Unregistered securities


Policy

Kraken Accused by SEC of Operating Unregistered Platform, Improperly Mixing Customer Funds

The U.S. crypto exchange is the latest targeted by the Securities and Exchange Commission in a series of similar actions being fought in court by other companies.

Kraken co-founder and chairman Jesse Powell was CEO of the company during most of the time the Securities and Exchange Commission has accused it of operating illegally. (CoinDesk)

Policy

California, Texas Among States Accusing GS Partners of Misleading Crypto Investors

Offers of a tokenized Dubai skyscraper and assets in the metaverse were fraudulent and unregistered, state regulators say, and boosted by celebrities such as boxer Floyd Mayweather.

Ex-boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. is among celebrity promoters who have been tied to GS Partners, which has been accused by state regulators of committing crypto fraud.  (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Policy

SafeMoon Execs Arrested by DOJ in Fraud Investigation, Charged by SEC

Crypto company SafeMoon's CEO and chief technology officer were arrested, accused of withdrawing more than $200M to buy luxury cars and homes from funds that they told investors were "locked," according to the DOJ and the regulator.

The U.S. Department of Justice grabbed another of the men it alleges moved billions in criminal money at BTC-e.  (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)

Policy

Coinbase Poised to Make Final Pitch in Bid to Kill SEC Accusations Quickly

The U.S. crypto exchange is ready to argue the SEC's claims about unregistered securities are missing evidence of actual contracts.

Coinbase is accusing Chair Gary Gensler's U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission of improper procedure in its handling of crypto oversight. (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)

Policy

Mila Kunis Web Series Stoner Cats Faces SEC Enforcement Action for 'Unregistered' NFT Offerings

The production company behind Stoner Cats encouraged investors to buy and trade royalty-yielding NFTs, tying the collectibles to the success of its Hollywood-backed web series, the SEC said.

The Securities and Exchange Commission says NFTs tied to the Stoner Cat series backed by Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher are unregistered securities.  (Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

Opinion

A House Bill Would Make It Harder for the SEC to Argue Crypto Tokens Are Securities

The five-page, bipartisan Securities Clarity Act by Representatives Tom Emmer and Darren Soto would significantly reduce uncertainty for both crypto investors and issuers, write Bain Capital Crypto’s Tuongvy Le and Khurram Dara.

(Shutterstock and Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Policy

Crypto Exchange Beaxy Shut Down After SEC Lawsuit

The Securities and Exchange Commission also accused the exchange's founder of misappropriating customer money.

Comisión de Bolsa y Valores de Estados Unidos. (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)

Videos

SEC Warns Crypto Stakes in Retirement Accounts May Be Unregistered Securities

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) again made its case Tuesday that crypto assets are often unregistered securities being traded on unregistered exchanges, issuing an investor alert warning that people should be wary of crypto in individual retirement accounts (IRA). CoinDesk Global Policy and Regulation Managing Editor Nikhilesh De discusses the latest in the world of crypto regulation.

Recent Videos

Markets

This Tiny Blockchain Startup’s Tangle With SEC Could End Up as Landmark Case

Whether LBRY’s tokens are deemed securities could set an even bigger precedent than Ripple’s higher-profile SEC suit.

LBRY has likened the SEC's pursuit to that of the relentless French inspector Javert from Les Miserables. (Gustave Brion via Wikipedia, modified by CoinDesk)

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