporting SEC Crypto Regulation Proposal
Ripple and six blockchain organizations filed comment letters supporting the SEC's proposed Regulation Crypto Assets while requesting specific changes before the October 20 deadline.
Why it matters
The coordinated industry support signals a shift from litigation to rulemaking engagement, though the SEC has not indicated whether it will adopt the requested changes. The outcome will determine whether digital commodities receive explicit non-security status in binding regulation, affecting token classifications for LINK, ADA, HBAR, APT, AVAX, and XLM.
Key facts
Ripple submitted a comment letter on October 20 supporting the SEC's proposed Regulation Crypto Assets while requesting specific revisions
Reported by CoinGape
Six blockchain organizations filed a joint comment letter on October 20 urging the SEC to codify digital commodity classification into binding rules
Reported by CoinGape
Ripple CLO Stuart Alderoty stated the company spent more than $150 million on litigation with the SEC over XRP classification
150,000,000 USDReported by CoinGape
The Blockchain Association requested the SEC raise the startup exemption limit from $5 million to $10 million
10,000,000 USDReported by CoinGape
The SEC and CFTC jointly categorized crypto assets into five groups in March 2026: digital commodities, digital collectibles, digital tools, stablecoins, and digital securities
Reported by Crypto News (CryptoNews.net)
The OCC finalized GENIUS Act rules for payment stablecoin issuers in October 2026, effective January 18, 2027
Reported by Brave New Coin
What happened
Ripple and six major blockchain organizations — Chainlink Labs, Cardano Foundation, Hedera, Aptos Labs, Ava Labs, and Stellar Development Foundation — submitted comment letters to the SEC supporting its proposed Regulation Crypto Assets framework before the October 20 public comment deadline. Ripple's Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty confirmed the company backs finalizing the rules while seeking revisions to provisions on token sales, investment contracts, and secondary-market transactions, citing over $150 million in litigation costs. The six blockchain groups filed a joint letter urging the SEC to codify its March digital commodity classification into binding rules rather than interpretive guidance, and requested clarity on staking, secondary trading, and decentralized network activities. The Blockchain Association separately asked the SEC to double the startup exemption limit from $5 million to $10 million and allow third-party filings for already-trading tokens. The SEC's proposal, introduced August 18, drew over 100 comments during the two-month consultation period.
How the story developed
- Official statement
OCC finalizes GENIUS Act stablecoin rules
Federal standards for payment stablecoin issuers take effect January 18, 2027
- Official statement
Ripple and six blockchain organizations submit comment letters
Coordinated industry response on final day of public comment period
- Official statement
Blockchain Association submits comment letter requesting exemption increase
Trade group asks SEC to double startup exemption from $5M to $10M
- First report
First report by Bitcoin Insider
Ripple Backs the Rule It Fought, Utah Sues Over a Word, Bitget Buys a Licence
- Independent corroboration
Independently corroborated by CoinGape
Ripple, Cardano, Chainlink, Hedera, Stellar, Aptos & Avalanche Support SEC ‘Regulation Crypto Assets’
- Update
SEC proposes Regulation Crypto Assets
SEC introduces tailored framework for certain investment contracts involving cryptocurrencies
- Official statement
SEC and CFTC publish joint crypto asset classification
Agencies categorize crypto assets into five groups including digital commodities
- Official statement
Official statement from Bitcoin.com News
Ripple Backs SEC Crypto Plan, Seeks Protections for Token Trading
How coverage built up
Independent sources over time, counted the way the consensus panel counts them: a republication of a wire story does not move the line.
- 21 Oct 2026, 06:00 UTC: Bitcoin Insider — 1 independent source, 1 reports
- 21 Oct 2026, 06:27 UTC: CoinGape — 2 independent sources, 2 reports
- 21 Oct 2026, 09:55 UTC: Crypto News (CryptoNews.net) — 3 independent sources, 3 reports
- 21 Oct 2026, 12:03 UTC: The Defiant — 4 independent sources, 4 reports
- 21 Oct 2026, 16:09 UTC: Cointelegraph — 5 independent sources, 5 reports
- 21 Oct 2026, 17:34 UTC: BTC-ECHO — 6 independent sources, 6 reports
- 22 Oct 2026, 02:30 UTC: Bitcoin.com News, official — 7 independent sources, 8 reports
- 23 Oct 2026, 06:02 UTC: Brave New Coin — 8 independent sources, 9 reports
- 23 Oct 2026, 15:08 UTC: Crypto.News — 9 independent sources, 10 reports
- 23 Oct 2026, 18:54 UTC: Decrypt — 10 independent sources, 12 reports
Affected entities
Also mentioned: United States, XRP, Avalanche, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Paul Atkins, Base, Donald Trump
Original sources
Related events
Aptos launches optional Encrypted Mempool to hide pending transactions from MEV bots
Aptos put an opt-in Encrypted Mempool on mainnet that keeps transaction details encrypted until validators finalize block ordering, aimed at MEV bots.
Aptos Token Slides Below $0.80 as Double-Top Risk Persists and Vesting Unlocks Taper
Aptos (APT) fell below $0.80 on Oct. 14 after failing to clear the $0.885–$0.893 resistance band, with bearish technical signals and declining token unlocks shaping the outlook.
NEAR Price Prediction: Down 3%, Parked at Pivot — Stochastic Oversold, MAs Still Pressing Down
Blockchain.News publishes technical analyses showing MACD histogram at zero across multiple crypto assets
Blockchain.News released a series of technical analysis articles from October 11-20 showing SUI, APT, NEAR, BTC, and QQQ all trading below short-term moving averages with MACD histograms at zero.
BNB rally runs ahead of spot volume and open interest in a chart-only review
Blockchain.News, the only outlet covering this, reports BNB rose 3.85% to $755.22 while Binance spot volume stayed modest and BNB futures open interest fell 3.86%.
Decibel Trade activates Aptos Encrypted Mempool to shield traders from MEV
Decibel Trade has enabled Aptos' Encrypted Mempool on its platform, letting traders hide order details before execution to reduce frontrunning and sandwich attacks.