Archives

March 8, 2021 @ 2:24 pm By JD Alois  |  

Last week the Senate Banking Committee held a confirmation hearing for Gary Gensler, the individual selected by President Biden to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Gensler is well known to Washington, DC having previously been Chairman of the Commodities Futures Trading Commission during… Read More

March 4, 2021 @ 4:34 pm By JD Alois  |  

SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce nudged the crypto crowd a bit this week pointing out that feedback on the SEC’s request for comments on digital asset custody is paltry at best. Commissioner Peirce has long been noted for her support of innovation in financial services and… Read More

January 28, 2021 @ 7:41 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) confirmed that it will be actively looking at stablecoins which are digital assets pegged 1-to-1 with major world currencies such as the US dollar, British pound, the Euro, the Singapore dollar, among many others. Nisa Amoils, a securities… Read More

January 18, 2021 @ 10:40 am By JD Alois  |  

Gary Gensler, the former Commodities Futures Trading Commissioner Chair, has been selected by President-elect Joe Biden to helm the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Gensler previously led the CFTC during the Obama administration. Prior to the CFTC, Gensler spent 18 years at Goldman Sachs. He is… Read More

December 23, 2020 @ 2:20 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) lawsuit against Ripple is the largest enforcement action attacking the sale of a cryptocurrency to date. The SEC alleges the sale of an unregistered security in the issuance of XRP, Ripple’s native token. Ripple has been quick to defend… Read More

December 23, 2020 @ 12:00 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission has issued a statement and request for comment regarding the custody of digital asset securities by broker-dealers. The Commission states that this consultation is in order to encourage innovation around the application of Securities Exchange Act Rule 15c3-3 to digital… Read More

November 24, 2020 @ 12:37 pm By JD Alois  |  

Somewhat unexpectedly, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced a proposed framework for gig economy workers to receive compensation by the issuance of securities. According to the SEC, the framework provides an exemption from registration for the issuance of compensatory securities by non-reporting issuers,… Read More

November 19, 2020 @ 12:54 pm By JD Alois  |  

IMVU, an avatar-based social network, has received a No-Action Letter (NOL) from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) pertaining to a blockchain-based digital asset – VCOIN. The NOL states that the SEC will not take action on the digital asset because of the following: IMVU… Read More

November 2, 2020 @ 3:17 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Division of Enforcement, has published its annual report for the 2020 fiscal year. According to the report, the Commission brought 715 enforcement actions of which 405 were “standalone” actions. The Commission also obtained more than 475 bars or suspensions… Read More

October 27, 2020 @ 8:35 am By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has scheduled an open meeting to “consider whether to adopt rule amendments to facilitate capital formation and increase opportunities for investors by expanding access to capital for small and medium-sized businesses and entrepreneurs across the United States.” The meeting… Read More

September 11, 2020 @ 3:19 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has posted the agenda for the upcoming Asset Management Advisory Committee (AMAC) meeting scheduled for next week. According to the SEC, the meeting will include a discussion of matters in the asset management industry relating to (1) the ESG… Read More

April 15, 2020 @ 3:00 pm By JD Alois  |  

Special Purpose Vehicles or “SPVs” have long been requested by FINRA regulated platforms participating in the Reg CF sector of crowdfunding. Under current rules, SPVs are not allowed to be utilized. This may soon change as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has proposed enabling… Read More

March 5, 2020 @ 3:27 pm By JD Alois  |  

Yesterday, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed significant changes to the exempt offering framework that should benefit issuers, investors and regulated platforms that facilitate these types of offerings. So far, industry response has been overwhelmingly positive. The proposed amendments will impact Reg CF, Reg… Read More

November 25, 2019 @ 11:34 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Gladius, a “distributed” cybersecurity firm, has reportedly dissolved its operations without complying with the orders from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to reimburse the project’s investors. Alex Godwin, the company’s co-founder and CTO, confirmed the dissolution of the firm through a message sent… Read More

May 9, 2017 @ 4:20 pm By JD Alois  |  

William H. Hinman has been selected as the new director of the Security and Exchange’s Division of Corporation Finance. Hinman recently retired at the law firm of Simpson, Thacher & Bartlett in Silicon Valley. The SEC said that Hinman has been a recognized leader in… Read More

May 9, 2017 @ 1:47 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged a former employee with securities fraud in connection with trading of options and other securities. The SEC alleges that David R. Humphrey, who worked at the SEC from 1998 to 2014, concealed his personal trading from the… Read More

May 9, 2017 @ 12:34 pm By JD Alois  |  

SAFEs or “Simple Agreement for Future Equity” is a widely utilized security in the investment crowdfunding space. A SAFE is more of an option to invest in a company than anything else. It was created by Y Combinator in 2013 as a founder friendly method… Read More

April 5, 2017 @ 5:45 pm By JD Alois  |  

The SEC has announced it has adopted amendments to increase the amount of money companies may raise under Reg CF or retail crowdfunding. Initially, Reg CF capped the amount allowable for issuers to $1 million. The SEC has adjusted the amount for inflation and increased the… Read More

May 20, 2016 @ 11:02 am By Erin Hobey  |  

  The crowdfunding regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) became effective on May 16, 2016, and the agency has issued Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations (C&DIs) providing interpretive guidance on Regulation Crowdfunding. “It is encouraging to see the SEC being so proactive in issuing… Read More