A lawyer representing XRP has accused the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of showing bias towards Ethereum over Ripple's XRP token. Bill Morgan, known for his support of XRP, suggested corruption within the SEC, pointing specifically to actions taken during William Hinman's tenure at the agency.

Morgan took to social media to criticize what he dubbed "ETH Gate," alleging that the SEC unfairly targeted Ripple while favoring Ethereum. He highlighted the timing of the SEC's investigation into Ripple, coinciding with a speech by Hinman that was favorable towards Ethereum, when XRP was among the top cryptocurrencies by market value.

Recent scrutiny of William Hinman, a former SEC official, has intensified with complaints filed by the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) to bar associations in New York and California. CPAC has raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest and unethical behavior related to Hinman's 2018 speech, which suggested Ethereum should not be considered a security.

Andrew Langer from CPAC has spearheaded calls for an investigation into Hinman's conduct, pointing to his previous ties to the law firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett (STB). This firm had connections to the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance, raising ethical questions about its potential benefits from Hinman's regulatory stance on Ethereum.

Hinman's speech in 2018 significantly influenced Ethereum's regulatory status, relieving it from stricter scrutiny as a security. Internal SEC emails also revealed consultations between Hinman and Ethereum's co-founder Vitalik Buterin before the speech, despite the decision already made that Ethereum would not be classified as a security.

After leaving the SEC in 2020, Hinman returned to STB and later became an advisory partner at Andreessen Horowitz's cryptocurrency team, prompting further concerns about his impartiality. These developments have fueled accusations of bias and corruption within the SEC during his tenure.

In conclusion, allegations of SEC favoritism towards Ethereum over XRP have sparked controversy, with calls for transparency and investigations into regulatory practices during Hinman's leadership. The ongoing debate raises questions about fairness and integrity within the regulatory framework governing cryptocurrencies.