Ripple CTO Emeritus David Schwartz has defended cryptocurrency advertising after criticism over Ripple’s new sponsorship deal with the University of Kansas placed XRP branding at the centre of a wider debate on commercial speech and crypto marketing.
The discussion followed the university’s decision to feature the XRP logo on athletic uniforms as part of a multi-year partnership with Ripple. Critics argued that colleges should not promote digital assets to students and younger sports fans, comparing crypto advertising with promotions for gambling, alcohol and tobacco.
The United States has the First Amendment. If you want to restrict or can speech, you need to find some exception it fits into. I don’t think there is one here. See the cases I cited including one involving liquor and one involving gambling.
— David ‘JoelKatz’ Schwartz (@JoelKatz) July 14, 2026
Rather than defending XRP as an investment, Schwartz argued that the issue is about constitutional protection for truthful advertising of lawful products.
Why does Schwartz say XRP advertising is protected?
In a July 15 post on X, Schwartz said governments cannot prohibit truthful commercial advertising simply because officials believe consumers could make poor financial decisions.
He argued that the First Amendment protects truthful speech about lawful products and that restricting such advertising to discourage legal activity would conflict with constitutional principles.
His comments moved the conversation from the value of XRP to whether governments can limit crypto advertising when the underlying activity is legal.
Supreme Court rulings shape the crypto advertising debate
To support his position, Schwartz pointed to two U.S. Supreme Court decisions involving commercial speech.
He cited 44 Liquormart v. Rhode Island, where the court struck down restrictions on liquor price advertising, ruling that the government could not block truthful information to reduce alcohol consumption.
He also referenced Greater New Orleans Broadcasting Association v. United States, in which the court ruled against federal restrictions on advertising lawful private casino gambling under the circumstances of that case.
However, those decisions do not prevent all limits on crypto advertising. Under the Supreme Court’s Central Hudson test, commercial speech is protected only when it is truthful and relates to lawful activity. At the same time, governments may still impose narrowly tailored restrictions that serve a substantial public interest.
ALSO READ: XRP Price Surge to $15 Possible by Q2 2025, Altcoin Rival Priced at $0.01 Will Follow
Kansas partnership brings XRP into college sports spotlight
The debate follows Ripple’s partnership with the University of Kansas, announced on July 8, which will place the XRP logo on uniforms across the school’s athletic programs.
The agreement also includes branding at athletic venues, on digital platforms, and at university events, while Ripple will support financial and technology education programs for student-athletes. The partnership also strengthens recruitment efforts between Ripple and Kansas graduates.
The sponsorship comes after Ripple’s long-running legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission concluded in 2025. While a federal court previously ruled that Ripple’s programmatic XRP sales did not constitute securities transactions under the circumstances examined, certain institutional sales were found to have violated securities laws, leaving the asset’s regulatory history more nuanced than a simple legal victory.
Enjoyed this? Bookmark DeFi Planet, explore related topics, and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Threads and CoinMarketCap Community for seamless access to high-quality industry insights
Take control of your crypto portfolio with DEFI PLANET PRO, DeFi Planet’s suite of analytics.
