The chief technology officer of Ripple Labs says that the government needs to address the alleged unconstitutional unbanking of many crypto and tech founders.

In a new thread on the social media platform X, Ripple CTO David Schwartz accuses the government of pressuring banks to cancel unfavored individuals and businesses with no evidence that they committed crimes.

According to Schwartz, this type of “indirect regulation” is unconstitutional as it ignores due process and the First Amendment.

Schwartz refers to the trend as “Orwellian nonsense” and calls for an end to it in its entirety.

“Our government has become addicted to indirect regulation precisely because of these evils. It is cheaper and easier to pressure someone else to punish me than to charge me with a crime and give me due process. But the government ought not to punish people without giving them due process.

It is easier to pressure banks to cut off disfavored businesses than to make that business illegal. But if the government wants to stop some commercial activity, it should go through the proper lawmaking process, with full political accountability, to prohibit it, not use backdoor secret pressure to drive it underground.

END ALL INDIRECT REGULATION.”

Last week, Coinbase chief executive Brian Armstrong said that Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts, and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler wanted to destroy the crypto industry and possibly broke the law in their crusade against digital assets.

“Warren and Gensler tried to unlawfully kill our entire industry, and it was a major factor in the Democrats losing the election. The Democratic party should realize Warren is a liability and further distance themselves if they want to have any hope of rebuilding.”

Armstrong made the statement amid swirling rumors that the US government cut off 30 tech and crypto founders from banking services.

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Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has criticized the Department of Justice (DOJ) for its recent investigation into Polymarket, a cryptocurrency-based prediction market platform. Armstrong expressed frustration on social media, suggesting that the DOJ’s actions are politically motivated and could inadvertently strengthen Polymarket’s influence. 

The ongoing probe, which involved a search of Polymarket CEO Shayne Coplan’s devices, has sparked widespread debate in the cryptocurrency and technology sectors.

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong Criticizes DOJ

In a post on X (formely Twitter), the Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, has given his two cents on the Polymarket probe. Amid an FBI raid, Polymarket is said to have violated the terms of its earlier settlements with U.S. regulators by permitting U.S.-based users to place bets, the DOJ probe of the platform suggests. 

A 2022 consent order with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) limited Polymarket’s access to US-based traders and the company paid a $1.4 million penalty. But latest findings suggest that US users might still be using the platform hence raising compliance issues.

The probe has picked up pace after a surge in election-related trades on Polymarket particularly those in favour of Donald Trump’s re-election. Critics, however, despite the Coinbase CEO comments, have expressed fears that such big bets can manipulate the general opinion. 

Polymarket has however said it takes steps to ensure that its services are not used by those based in the United States, but the DoJ’s investigation indicates that the company remains concerned about potential violations.

Polymarket Denies Political Motivations, Defends Its Operations

In reaction to the DOJ’s actions, Polymarket has come forward to explain that its platform is a tool that aids people in gaining information about the world, including elections. 

The company called the DOJ’s actions politically motivated and said that the company would fight for “itself and its community.” Polymarket’s CEO Shayne Coplan commented on the matter stating that it was a disappointing “last-ditch effort” by the current administration to go after companies they feel are linked to political opponents.

He highlighted that Polymarket does not take sides, saying that regulators should instead concentrate on creating a favorable climate for business and startups.

“Polymarket has helped hundreds of millions of people during this election cycle and has not hurt anyone,” Coplan said in a tweet.

The management of Polymarket also emphasized the openness of the platform and the unwillingingness to violate current legislation. Since the CFTC settlement, the company has put in place further measures to check the location of users and to limit the access of suspected US participants.

French Regulators Also Scrutinize Operations

However, there are more regulatory concerns for Polymarket than just the US ones. In France, the country’s gambling regulator, the ANJ, is reportedly mulling over the possibilities of banning Polymarket due to unlicensed gambling services. The French authorities have taken notice of the company after recording a surge in the number of bets placed during the US presidential election.

In particular, the response of Coinbase CEO, to the DOJ investigation has been popular among the cryptocurrency community who consider the probe as a threat to free speech. 

Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko also came out in support of Polymarket, saying that data markets are a form of “political speech” covered by the First Amendment. This view is supported by a number of crypto industry executives who claim that banning platforms like Polymarket hampers people’s ability to discuss political events.

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Kelvin Munene Murithi

Kelvin is a distinguished writer with expertise in crypto and finance, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Actuarial Science. Known for his incisive analysis and insightful content, he possesses a strong command of English and excels in conducting thorough research and delivering timely cryptocurrency market updates.

Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.