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SEC Clarifies Why Terra Luna Classic, Polygon & 3 Other Crypto Are Securities

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In a recent litigation filed by the SEC against Consensys, the Securities and Exchange Commission has clarified its stance on the classification of several prominent cryptocurrencies as securities. These include Terra Luna Classic (LUNA), Polygon (MATIC), The Sandbox (SAND), Chiliz (CHZ), and Decentrland (MANA). This legal action underscores the SEC’s contention that these digital assets were initially offered and sold as investment contracts.

Hence, the SEC believes these cryptocurrencies fall under the regulatory purview of securities laws. For context, Consensys, a major player in the crypto space, has been targeted for allegedly facilitating the trading of these assets through its MetaMask Swaps platform.

The US SEC argues that each of these tokens was marketed with promises of future profits derived from the efforts of the issuing entities, Consensys and related third parties. This expectation of profit was cultivated through various means. These include public statements, marketing materials, and the operational strategies outlined by the token issuers.

Agency Explains Why Certain Crypto Are Securities

One of the tokens in question is MATIC, the native token of Polygon, an Ethereum scaling blockchain platform. Moreover, Polygon positions MATIC as essential for network transactions and governance, incentivizing holders through staking mechanisms and other economic activities.

Hence, the SEC contends that since its inception, MATIC has been marketed and sold as an investment vehicle. It mentions that investors expect an increase in MATIC value driven by Polygon’s ongoing development and expansion efforts. They highlighted the details on MATIC’s whitepaper to prove their point.

The whitepaper read, “Matic Tokens are expected to provide economic incentives on the Matic Network [now Polygon]…Without Matic Tokens, there is no incentive for users to expend resources to participate in activities or provide services to the overall ecosystem on the Matic Network.”

Polygon also revealed funding raised from renowned and celebrity investors. In addition, Sandeep Nailwal, co-founder of Polygon, wrote in a November 2022 tweet, “I won’t rest until Polygon gets the ‘top 3’ spot it deserves (alongside BTC and ETH). No other project comes close.” The marketing and statements by the co-founder has also influenced the SEC’s decision.

Similarly, MANA, the digital currency of Decentraland, a virtual reality platform on Ethereum, has been categorized as a security by the SEC. MANA facilitates transactions within the Decentraland ecosystem and grants holders rights to participate in governance and content creation.

The SEC pinpointed the sale of MANA tokens during its ICO and subsequent trading activities on platforms like MetaMask Swaps. Moreover, the agency noted that these activities were conducted with the implicit understanding of potential profit from Decentraland’s platform growth and adoption.

Also Read: Breaking: South Korean Government Mulls 3-Year Delay on Crypto Taxes

Scrutiny On Terra Luna Classic, Chiliz & The Sandbox

Another token under scrutiny is CHZ, the utility token for Chiliz. It is used on the Socios platform for fan engagement in sports and entertainment. CHZ enables fans to purchase and influence decisions in their favorite teams through voting rights and rewards programs.

The SEC alleges that CHZ was promoted as an investment opportunity. It highlighted funds were raised explicitly earmarked for platform development, user acquisition, and marketing efforts. These factors all contributed to potential increases in CHZ’s value.

SAND, the token of The Sandbox, a virtual gaming platform powered by blockchain, is also highlighted in the SEC’s litigation. The SEC argues that SAND’s initial offering portrayed it as an investment vehicle. Hence, it is subject to securities regulations due to the expected returns tied to the platform’s success.

Lastly, Terra Luna Classic (LUNA), the native token of Terra, is included in the SEC’s classification as a security. LUNA facilitates stablecoin transactions and platform governance within Terra’s ecosystem. The SEC asserts that Terra Luna Classic’s issuance and trading involved expectations of profit. These expections were based on Terraform’s development efforts and market adoption of Terra’s stablecoin solutions.

The SEC also highlighted that in 2021, Terraform’s head of business development deemed Terra Luna Classic “equity” in their company. Moreover, Terraform CEO Do Kwon once wrote, “LUNA value is viable in the long run — growing as the ecosystem grows.” A director stated in June 2021 that “owning LUNA is essentially owning a portion of the network.”

Additionally, Terraform’s marketing emphasized their team’s expertise. These factors led the Federal Court for the Southern District of New York to rule on December 28, 2023, that LUNA and wLUNA were sold as investment contracts. Moreover, the SEC seeks to stand by this ruling.

Also Read: Charles Hoskinson Issues Important Safety Warning On Elon Musk

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Kritika boasts over 2 years of experience in the financial news sector. Currently working as a crypto journalist at Coingape, she has consistently shown a knack for blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies. Kritika combines insightful analysis with a deep understanding of market trends. With a keen interest in technical analysis, she brings a nuanced perspective to her reporting, exploring the intersection of finance, technology, and emerging trends in the crypto space.

The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.





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Charles Hoskinson Reveals How Cardano Will Boost Bitcoin’s Adoption

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Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson says the network will play a key role in Bitcoin DeFi transactions in the future. With several partnerships and innovations in the works, Hoskinson says Cardano is bracing itself to explore layer 2 solutions on the Bitcoin blockchain,

Cardano Positions Itself For Bitcoin DeFi

In an interview with Scott Melker, Cardano’s founder has revealed ambitious plans for the network to turbocharge Bitcoin’s adoption for DeFi applications. Hoskinson notes that large financial institutions will trigger a demand for Bitcoin DeFi given their fiduciary obligation to create yield.

He notes that a Bitcoin ETF providing DeFi yields will trigger shareholders to demand similar yields. Hoskinson eyes a three-year timeframe for institutions to plant their feet in Bitcoin DeFi and UTXO DeFi.

Hoskinson says Cardano will combine Hydra with the Bitcoin Lightning network and build a trustless recursive bridge between both networks. The founder adds that its Aiken programming language will enabled to write both Bitcoin and Cardano scripts.

Furthermore, a partnership with Maestro, an infrastructure provider allowing Bitcoin integration with UTXO-based blockchain will provide a “turn-key experience” for users.

“It’s still early days but we are making methodical progress every step of the way,” said Hoskinson.

Hoskinson is moving on from his absence from the Crypto Summit at the White House, doubling down on technical innovation. He notes that the Bitcoin-focused plays by Cardano will not adversely affect the network’s road map.

Is Bitcoin Ready For DeFi Applications?

Hoskinson revealed in the interview that Bitcoin is ready for DeFi utility following the Taproot and the Lightning Network advancements. According to the founder, Taproot added programmability features to the Bitcoin network and Cardano will push the frontiers.

He adds that Cardano will enable Bitcoin users to engage in DeFi transactions while transacting with only BTC. Hoskinson says a merger between Bitcoin is enough to make Cardano’s DeFi significantly larger than Ethereum and Solana combined.

While the integration will send Cardano price soaring, ADA wallows at $0,6611 after losing 10% in a week. However, traders are targeting an ADA pump in May following the forming of a cyclical pattern.

An analyst argues that a price rally to $10 is not a crazy prediction given a streak of solid fundamentals and partnerships for Cardano.

 

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Aliyu Pokima

Aliyu Pokima is a seasoned cryptocurrency and emerging technologies journalist with a knack for covering needle-moving stories in the space. Aliyu delivers breaking news stories, regulatory updates, and insightful analysis with depth and precision. When he’s not poring over charts or following leads, Aliyu enjoys playing the bass guitar, lifting weights and running marathons.

Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.





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Ethereum Bitcoin Ratio Drops to Record Low, What Next for ETH?

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The world’s second-largest digital asset, Ethereum (ETH), struggles to keep up with Bitcoin. Market data shows that the ETH/BTC ratio has dropped to its lowest level in five years. Consequently, investors and analysts are now questioning whether Ethereum can recover in the coming quarter, considering Bitcoin may continue its long-standing domination in the digital assets market.

The Ethereum Bitcoin Ratio At New Lows

ETH performed poorly compared to Bitcoin in the first quarter of 2025. According to a recent update from The Kobeissi Letter, the Ethereum to Bitcoin ratio has dropped to 0.02, its lowest level since December 2020.

Historically, Ethereum has gained strength after Bitcoin halvings, but the trend has reversed. While Bitcoin price is going upward, Ethereum has struggled to gain traction.

Several factors have contributed to this decline. Bitcoin’s narrative as digital gold has strengthened, drawing more institutional investment. In addition, the coin has faced challenges, including relatively higher gas fees and competition from other blockchain networks. 

Unfortunately, the Ethereum Pectra upgrade, which experts believe could drive a price increase for the coin, faced some challenges. As reported by CoinGape, multiple testnet attempts failed before the Hoodi testnet that launched recently.

Some experts believe Ethereum’s transition to proof-of-stake has not delivered the expected market boost. 

Q1 Performance and ETF Downturn

The ETH price performance in the first quarter of 2025 has been disappointing. For context, data shows that the coin has dropped 46% this year, nearly 4 times more than Bitcoin’s decline of 12%.

Many investors expected a strong bull run, but Ethereum has remained weak. The adoption of spot Bitcoin ETFs earlier in the year attracted billions of dollars, but Ethereum has not seen the same level of interest for its potential ETF.

Market analysts suggest that institutional investors are still hesitant about Ethereum’s long-term value compared to Bitcoin. Bitcoin’s fixed supply and reputation as a hedge against inflation have made it a safer choice for institutional investors. 

Where is ETH Price Heading?

Some analysts believe ETH price could hit $10,000 if broader market conditions improve and the Ethereum Pectra upgrade launches on the mainnet. 

Others warn that if the coin continues to lose value against Bitcoin, investors may start shifting funds to other networks like Solana or Avalanche.

Even though short-term price predictions remain speculative, some traders expect Ethereum to rebound as Bitcoin stabilizes. Others believe the ETH/BTC ratio could drop even further. 

As of this publication, CoinMarketCap data shows that Ethereum’s price was $1,842.29, up 1.34% in the last 24 hours. Many experts believe that the coming days will determine whether Ethereum can regain strength or whether Bitcoin’s dominance will continue to grow.

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Godfrey Benjamin

Benjamin Godfrey is a blockchain enthusiast and journalists who relish writing about the real life applications of blockchain technology and innovations to drive general acceptance and worldwide integration of the emerging technology. His desires to educate people about cryptocurrencies inspires his contributions to renowned blockchain based media and sites. Benjamin Godfrey is a lover of sports and agriculture.

Follow him on X, Linkedin

Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.





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Elon Musk Rules Out The Use Of Dogecoin By The US Government

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Elon Musk has doused optimism for the US government to adopt Dogecoin at the America PAC town hall event. The head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) noted that the government agency only bears a nominal resemblance to the memecoin.

Elon Musk Dispels Rumors Of Dogecoin Adoption By The US Government

At a recent event, Tesla CEO Elon Musk cleared the air on the potential adoption of Dogecoin by the US government. In his keynote speech, Musk noted that the US government will not be adopting Dogecoin, contrary to swirling speculation.

Musk noted that the speculation gained traction following the launch of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Following the launch of DOGE and Musk tapped to lead the agency, enthusiasm for Dogecoin government utility reached new highs.

However, Musk clarified that the agency bears only a nominal resemblance to the memecoin, stemming from an internet trend. The Tesla CEO disclosed that the original intended name was the Government Efficiency Commission, opting for DOGE “because the internet is right.”

“The name is similar but they are two different things,” said Musk. “But there are no plans for the government to use Dogecoin as far as I know.”

Musk has a long and storied history with Dogecoin, famously shilling the memecoin and integrating DOGE payments for Tesla. Musk teased an anime-themed DOGE on X, setting the stage for a $2 rally for the memecoin.

DOGE Reacts Negatively To The News

Dogecoin price slumped by nearly 2% in the wake of the grim report. Currently, the memecoin is trading at 0.1660 as it eyes a push toward the $1 mark.

The negative fundamental adds pressure to reports of DOGE forming a falling wedge pattern, signaling a potential downward breakout. However, optimists are rippling with confidence that DOGE can shake off the negative sentiments to post new all-time highs.

One analysis claims that if the Dogecoin price breaks a 3-month trendline, an $8 valuation for the memecoin is in play. Others claim that the House of Doge Reserve launch will be a tailwind for Dogecoin price, sending the dog-themed coin on a strong rally.

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Aliyu Pokima

Aliyu Pokima is a seasoned cryptocurrency and emerging technologies journalist with a knack for covering needle-moving stories in the space. Aliyu delivers breaking news stories, regulatory updates, and insightful analysis with depth and precision. When he’s not poring over charts or following leads, Aliyu enjoys playing the bass guitar, lifting weights and running marathons.

Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.





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