January 31, 2019 @ 8:52 pm By Scott Andersen  |  

On January 22, 2019, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) released its examination priorities for 2019.  At the top of the list was online funding platform compliance with the securities laws. With an uptick in the offer and sale of securities offerings online with Rule… Read More

January 28, 2019 @ 4:36 pm By JD Alois  |  

FINRA recently posted their annual Risk Monitoring and Examination Priorities Letter. As part of the letter, FINRA stated they would be evaluating how firms conduct suitability analyses as well as communications and AML requirements for both Reg D 506c and Reg A+ offerings. These two exemptions… Read More

January 27, 2019 @ 9:23 pm By JD Alois  |  

Last week, FINRA issued its annual Risk Monitoring and Examination Priorities Letter for 2019. The letter is a reference point as to what FINRA expects to target in the coming year. The missive includes an opening by FINRA President and CEO, Robert Cook, who said… Read More

January 18, 2019 @ 3:00 pm By Mark Elenowitz  |  

In 2012 the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama. It required the SEC to write rules and issue studies on capital formation, disclosure, and registration requirements. There were three main areas that the investment community took notice… Read More

January 16, 2019 @ 11:35 am By JD Alois  |  

Aspencoin, a digital security associated with the St. Regis Aspen Resort, is migrating over to the Securitize platform. Aspencoin represents fractional equity ownership in the ski resort and has been promoted as the first of its kind. The Aspen Digital Token was distributed to investors… Read More

January 16, 2019 @ 9:07 am By JD Alois  |  

MicroVentures, an equity crowdfunding platform, has just announced the elimination of all fees associated with issuers using Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF). MicroVentures says “gone are the days of high commissions and equity compensation for funding portals.” A quick visit to their site and you may… Read More

December 31, 2018 @ 1:37 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

StartEngine is set to close its security token offering (STO), using the Reg D 506c securities exemption, this evening (December 31st). The round, which only open to accredited investors, made its debut less than six months after StartEngine closed its first Reg A+ round, raising nearly $5… Read More

December 30, 2018 @ 3:30 pm By Onki Kwan  |  

Recently, the SEC has charged the gamut of ICO players with violating the securities laws, including companies raising money with ICOs, an exchange, and people promoting ICOs. None of the recent cases contained allegations of fraud and in some cases, the companies attempted to comply… Read More

December 18, 2018 @ 11:17 am By Doug Ellenoff  |  

This summer, with little fanfare, the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) announced some interesting and, in our view, directionally enlightened ideas on potential changes to state securities laws as they relate to secondary market trading. If you aren’t familiar with NASAA, it is a… Read More

December 11, 2018 @ 11:15 am By JD Alois  |  

Calling their EQRE digital asset “a securities token that even Wall Street could love,” QuantmRE is planning to do a security token offering tied to fractionalized interest in real estate. In partnership with Prime Trust, QuantmRE will issue a security token representing interests in owner-occupied, residential real estate… Read More

December 4, 2018 @ 3:51 pm By JD Alois  |  

Greenrush, a “national online cannabis shopping destination,” has announced a Series B funding round on RenGen Labs. Greenrush provides “on-demand eCommerce and delivery to its 50,000+ customers in more than 150 cities across 5 states and growing.” RenGen was formerly known as Saftlaunch, an initial coin offering (ICO) platform that has since morphed… Read More

December 1, 2018 @ 3:37 pm By JD Alois  |  

StartEngine, one of the leading investment crowdfunding platforms in the US, has filed a Form D with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). As CI reported last month, StartEngine commenced a Reg D offering while their Security Token Offering (STO) under Reg A+ remains in… Read More

November 15, 2018 @ 4:55 pm By JD Alois  |  

Small Change, a mission focused real estate investment platform, is one of a very few platforms offering real estate investments under Reg CF – the smallest securities crowdfunding exemption and the most difficult to work with. Envisioned as a vehicle to boost online capital formation,… Read More

November 12, 2018 @ 10:52 pm By JD Alois  |  

Investment crowdfunding platform StartEngine launched a Reg A+ self-crowdfunding offer for security tokens some time ago. Unfortunately, the offering has not yet been qualified by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Last week, StartEngine opened up a “limited time” $10 million security token offering (STO) using… Read More

November 9, 2018 @ 11:36 am By JD Alois  |  

According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Blockstack Token Fund has raised $26,248,475 in a Reg D 506c offering. The money raised was separated into two different vehicles: Blockstack Token Fund QP, LP raised $17,783,394.88 and Blockstack Token Fund AI, LP raised $8,465,080.20…. Read More

October 30, 2018 @ 12:00 pm By Samuel Guzik  |  

As a securities attorney, when I attend a conference in a rapidly developing area, I come with my own prejudices and beliefs, but with an open mind and open ears – to hear,  digest and discuss the latest developments and thinking.  The 2018 Crypto Invest… Read More

October 26, 2018 @ 4:57 pm By JD Alois  |  

The much heralded JOBS Act was signed into law in 2012 during a brief moment of bi-partisan cooperation. The objective was to drive economic growth, and job creation, via a series of regulatory updates including the legalization of investment crowdfunding. But has the JOBS Act… Read More

September 23, 2018 @ 1:23 pm By JD Alois  |  

Elio Motors (OTCQB: ELIO) is back raising money once again for its three wheel concept vehicle that has been delayed multiple times.  But this time is different as Elio is planning an initial coin offering with a security token: ElioCoin. Elio Motors hit the crowdfunding… Read More

September 10, 2018 @ 10:16 pm By JD Alois  |  

In early August, CI reported that Templum – a registered ATS targeting digital assets, was working with Aspen Digital to tokenize a security based off of common stock in the St. Regis Aspen Resort. Using the Reg D (506c) exemption, the tokenized security has been… Read More

September 10, 2018 @ 11:31 am By JD Alois  |  

Hedera Hashgraph, a company pursuing a speedy iteration of blockchain that is enterprise ready, has filed an updated Form D with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). According to the Reg D 506c filing, Hedera has raised $104,467,509 from 985 different investors. The offering is for… Read More