The announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump that XRP will be included in the country’s strategic cryptocurrency reserves has reignited discussions about the altcoin‘s classification as a security and its implications for Ripple 
$1. Pierre Rochard, Vice President of Research at Riot Platforms, made a groundbreaking statement asserting that XRP is not a security. According to Rochard, Ripple does not make any promises to investors, and he noted that the only option for altcoin investors may be to sell. This statement has caused significant reverberations within the cryptocurrency community.
The Security Debate Surrounding XRP
The debate regarding whether Ripple and the altcoin XRP qualify as securities has been ongoing for some time. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) previously considered XRP an unregistered security. However, in 2023, U.S. Judge Analisa Torres ruled that XRP’s secondary sales are not considered securities, shifting perceptions around the asset. This ruling dealt a serious blow to the SEC’s arguments, yet discussions surrounding XRP’s legal status continue.
Rochard further claimed that Ripple does not impose any obligations on XRP holders, emphasizing that the altcoin should be traded in a free market. He also pointed out that there are numerous products in the market that lack any real value.
Tensions Between XRP and Bitcoin Maximalists
XRP is frequently criticized by Bitcoin 
$75,805 maximalists, and the recent inclusion of XRP in the U.S.’s multiple strategic cryptocurrency reserves has sparked fresh debates. Bitcoin advocates argue that this development threatens the supremacy of the largest cryptocurrency. Rochard shared insights from his perspective, stating that Ripple has been aggressively lobbying against a Bitcoin-centered reserve system.
In contrast, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse argues the opposite. He believes that a multi-cryptocurrency reserve system is inevitable for the U.S. Garlinghouse, who opposes Bitcoin maximalism, added that having various cryptocurrencies coexist is healthier for the industry.
