The staff of the SEC’s Division of Trading and Markets issued a statement explaining how non-custodial crypto wallet providers may offer services and receive fees without broker-dealer registration.
SEC Clarifies Status of Crypto Assets Under Federal Securities Laws, Signals Potential Exemptive and Safe Harbor Framework
On March 17, 2026, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission issued an interpretive release addressing the application of the federal securities laws to crypto assets and related transactions. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission joined the interpretation and indicated it will administer the Commodity Exchange Act consistent with the SEC’s approach, reflecting a coordinated regulatory position across the two agencies.
Continue Reading SEC Clarifies Status of Crypto Assets Under Federal Securities Laws, Signals Potential Exemptive and Safe Harbor Framework
SEC Issues Guidance on Applying Federal Securities Laws to Tokenized Securities
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission staff issued a joint statement on Jan. 28, 2026, providing greater clarity on the application of the federal securities laws to the category of crypto assets commonly referred to as tokenized securities.
Continue Reading SEC Issues Guidance on Applying Federal Securities Laws to Tokenized Securities
Nasdaq Proposes Rule Changes to Enable Trading of Tokenized Securities
On Sept. 8, 2025, the Nasdaq Stock Market filed a proposed rule change with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to enable the trading of tokenized equity securities and exchange-traded products on its platform. The proposal, published for public comment, represents a significant step toward integrating blockchain-based assets into the existing U.S. equities market infrastructure.
Continue Reading Nasdaq Proposes Rule Changes to Enable Trading of Tokenized Securities
SEC Staff Declares Certain Protocol Staking Not a Security Transaction
On May 29, 2025, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Corporation Finance issued a statement clarifying its view that certain types of protocol staking—a process used in proof-of-stake (PoS) blockchain networks—do not involve the offer and sale of securities under federal law.
Continue Reading SEC Staff Declares Certain Protocol Staking Not a Security Transaction
SEC Staff Offers Crypto Disclosure Guidelines
On April 10, 2025, the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance issued a nonbinding statement explaining the general application of existing disclosure requirements under the federal securities laws to crypto asset
Continue Reading SEC Staff Offers Crypto Disclosure Guidelines
SEC Clarifies Stance on Reserve-Backed Stablecoins
In a recent statement, the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance determined that certain types of stablecoins, specifically those designed to maintain a stable value relative to the U.S. dollar and backed by low-risk, liquid assets, do not constitute securities.
Continue Reading SEC Clarifies Stance on Reserve-Backed Stablecoins
SEC Staff Clarifies Stance on Crypto Mining
On March 20, 2025, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission took a step towards clarifying its position on crypto mining activities. In a recent statement, the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance provided non-binding guidance on the application of federal securities laws to proof-of-work (PoW) mining activities, stating that such activities are beyond the SEC’s purview.
Continue Reading SEC Staff Clarifies Stance on Crypto Mining
SEC Denial of Proposed Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Product Arbitrary and Capricious: DC Circuit
On Aug. 29, 2023, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (Court) vacated the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission)’s denial of Grayscale Investments, LLC (Grayscale)’s
Continue Reading SEC Denial of Proposed Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Product Arbitrary and Capricious: DC Circuit
SEC Charges Media and Entertainment Co. for Unregistered Offering of NFTs
On Aug. 28, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission) charged Impact Theory, LLC, a media and entertainment company, with violating Sections 5(a) and 5(c) of the Securities Act of
Continue Reading SEC Charges Media and Entertainment Co. for Unregistered Offering of NFTs