Tagged: securities and exchange commission

December 11, 2020 @ 9:36 am By JD Alois  |  

The United States District Court, Southern District of California, has filed a final judgment against Blockvest LLC and founder Reginald Buddy Ringgold. The order requires the defendants to pay a civil penalty of $332,370.99 along with a disgorgement of ill-gotten gains of $363,726.91 – including… Read More

December 9, 2020 @ 8:44 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged Amir Bruno Elmaani, aka “Bruno Block,” for conducting an illegal securities offering in an initial coin offering (ICO) and for a plan to profit by issuing millions of unauthorized tokens for himself at no cost and selling… Read More

December 3, 2020 @ 5:23 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced a bit of end of the year housekeeping today by taking FinHub and morphing it into a standalone office now called the Strategic Hub for Innovation and Financial Technology. Valerie A. Szczepanik, who led FinHub will remain at… Read More

November 27, 2020 @ 11:43 am By Gautam Gujral  |  

On November 2, 2020, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” or “Commission”) voted to amend its rules to harmonize, simplify, and improve the exempt offering framework. These amendments will, in general, be effective 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. Bigger is Better An… 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 16, 2020 @ 8:43 am By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced that Chairman Jay Clayton will depart the agency at the end of the year. The exit by Clayton has long been expected regardless of the outcome of the Presidential election. Clayton joined the SEC on May 4,… Read More

November 11, 2020 @ 3:28 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee met this week to discuss the topic of “Finders.” A Finder is an individual who helps a small business find investors and may be paid a fee for this service. Under existing rules,… Read More

November 9, 2020 @ 7:43 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission, Staff of the Division of Investment Management has issued a public statement pertaining to a recent No-Action Letter (NAL) published by the Wyoming Division of Banking that included the Wyoming Division of Banking’s views relating to the definition of “bank”… Read More

November 9, 2020 @ 9:39 am By Dror Futter  |  

TL;DR – The SEC announced a series of amendments (likely to be effective early next year) to the rules governing private offering exemptions – by far the most frequent path for venture fundraising.  The amendments retain the same “menu” of exemptions but make incremental improvements…. Read More

November 4, 2020 @ 11:18 am By JD Alois  |  

As previously reported, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has updated the exempt offering ecosystem – changes that impact online capital formation including Reg CF and Reg A+. The amendments published the SEC include funding cap increases to both the aforementioned exemptions while additional updates,… Read More

November 3, 2020 @ 3:26 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee has scheduled a meeting for next week that will include the important topic of “Finders.” Finders are individuals or firms that help to match investors to smaller businesses. On October 7, the SEC… Read More

November 2, 2020 @ 10:00 pm By Ryan Feit  |  

Today marked a major turning point for the private capital markets in America.  While most of the country is squarely focused on the election, the SEC quietly passed dramatic improvements to securities laws for startups, small businesses and investors everywhere.  The SEC’s actions today signified,… 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

November 2, 2020 @ 1:20 pm By JD Alois  |  

Congressman Patrick McHenry, the Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, has issued a statement applauding the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rule change today that seeks to improve and simplify the exempt offering ecosystem. Congressman McHenry stated: “Today’s action by the SEC will help… Read More

October 27, 2020 @ 1:58 pm By JD Alois  |  

William (Bill) Hinman, Director of the Security and Exchange Commission’s Division of Corporation Finance, plans to leave the SEC later this year, according to a notice posted by the agency. Hinman joined the SEC in 2017 and was soon engulfed in the initial coin offering… Read More

October 27, 2020 @ 12:37 pm By JD Alois  |  

    Recently, Kik settled a long legal battle with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In the end, Kik must pay a $5 million settlement pertaining to an initial coin offering (ICO) that was deemed to be an unregistered security offering. Additionally, for the… 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

October 19, 2020 @ 6:57 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a litigation release today alleging charges of microcap fraud that involved an attorney prominent in the US crowdfunding sector. According to the SEC complaint, Jillian Sidoti, affiliated with the law firm known as CrowdfundingLawyers.net, facilitated alleged fraudulent dumping… Read More

October 7, 2020 @ 2:40 pm By JD Alois  |  

A Longstanding Grey Area Today at an open meeting, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed an update to rules pertaining to “Finders” –  individuals or firms that help smaller businesses find investors. The potential change will subject these individuals or firms to reduced regulation… Read More

October 5, 2020 @ 8:17 pm By JD Alois  |  

John McAfee, a blockchain advocate and former software entrepreneur that created McAfee ant-virus software, is the target of a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) enforcement action pertaining to the promotion of initial coin offerings (ICOs). The civil action by the SEC was joined by criminal… Read More