Ripple Legal Chief Fires Back at New York Times with Strong Defense of Crypto
Ripple’s Legal Chief Fires Back at The New York Times Over Crypto Criticism
Ripple’s Chief Legal Officer, Stuart Alderoty, has strongly criticized The New York Times (NYT) for what he calls unfair and misleading coverage about cryptocurrency.
On October 17, Alderoty posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the NYT once again published an article portraying crypto as a tool for crime and corruption.
He wrote:
“For the second time in as many weeks, the NY Times ran a ‘guest essay’ painting crypto as no more than a tool of crime and corruption. It’s a convenient narrative, but a lazy and inaccurate one.”
Alderoty argued that this view ignores how millions of ordinary people use crypto in positive ways.
Crypto Helps, Not Hurts, Everyday People
According to Alderoty, over 55 million Americans now use crypto, and more than 75% of them say it has improved their lives.
He explained that crypto makes it easier for people to:
- Send money faster and cheaper,
- Prove ownership of assets, and
- Build new types of transparent businesses.
He also pointed out that blockchain technology—which records all crypto transactions publicly—actually makes corruption and crime harder to hide, not easier.
What The NYT Articles Said
Alderoty was referring to two recent NYT opinion pieces:
- “This Crazy Crypto Heist Is the Story of Our Time” (Oct. 5) by Philip Shishkin — describing a bitcoin-related kidnapping involving a Georgian billionaire, and warning about crypto’s risks.
- “Teapot Dome. Watergate. They’re Nothing Compared to This” (Oct. 17) by Jacob Silverman — accusing Donald Trump’s crypto ventures of corruption and money laundering.
Both articles linked crypto with criminal activity and political scandals. Alderoty’s post came out the same day as the second piece, directly challenging that negative portrayal.
The Other Side of the Story
In his closing message, Alderoty said the media should focus on the real story — how digital assets help ordinary people.
“The real story is about everyday Americans using digital assets to save time, cut costs, and gain financial freedom. That story deserves to be told.”
He also mentioned the National Crypto Association, which is working to promote positive stories about how blockchain is improving the economy and empowering users.
In short: Ripple’s top lawyer says crypto isn’t just about scams or crime — it’s a modern technology that helps millions of people and deserves fairer treatment in the media.
