Ripple’s CEO Brad Garlinghouse condemned SEC Chair Gary Gensler for his combative stance toward the crypto industry, which persisted even until the end of his term.

The SEC is set to file the opening brief in its appeal against Ripple on January 15 and refuses to postpone it. Five days later, Gensler will resign, and the entire Commission will undergo drastic changes, making the gesture pointless.

Garlinghouse Mocks Gensler

Brad Garlinghouse has plenty of reasons to hold a grudge against the SEC Chair Gary Gensler.

A year ago, he called Gensler “a political liability,” and the legal battle between Ripple and the SEC has only exacerbated matters. However, Garlinghouse directly criticized Gensler on social media over this case today, accusing him of wasteful pettiness.

“Gensler, very much on brand – completely dismissive of the 2024 election and the American public – fully commits to his failed ‘regulation-by-enforcement’ agenda to the bitter, bitter end. Sad!” claimed Garlinghouse.

Specifically, Garlinghouse posted this in response to Stuart Alderoty, the Chief Legal Officer at Ripple. Alderoty claimed that the Commission is attempting to open their appeal against Ripple five days before Gensler’s exit, in what he calls “a waste of time and taxpayer dollars!”

Gensler, in other words, is trying to drag out a fight with Garlinghouse as long as he possibly can.

Since Donald Trump was re-elected as the US President, Gensler and Garlinghouse have sat at opposite ends of a political transformation. Garlinghouse, on one hand, has praised what he calls “The Trump Effect” and is already anticipating a friendlier SEC.

Meanwhile, Gensler fervently maintains outward contempt for the crypto industry. He still believes that the industry is “built around noncompliance,” and filled with bad actors.

In other words, Garlinghouse is saying that Gensler is acting out of spite. Regardless of what argument the SEC will make on January 15, its appeal against Ripple may implode less than a week later.

Since October, Garlinghouse has maintained that an XRP ETF is inevitable, regardless of the SEC’s current hostility. Right now, any changes to the agency’s leadership and regulatory structure would potentially seem like an improvement.