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SEC: NovaTech and Founders Charged with Fraud in $650 Million Crypto Scheme

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed charges against NovaTech Ltd. and its founders, Cynthia and Eddy Petion. The charges allege a $650 million crypto fraud involving over 200,000 investors worldwide. NovaTech’s alleged pyramid scheme was registered in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It… Read More

Law Firm: the SEC Lost in Battle with Ripple

Last week, it was reported that Ripple had paid a $125 million penalty to settle an enforcement case brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Ripple, the issuer of XRP, was found guilty of selling unregistered securities, but the penalty was far smaller than… Read More

Pyrrhic Victory for SEC? Ripple Pays Penalty of $125 following SEC Action Settlement

Ripple, the issuer of XRP, has long been ensconced in a legal battle with the Securities and Exchange Commission over allegations of offering an unregistered security. However, it appears to have been let off lightly by paying a penalty of $125 million. Ripple CEO Brad… Read More

Social Media Startup IRL that Raised $170 Million Charged with Fraud by SEC

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged the founder and former CEO of Get Together, an erstwhile social media firm, with fraud in regard to a securities offering. The startup, known as IRL, was founded by Abraham Shafi who apparently raised over $170 million… Read More

SEC Charges BitClout Founder with Fraud

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed charges against the founder of BitClout, alleging securities fraud. Nader Al-Naji (aka Diamondhands) is said to have raised over $257 million in a scheme for the sale of unregistered securities – the token BTCLT. Simultaneously, criminal charges… Read More

SEC to Amend Complaint Against Binance, Solana’s SOL and Other Major Altcons No Longer Defined As Securities

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) may be withdrawing its charges against third-party crypto tokens like Solana’s SOL as well as Polygon’s MATIC. These digital tokens have been part of the regulator’s lengthy case against crypto exchange Binance, Breaking: #Solana $SOL is no longer… Read More

SEC Announces New Interagency Securities Council, Aims to Share information Between Federal, State and Local Anti-Fraud Actitivity

The Securities and Exchange Commission, Division of Enforcement, has issued a statement on the new Interagency Securities Council (ISC). This new entity aims to coordinate discussions on fraud and scams and share strategies to counter nefarious activities. The ISC is expected to meet quarterly. The… Read More

Paxos Provides Update on SEC Probe of BUSD Stablecoin, Regulator Will Not Pursue Enforcement Action

Paxos, the regulated blockchain & tokenization infrastructure platform, announced that it received a formal termination notice from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on July 9, 2024, stating that it will “not recommend enforcement action against Paxos Trust Company in the investigation of Binance… Read More

SEC Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee to Discuss SBICs

The Securities and Exchange Commission, Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee (SBCFAC), will meet on July 30th to discuss the Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) Program. The SBIC program is managed by the US Small Business Administration (SBA). SBICs are privately owned and managed funds… Read More

Judge Denies Coinbase’s Request to Subpoena US SEC Chairman Gary Gensler

Crypto exchange Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have been clashing with each other during the last few weeks on Coinbase’s subpoena requesting for SEC Chairman Gary Gensler’s personal communicatons and other details from a period prior to him being appointed… Read More

New Section of SEC Website Highlights Crypto and Cyber Enforcement Actions

Recently, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) updated its website. SEC Chairman Gary Gensler said the “changes will benefit investors, issuers, and the broader public.” “I’m pleased that these updates will improve our website’s compliance with federal standards.” While you will probably always have to hunt… Read More

ICYMI: Senators, Representatives Challenge SEC’s Climate Rules with Amicus Brief

Multiple US Senators and House Representatives joined recently to issue an Amicus Brief challenging the Securities and Exchange Commission’s attempt to establish climate rules in regard to reporting firms. The Investor Choice Advocates Network (ICAN), a non-profit that advocates on behalf of investors and entrepreneurs, … Read More

Binance Says Latest Development Is A Positive Step After US Judge Struck Serious Blow to SEC Chair Gensler’s Regulation-by-Enforcement Approach

On Friday, June 28, 2024, Judge Amy Berman Jackson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia appeared to have struck a major blow to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler’s “regulation-by-enforcement” campaign being carried out against secondary crypto-asset… Read More

Coinbase Responds to US SEC’s Effort to Block “Reasonable Discovery” from SEC Chair Gary Gensler

Paul Grewal, Chief Legal Officer at Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN), confirmed via social media that Coinbase has responded to the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) effort to block “reasonable discovery” from SEC Chairman Gary Gensler in a case that it—not Coinbase—chose to file. Democracy, as well… Read More

Footnote: SEC Commissioner Mark Uyeda Says Tailored Registration Statement Needed for Digital Assets

In commenting on a rule adopted this week pertaining to Registered Index-Linked Annuities and an amended registration form to accommodate these offerings, SEC Commissioner Mark Uyeda slipped in a note about his opinion as to how crypto or digital asset offerings may be managed going… Read More

SEC Charges Silvergate Capital with Allegedly Misleading Investors About Compliance Program

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged Silvergate Capital Corporation, its former CEO Alan Lane, and former Chief Risk Officer (CRO) Kathleen Fraher with allegedly “misleading investors about the strength of the Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering (BSA/AML) compliance program and the monitoring of crypto customers,… Read More

Consensys Says it Fully Expected SEC to File Lawsuit Alleging MetaMask Software Failed to Register as Securities Broker

Consensys claims that it fully expected the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to follow through on its threat to claim their MetaMask software interface must register as a securities broker. Consensys further noted via social media that the SEC has been pursuing an “anti-crypto… Read More

CFTC Commissioner Welcomes Supreme Court SEC v. Jarkesy Decision

While there are crickets at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), a Commissioner at the Commodities Futures Trading Commission has welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision this week in SEC v. Jarkesy. CFTC Commissioner Caroline Pham has issued the following statement on the ruling: “As I’ve said… Read More

SEC Charges Consensys with Sales of Unregistered Securities, Operates as Unregistered Broker

Consensys, founded by an Ethereum co-founder, has been hit with charges by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) alleging the offer and sales of unregistered securities via its Metamask staking service. Metamask offers staking of Ethereum for users to generate “rewards.” Consensys is one of… Read More

Investor Choice Advocates Network (ICAN) Lauds Supreme Court Decision Requiring Right for a Jury Trial for Individuals and Firms Targeted by SEC Civil Suits

The Investor Choice Advocates Network (ICAN) has issued a statement pertaining to the US Supreme Court’s decision issued today regarding SEC v. Jarkesy. The Supreme Court has ruled that when the Securities and Exchange Commission seeks civil penalties against a defendant for securities fraud, the… Read More

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