Regulation
Terraform Labs Refuses to Pay $5.3 Billion Fine, Says SEC Has No Evidence
In March 2024, a New York Jury slapped fraud charges against Terraform Labs and its co-founder Do Kwon with the U.S. regulators demanding them to pay $5.3 billion in penalty. However, the lawyers representing Terraform have refused these allegations stating that the firm sold most of the UST stablecoins outside the United States.
Terraform Lawyers Refuse SEC’s Charges
On April 5, Terraform and Kwon were found guilty of fraud after a two-week trial. Following this, the SEC pushed for a substantial fine, which, if imposed, would be the largest in the crypto industry’s history, reflecting increased regulatory scrutiny from US authorities. In a recent filing, the SEC emphasized the need for the court to send a clear message that it won’t tolerate such blatant misconduct.
The SEC accused Terraform and Kwon of accruing over $4 billion in “ill-gotten gains” through unregistered token sales, which included LUNA and UST. UST, Terraform’s algorithmic stablecoin intended to maintain parity with the US dollar, suffered a collapse in 2022, resulting in a staggering $40 billion loss in market value.
However, in a filing submitted on Wednesday, May 1, Terraform’s lawyers countered that the majority of token sales occurred outside the US and that the SEC failed to provide evidence linking Terraform and Kwon’s limited US activities to any significant losses, let alone the billions sought by the SEC in disgorgement.
In a distinct filing on Wednesday, Kwon’s legal team contended that the SEC had not demonstrated that his involvement with Terraform would have a significant and foreseeable impact in the United States. The lawyers said:
“Mr. Kwon’s role in the conduct that forms the basis of the SEC’s requested judgment was performed entirely abroad, in Korea and Singapore”.
Last week, Terraform Labs submitted a filing stating that the SEC’s demand for $5.4 billion is unjustifiable. Back then, the Terraform Lawyers said that a fine of $1 million would be more appropriate.
Setting Up An Example
The SEC Enforcement Division’s director, Gurbir Grewal, responded positively to the verdict, emphasizing the importance of compliance in the crypto industry. He highlighted the severe losses suffered by investors due to Terraform Labs’ actions, presenting the case as a significant example.
Grewal’s remarks underscore the SEC’s vital role in protecting retail investors and the broader market. The ruling is expected to caution other crypto entities against engaging in deceptive practices, serving as a deterrent.
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.
Wyoming Senator, Cynthia Lummis, an advocate for digital assets, has criticized the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) handling of cryptocurrency regulations. Speaking on CNBC’s Squawk Box, Lummis criticized SEC Chair Gary Gensler for his attitude towards the cryptocurrency market saying it was counterproductive and problematic.
Senator Cynthia Lummis Critiques US SEC’s Crypto Regulation
During the interview, the Senator stressed that the US crypto industry has many problems, which are only accentuated by the current tactics of the SEC. Lummis took aim at SEC Chairman Gary Gensler for his approach to regulating the sector, which she said involved using enforcement actions instead of clear guidelines.
She pointed out that this has resulted in a lot of uncertainty, with many digital asset companies ending up mired in legal disputes instead of being offered clear rules to follow.
According to Senator Cynthia Lummis, the SEC has been a significant hindrance to the further development of the cryptocurrency sector despite the need for regulatory certainty. She pointed out that the current legal framework is insufficient and incapable of catching up with the advancement, especially considering the EU which adopted a complete set of crypto laws in 2023. Lummis noted that the United States might lose its position in the global financial services market if such shortcomings in regulation are not filled as soon as possible.
“Crypto Assets Should Fall Under CFTC Oversight”
Lummis also touched on the category of digital assets and shared her view that Bitcoin and Ethereum are commodities and should fall under CFTC jurisdiction instead of the SEC.
She noted that the SEC strategy, which has tended to categorize digital assets as securities, does not apply to decentralized cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Senator Cynthia Lummis also stressed that Congress should step up and come up with proper legislation that would state the scope of different agencies concerning digital assets. She noted that despite the fact that there are still some assets that can be regulated by the CFTC, there is a need to have a clear and current framework for the regulation of the market. She also pointed out that the Howey Test, which is a legal test applied to ascertain whether an asset can be considered a security, may require an update in view of the current developments in the crypto market.
Gary Gensler’s Stance on BTC and ETH
In contrast with Senator Cynthia Lummis, SEC Chair Gary Gensler has maintained that the U.S. already has crypto regulations in place. During an interview, Gensler responded to criticism from industry stakeholders, arguing that “not liking the rules is not the same as there being no rules.”
He insisted that the SEC is focused on protecting investors, noting that many crypto firms have benefited from public interest in digital assets without providing proper disclosures.
Gensler affirmed that Bitcoin is not a security, a stance shared by his predecessor Jay Clayton. This distinction, Gensler noted, allowed the SEC to approve the launch of Bitcoin Spot Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) earlier this year. However, Gensler has remained largely silent on the classification of Ethereum, though its treatment as a commodity has been inferred from regulatory decisions regarding Ethereum ETFs.
Lummis Calls for Changes in Crypto Regulation
According to the Wyoming Senator, these gaps can only be closed by legislation. She cited her plan with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand to change the wash sale rule in order to increase the funding for the CFTC and its capacity to regulate the digital asset space.
This proposal, she said, would allow for a more comprehensive approach to regulating the crypto space without jeopardizing its potential.
In addition, Senator Cynthia Lummis and a number of other lawmakers have also expressed concern about the SEC’s Staff Accounting Bulletin 121 (SAB 121) that forces crypto custodians to include customer assets as liabilities. In a letter to Gensler, lawmakers demanded that SAB 121 be withdrawn stating that it places undue regulatory restraints on the crypto industry.
Kelvin Munene Murithi
Kelvin is a distinguished writer with expertise in crypto and finance, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Actuarial Science. Known for his incisive analysis and insightful content, he possesses a strong command of English and excels in conducting thorough research and delivering timely cryptocurrency market updates.
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.
- UK Gambling Commission charges Sorare for providing unlicensed gambling services.
- The United Kingdom’s Gambling Commission has been investigating Sorare for three years.
- Sorare denies wrongdoing, asserting it is not a gambling platform under UK law.
The United Kingdom’s Gambling Commission has taken legal action against Sorare, a blockchain-based fantasy sports platform, accusing the company of operating unlicensed gambling facilities.
Sorare, headquartered in France, offers non-fungible tokens (NFTs) tied to fantasy sports teams and athlete collectibles. Following the Gambling Commission’s move, the platform is set to appear in a UK court on October 4.
The Gambling Commission opened its investigation into Sorare in October 2021 but has largely kept its findings under wraps.
As of July 2023, the Commission had not made its conclusions public, instead stating that it would engage in further dialogue with operators and third parties before reaching a final verdict.
The upcoming court battle represents the culmination of nearly three years of regulatory scrutiny.
What is Sorare?
Sorare, founded in 2018, allows users to collect and trade digital cards in the form of NFTs. These cards represent real-life athletes, and users can create fantasy teams to compete based on the players’ real-world performances.
The platform covers multiple sports, including football, basketball, and baseball. Player performance in actual games directly impacts the fantasy teams, making the platform interactive for users.
Sorare’s NFT cards can be traded or sold, sometimes reaching values in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Sorare denies any wrongdoing
In response to the charges, Sorare has firmly denied any wrongdoing.
In a public statement issued by the company’s spokesperson, Sorare has argued that it is not a gambling platform under UK law and criticized the Gambling Commission for misinterpreting its business model.
As quoted by The Guardian, the spokesperson said, “We firmly deny any claims that Sorare is a gambling product under UK laws. The Commission has misunderstood our business and wrongly determined that gambling laws apply to Sorar.”
Sorare has faced legal challenges before, including a similar case in France. In that instance, the company reached a settlement before the matter could proceed to court.
Initially, Sorare only accepted cryptocurrency payments for transactions on its platform. However, in 2023, the company expanded its payment options to include traditional fiat currencies in an effort to increase user adoption.
The outcome of the UK case could have significant implications for Sorare and the broader NFT gaming industry, which continues to blur the lines between collectibles, gaming, and gambling.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced today that it has settled charges against Mango DAO, Blockworks Foundation, and Mango Labs LLC for their involvement in the unregistered sale of crypto assets on the Mango Markets platform.
The SEC’s enforcement action targets the sale of MNGO governance tokens and alleges that these entities failed to comply with federal securities laws, depriving investors of essential legal protections.
US SEC Settles With Mango Markets
According to the SEC, Mango DAO, a decentralized autonomous organization, and Blockworks Foundation, a Panamanian entity, raised more than $70 million from unregistered offers and sales of MNGO tokens beginning in August 2021.
The tokens, marketed as governance tokens of the Mango Markets platform, were sold to hundreds of investors worldwide, including in the United States. The SEC’s complaint argues that by bypassing registration requirements, the entities did not provide investors with the disclosures and safeguards mandated by U.S. securities laws.
MNGO tokens were promoted as governance tokens intended to provide holders with decision-making power within the Mango Markets ecosystem. However, the SEC maintains that their sale should have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as the tokens were deemed to be securities.
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Kelvin Munene Murithi
Kelvin is a distinguished writer with expertise in crypto and finance, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Actuarial Science. Known for his incisive analysis and insightful content, he possesses a strong command of English and excels in conducting thorough research and delivering timely cryptocurrency market updates.
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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