Archives

March 12, 2024 @ 12:25 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has obtained a default judgment against Sameer Ramani, a friend of a former Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) employee, pertaining to insider trading claims regarding crypto. Last year, the SEC filed an enforcement action against Coinbase executive Ishan Wahi and his brother, Nikhil Wahi…. Read More

March 12, 2024 @ 9:39 am By JD Alois  |  

Last week, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted new climate disclosure requirements that align with the agency’s ESG ambitions [environmental, social, and governmental]. The new rules have been criticized by opponents as not aligning with the SEC’s mission while creating a situation where both… Read More

March 6, 2024 @ 3:52 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has adopted new climate disclosure rules that fall under the ESG sector [environmental, social, and governmental]. The new rules will require reporting companies to disclose their environmental impact, a process that is difficult to measure accurately and will vex… Read More

March 6, 2024 @ 11:32 am By JD Alois  |  

Reflecting on the enforcement action taken against ShapeShift, SEC Commissioners Hester Peirce and Mark Uyeda have criticized the Commission’s slapdash approach toward crypto under Chairman Gary Gensler. The Commissioners have issued a dissenting opinion on the enforcement action. In an Administrative Proceeding, it was determined… Read More

February 28, 2024 @ 11:48 am By JD Alois  |  

Yesterday (February 27, 2024), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee (SBCFAC), met to discuss several issues of importance that impact early-stage firms. Perhaps the most pressing issue is the definition of an Accredited Investor – a rule the Commission… Read More

February 19, 2024 @ 7:05 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee (SBCFAC)will reconvene once again to discuss the definition of an Accredited Investor. At the same meeting, the Committee will review the status of the IPO market in the US along with several other… Read More

February 16, 2024 @ 9:41 am By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has penalized Van Eck, an exchange-traded fund (ETF) and mutual fund manager, for not disclosing the role of an “influencer” in the launch of a new ETF. The specific ETF was the VanEck Social Sentiment (VEAC) ETF (NYSE:BUZZ). Van… Read More

February 15, 2024 @ 3:36 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has obtained a final judgment against She Beverage and its principles, including Lupe L. Rose, Sonja F. Shelby, and Katherine E. Dirden. The charges pertain to a suit filed by the SEC in 2021. Approximately 2000 investors were impacted… Read More

February 14, 2024 @ 5:30 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission has submitted a rule change that will slightly increase the amount of money that can be committed to a “qualifying venture capital fund” for purposes of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (Act). The increase would raise the cap from… Read More

February 7, 2024 @ 1:48 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed another enforcement action targeting a digital asset firm. The SEC has filed charges against TradeStation Crypto, alleging an unregistered offering of a “crypto asset lending product.” TradeStation Crypto has settled the charges without admitting or denying the… Read More

February 6, 2024 @ 3:48 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) continues to issue new rules at a breakneck pace. Today, the Commission has adopted new rules that impact “market participants who engage in certain dealer roles.” These market participants who shoulder significant liquidity roles in markets must soon register… Read More

January 31, 2024 @ 7:05 pm By JD Alois  |  

Ram Ahluwalia, founder of PeerIQ (sold) and now founder of Lumida, has slammed Chairman Gary Gensler, claiming the damage he has done to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is significant. Ahluwalia references an article that quoted former SEC Commissioner Michael Piwowar. In the article… Read More

January 29, 2024 @ 10:24 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed charges against HyperFund and its principles alleging a $1.7 billion “Crypto Pyramid scheme.” Founders Xue Lee (aka Sam Lee) and Brenda Chunga (aka Bitcoin Beautee) were said to have promoted HyperFund which allegedly claimed guaranteed returns for… Read More

January 25, 2024 @ 3:49 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Office of Investor Education and Advocacy, the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA), and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) have jointly issued a warning regarding the rise of investment frauds involving the use of artificial intelligence (AI) –… Read More

January 24, 2024 @ 11:09 am By JD Alois  |  

Today, at an open meeting, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) revealed new rules that will cover SPACs or Special Purpose Acquisition Companies. SPACs are “blank check” firms that are public firms that are created to enact a merger or acquisition of another firm. As… Read More

January 23, 2024 @ 4:20 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has revealed an order demanding Crowd Machine, Metavine, and founder Craig Sproule to disgorge $19,676,401.27 raised in an “unregistered and fraudulent offering of crypto asset securities.” Additionally, pre-judgment interest in the amount of $3,358,147.75 is being added to the… Read More

January 16, 2024 @ 12:39 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is reportedly willing to postpone the Terraform Labs trial for Do Kwon‘s extradition. The SEC agreed to the delay of the civil trial against Terraform Labs and its co-founder Do Kwon for allegedly carrying out a $40 billion… Read More

January 13, 2024 @ 11:34 am By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) experienced an embarrassing breach of security when its X (formerly Twitter) account was hacked. The perpetrators took the opportunity to announce the approval of Bitcoin ETFs one day before the SEC intended to announce it publicly. In the following… Read More

January 11, 2024 @ 5:16 pm By JD Alois  |  

The House Financial Services Committee has announced the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee will hold a hearing entitled: “Oversight of the SEC’s Proposed Climate Disclosure Rule: A Future of Legal Hurdles.” The hearing is scheduled to take place on Thursday, January 18, 2024, at 10 AM… Read More

January 10, 2024 @ 5:57 pm By JD Alois  |  

Representative Patrick McHenry,  Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, has joined the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Bill Huizenga, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology and Inclusion, French Hill, and the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Capital… Read More