Brad Garlinghouse, the CEO of Ripple, made a joke about dressing up as former SEC official Bill Hinman for Halloween. This happened at the CoinAlts 2023 conference, which is all about cryptocurrency and alternative investments.
This lighthearted comment highlights the ongoing tensions between Garlinghouse and Hinman. The conference, supported by top firms like Harneys, brought together experts in the crypto industry for informative panels, discussions, and networking opportunities.
Garlinghouse and Coinbase Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal were both present at the conference and had friendly banter on Twitter before their appearances. Grewal humorously mentioned that he was warming up the crowd for Garlinghouse’s segment.
Garlinghouse’s joke about Hinman stems from serious allegations. He has been openly critical of the SEC and Hinman, specifically. The controversy revolves around the “Hinman docs,” which are internal documents revealing discussions leading up to Hinman’s 2018 speech.
Garlinghouse argues that Hinman received significant payments from law firms with a vested interest in the outcome of his speech. He believes these documents could be crucial in the court battle between Ripple and the SEC, which Ripple has recently won.
