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Attack begins over regulation of the crypto industry: Kraken and Binance against the SEC

The crypto regulation by the SEC against Kraken and Binance , two of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, underscore the agency’s growing focus on regulating the cryptocurrency industry.

The exchanges Kraken and Binance neck-and-neck with the SEC and the regulation of the crypto world

The settlement reached by the SEC with Kraken in February 2023, in which the exchange was required to pay a $30 million fine and shut down its cryptocurrency staking service in the United States, demonstrated the agency’s willingness to take action even against established industry players for violations of federal securities laws.

Similarly, the SEC has taken a number of actions against Binance, including allegations that the exchange allowed US customers to trade cryptocurrencies without complying with US securities laws.

These actions reflect the SEC’s view that cryptocurrencies are subject to the same securities laws that govern traditional financial products, and that companies operating in the sector must comply with those laws or face enforcement action.

As the cryptocurrency industry grows and evolves, it is likely that the SEC will continue to play a significant role in regulating the industry and ensuring that companies comply with federal securities laws.

In recent years, the SEC has taken a number of actions to regulate the cryptocurrency industry, including enforcement actions against companies that have offered Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) and unregistered digital assets.

The agency also issued guidance on the application of federal securities laws to cryptocurrency and blockchain-based offerings. The actions against Kraken and Binance demonstrate that the SEC continues to look closely at the cryptocurrency industry and is willing to take action against companies that violate federal securities laws.

As the cryptocurrency industry grows and matures, it is likely that the SEC will play an increasingly important role in regulating the industry.

This could include further enforcement actions against cryptocurrency exchanges and other companies operating in the sector, as well as the issuance of additional guidelines and regulations related to cryptocurrencies and blockchain-based products and services.

It is also possible that other regulatory agencies, such as the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), will become more involved in regulating the industry.

The SEC’s actions against Kraken and Binance represent a significant development in the agency’s regulation of the cryptocurrency industry.

These actions highlight the need for companies operating in the industry to carefully consider their obligations to comply with federal securities laws, and the SEC’s willingness to take action even against established industry players sends a message to other industry players that they too may be subject to regulatory scrutiny.

As the cryptocurrency industry continues to evolve, it will be important for companies to keep abreast of regulatory developments and ensure that they comply with all relevant laws and regulations.

The SEC settles with Kraken exchange

On 4 February 2023, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that it had settled with Kraken, a leading cryptocurrency exchange, for $30 million.

The settlement was reached following the SEC’s investigation into Kraken’s offering of cryptocurrencies as a staking service, which the US federal agency found to be an unregistered securities offering. As part of the settlement agreement, Kraken agreed to shut down its cryptocurrency as a staking service in the United States.

Staking is a process in which individuals hold and lock cryptocurrencies to help secure and maintain the blockchain network on which the cryptocurrencies operate.

In exchange for staking their cryptocurrencies, these individuals can earn rewards in the form of additional cryptocurrencies. Kraken offered a staking service for some cryptocurrencies, including Ethereum 2.0, to its customers in the United States.

The investigation by the SEC into Kraken’s staking service began in 2021, and the agency issued a subpoena against the exchange in June of that year.

In December 2021, the SEC notified Kraken that it had determined that the exchange’s offering of cryptocurrencies as a staking service constituted an unregistered securities offering. The SEC alleged that Kraken had failed to comply with federal securities laws, including those related to registration, offering material, and disclosures.

The SEC’s settlement with Kraken requires the exchange to pay a $30 million fine, which will be distributed to affected investors. In addition, Kraken agreed to shut down its crypto staking service in the United States and to refrain from offering similar services in the future without first registering with the SEC.

Kraken also agreed to have an independent consultant review and report on its compliance with federal securities laws.

The SEC’s enforcement action against Kraken is significant for a number of reasons. First, it demonstrates the agency’s willingness to act even against established players in the cryptocurrency industry.

Kraken is one of the oldest and most reputable cryptocurrency exchanges, and the fact that the SEC has taken enforcement action against the exchange sends a message to other players in the industry that they, too, may be subject to regulatory scrutiny.

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