Securities And Exchange Commission

28 Mar 2023

SEC: Exercise Caution With Crypto Asset Securities: Investor Alert

TLDR: The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy continues to urge investors to be cautious if considering an investment involving crypto asset securities. Investments in crypto asset securities can be exceptionally volatile and speculative, and the platforms where investors buy, sell, borrow, or lend these securities may lack important protections for investors. The risk of loss for individual investors who participate in transactions involving crypto assets, including crypto asset securities, remains significant. The only money you should put at risk with any speculative investment is money you can afford to lose entirely. Investors should understand that:

1. Those offering crypto asset investments or services may not be complying with applicable law, including federal securities laws. Under the federal securities laws, a company may not offer or sell securities unless the offering is registered with the SEC or an exemption to registration is available. Similarly, the law requires parties such as securities broker-dealers, investment advisers, alternative trading systems (ATS), and exchanges to register with the SEC, a state regulator, and/or a self-regulatory organization (SRO), such as FINRA. Moreover, entities and platforms involved in lending or staking crypto assets may be subject to the federal securities laws.

Registration of a securities offering requires the issuer to disclose important information about the company, the offering, and the securities offered to the public. Unregistered offerings in crypto asset securities may not provide key information that investors need to make informed decisions. For example, registration typically requires an issuer to include financial statements audited by an independent public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB). Audited financial statements play an important role in making sure investors are provided the information they need to understand the securities in which they want to invest. Issuers of unregistered crypto asset securities offerings might not provide audited financial statements, depriving investors of this key information.
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Written by TaxConnections Admin | Posted in Securities and Exchange Commission

16 Nov 2022

SEC Statement Urging Caution Around Celebrity Backed ICOs

SEC Division of Enforcement and SEC Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations

(This “Caution Notice” Was Posted On The SEC Site Nov. 1, 2017)

Celebrities and others are using social media networks to encourage the public to purchase stocks and other investments. These endorsements may be unlawful if they do not disclose the nature, source, and amount of any compensation paid, directly or indirectly, by the company in exchange for the endorsement. The SEC’s Enforcement Division and Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations encourage investors to be wary of investment opportunities that sound too good to be true. We encourage investors to research potential investments rather than rely on paid endorsements from artists, sports figures, or other icons.

Celebrities and others have recently promoted investments in Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs). In the SEC’s Report of Investigation concerning The DAO, the Commission warned that virtual tokens or coins sold in ICOs may be securities, and those who offer and sell securities in the United States must comply with the federal securities laws. Any celebrity or other individual who promotes a virtual token or coin that is a security must disclose the nature, scope, and amount of compensation received in exchange for the promotion. A failure to disclose this information is a violation of the anti-touting provisions of the federal securities laws. Persons making these endorsements may also be liable for potential violations of the anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws, for participating in an unregistered offer and sale of securities, and for acting as unregistered brokers. The SEC will continue to focus on these types of promotions to protect investors and to ensure compliance with the securities laws.

Written by TaxConnections Admin | Posted in Crypto Security • Securities and Exchange Commission

15 Nov 2022

SEC Nearly Doubles Size of Enforcement’s Crypto Assets and Cyber Unit

We thought our readers would appreciate reading this announcement from the SEC May 3, 2022.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2022-78

Washington D.C., May 3, 2022 —

The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced the allocation of 20 additional positions to the unit responsible for protecting investors in crypto markets and from cyber-related threats. The newly renamed Crypto Assets and Cyber Unit (formerly known as the Cyber Unit) in the Division of Enforcement will grow to 50 dedicated positions.

“The U.S. has the greatest capital markets because investors have faith in them, and as more investors access the crypto markets, it is increasingly important to dedicate more resources to protecting them,” said SEC Chair Gary Gensler. “The Division of Enforcement’s Crypto Assets and Cyber Unit has successfully brought dozens of cases against those seeking to take advantage of investors in crypto markets. By nearly doubling the size of this key unit, the SEC will be better equipped to police wrongdoing in the crypto markets while continuing to identify disclosure and controls issues with respect to cybersecurity.”

Written by TaxConnections Admin | Posted in Cryptocurrency Enforcement • Securities and Exchange Commission

23 May 2018

Securities And Exchange Commission Launches Spoof Cryptocurrency Site To Educate Investors

Every day someone is talking about getting involved in the newest and hottest ICO (Internet Coin Offering). For anyone interested in investing in an ICO we recommend you start with this blog post to get a good education. The Securities And Exchange Commission(SEC) launched a spoof website to warn investors about the risks of participating in ‘initial coin offerings” or ICOs as they are known. Initial Coin Offerings are a way for upstart cryptocurrency firms to raise large amounts of money and scam investors.

Written by Kat Jennings | Posted in Internet Coin Offering • Internet Coin Offering (ICO) • Scam • Securities and Exchange Commission