Federal Judge Rules NBA Top Shot NFTs May Be Considered Unregistered Securities

A federal judge, Victor Marrero, ruled on Wednesday that the NBA Top Shot non-fungible tokens (NFTs) issued by Dapper Labs may meet the requirements to be considered an unregistered security. The case arose in 2021 when an NBA Top Shot collector sued Dapper Labs, claiming that the NBA Top Shot NFTs, known as “Moments” issued … Read more

NBA Hall of Famer Paul Pierce Charged by SEC for Touting EMAX Tokens

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged Basketball Hall of Famer Paul Pierce for touting EMAX tokens and making misleading comments about unregistered crypto securities. The former Boston Celtics small forward agreed to settle the charges and pay the SEC $1.409 million. SEC Chair Gary Gensler Wants to Remind Celebrities of Disclosure Laws … Read more

Terraform Labs and CEO Do Kwon Charged by SEC With Multibillion-Dollar Crypto Fraud

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged Terraform Labs and its CEO, Do Hyeong Kwon, with fraud, alleging that Kwon and his company orchestrated “a multibillion-dollar crypto-asset securities fraud.” The securities watchdog insists that Kwon raised billions from investors by creating an “interconnected suite of crypto-asset securities,” many of which were involved in … Read more

Industrial Giant Siemens Issues €60 Million Digital Bond on Blockchain

German conglomerate Siemens has for the first time issued a blockchain-based digital bond denominated in euros. In an announcement, the corporation highlighted the benefits of using blockchain, including the opportunity for direct sale to investors. Digital Bond Issued Under Germany’s Electronic Securities Act The largest industrial manufacturer in Europe, Siemens, announced it has become one … Read more

Coinbase Argues Its Staking Services Are Not Securities, Criticizes SEC Regulatory Approach

Coinbase, one of the biggest cryptocurrency exchanges in the U.S., has stated that the staking services offered on its platform do not constitute securities. The statements, made in the wake of the $30 million settlement that Kraken, another U.S.-based crypto exchange, completed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), also criticize the institution’s approach … Read more

‘Midnight Massacre:’ SEC Crackdown on Crypto Staking Services Prompts Speculation of Further Enforcement Actions

On Feb. 9, 2023, the cryptocurrency community learned of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) crackdown on staking services. The SEC fined Kraken, a cryptocurrency exchange, $30 million for offering an “unregistered offering” related to its U.S. staking service. Digital currency advocates are now debating what constitutes a yield product versus a noncustodial solution … Read more

FTX Debtors’ List of Assets Omits Mention of Large Stash of NFTs and ENS Names Owned by Alameda 

This week, FTX debtors issued a press release and a 20-page document noting that bankruptcy administrators had located $5.5 billion in liquid assets. The document details that investigators discovered fiat currencies, crypto assets, and securities as part of FTX’s and Alameda Research’s cache. However, the disclosure to unsecured creditors does not mention the extremely large … Read more