Ripple now registered as a Wyoming business

Published at: Feb. 21, 2021

Blockchain-based payments firm Ripple Labs has now registered a business in Wyoming.

According to records from the Wyoming Secretary of State, Ripple Markets WY LLC’s status as a local business is listed as "active" after an initial filing in February 2020. As a limited liability company in Wyoming, Ripple’s registered agent will be based in Cheyenne.

“More crypto companies are realizing Wyoming is a better domicile than Delaware due to our crypto-friendly laws,” said Caitlin Long on Twitter.

Long is the CEO of digital bank Avanti Bank & Trust and associated with the state legislature’s Select Committee on Blockchain, Financial Technology and Digital Innovation. She said crypto firms like Ripple should consider relocating to Wyoming due to the state not having any corporate or franchise taxes, and cryptocurrencies being exempt from property and sales tax.

In addition, there is the presence of U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis. The Wyoming lawmaker is one of the first to say digital assets will be a key part of her legislative agenda. Responding to the Ripple news, Lummis' state policy director said many people were "maximalist on Wyoming."

It does not appear as if Ripple will move its headquarters to the crypto-friendly state as its principal office is still listed as San Francisco. However, both Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen and CEO Brad Garlinghouse have said that they are displeased with the seeming lack of regulatory clarity on crypto and blockchain in the United States.

Wyoming is becoming one of the most attractive U.S. states for crypto and blockchain firms. Last year, the Wyoming State Banking Board granted crypto exchange Kraken a charter to operate as a crypto-friendly bank and gave Avanti the green light to receive and custody crypto in a similar fashion. In the wake of Tesla's $1.5 billion Bitcoin (BTC) purchase earlier this month, Senator Lummis invited CEO Elon Musk to consider relocating to the state.

Cointelegraph reached out to Ripple for comment, but did not receive a response at the time of publication.

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