Renowned attorney and staunch XRP advocate John E. Deaton, who currently represents more than 75,000 token holders in Ripple Labs’ ongoing lawsuit with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), has the cryptocurrency community on edge. As time approaches for his promised “big announcement” today, the buzz of speculation is intensifying given the tantalizing hints he’s been posting on social media.
In response to the push from prominent XRP supporter Jungle Inc 2.0, Deaton unveiled three cryptic hints that could serve as potential signs of today’s reveal. The hints include a photo of Deaton engrossed in reviewing some paperwork, a reference to the XRP ledger, and a reference to the Ethereum (ETH) ICO.Deaton Tweet: “Just because my friend Jungle asked. Here are 3 tips: 1) Photo below; 2) XRPL; 3) ETH ICO.”
Previously, on Tuesday, September 19, Deaton announced on Twitter, “If all goes well, I’ll be making a big announcement this Friday (and no, I’m not suing anyone yet)!”
As with any major reveal, the community has been buzzing with anticipation and theories. Comments like “Eth bros jump ship now!!!” The Ethereum gate is about to explode! ”, “I smell a lawsuit coming” and “subpoena power” filled the discussion.
What is the XRP related announcement about?
The photo, while ambiguous, has sparked speculation. Many in the community tend to believe that these unseen documents may be related to the SEC v. Ripple lawsuit. Given Deaton’s key role in the legal battle, serving as an amicus curiae on behalf of token holders, any revelations about the case could have far-reaching ramifications.
The second tip pointing to XRPL reminds us how important this decentralized public blockchain is to the functionality of the token. While Deaton has previously focused primarily on the legal aspects associated with the token and less on its technical prowess, today’s announcement may deviate from this norm, revealing a new regulatory push for XRPL.
Finally, the endorsement of the Ethereum ICO hints at another layer of conspiracy. According to “Bitcoinist” reports, Ethereum’s early advisor Steven Nerayoff recently exposed the SEC’s alleged corruption during the ETH ICO stage, coupled with accusations that Ethereum violated the terms of its ICO, causing an uproar in the cryptocurrency circle. Deaton’s previous statement about having Nerayoff appear on his Cryptozoology TV show further hints that today’s statement may include insights or an interview with Nerayoff to delve deeper into these allegations, known as “ETHgate” .
At press time, XRP was trading at $0.5097.
Featured image from Coinkolik, chart from TradingView.com
