SEC
SEC typically refers to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission which "protects investors in the $3.8 trillion municipal securities markets that cities and towns rely on to provide neighborhood schools, local libraries and hospitals, public parks, safe drinking water and so much more". But it can also refer to the security and exchange regulation bodies of other countries.
Gensler Alleged Crypto Hypocrisy
Gary Gensler, head of the US securities regulator, is facing accusations of hypocrisy from the crypto community after a 2018 video surfaced of him stating that cryptocurrencies are commodities or cash and not securities. Several crypto leaders have expressed their shock and disgust at Gensler's apparent change of stance on the matter.
The Sandbox partners with Ledger Enterprise for NFT security integration.
The Sandbox has partnered with Ledger Enterprise to develop security integration for its partners. The collaboration will enable the migration of nonfungible token collections to the Ledger wallet, and The Sandbox will appear as a DApp on Ledger Enterprise.
Terraform Labs CEO Asks for Dismissal of SEC Charges
Do Kwon, CEO of Terraform Labs, has requested the dismissal of charges filed by the SEC, arguing that the claims are invalid and that the agency lacked proper jurisdiction. Kwon's counsel stated that Terra's tokens and projects were not specifically targeted at U.S. investors. The South Korean district court previously dismissed security violation charges against the co-founder of Terraform Labs, Hyun-seong Shin, deeming LUNA as non-security under Korea’s Capital Markets Act.
Hydrogen Technology Corporation Settles Crypto Manipulation Lawsuit
Hydrogen Technology Corporation and its former CEO, Michael Ross Kane, have settled a lawsuit brought against them by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for alleged cryptocurrency price manipulation. The settlement requires the firm and Kane to pay $2.8 million in remedies and penalties. The SEC alleged that Kane used Hydrogen's market maker, Moonwalkers Trading Limited, to manipulate the volume and price of its ERC-20 token, Hydro (HYDRO).
South Korean Court Clears Former Terraform Labs CEO of Security Violations
A South Korean court dismissed charges of security violations against former Terraform Labs CEO Hyun-seong Shin, ruling that LUNA is not a security under the country's Capital Markets Act. The court rejected the prosecution's appeal for confiscation of Shin's properties and arrest, and stated that Luna is not a financial investment product regulated by the act. However, the prosecution has appealed to the Supreme Court against the verdict of the lower district court.
KuCoin Twitter Hack Leads to Loss of Funds
KuCoin's official Twitter account was hacked, leading to users losing their funds in a fake giveaway event. The exchange pledged to reimburse the victims and improve security measures to prevent similar incidents. This incident highlights the growing trend of hackers taking over official Twitter accounts of crypto exchanges and NFT projects to promote scams.
TikTok Crypto Influencers Mislead Viewers
More than one-third of cryptocurrency influencers on TikTok have posted misleading videos about Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, according to a recent study. Many of these influencers fail to provide disclaimers warning users about the risks of investing in cryptocurrencies. Moreover, many are pushing services and investments for their own profit, without disclosing the payments they receive. The potential financial risks for unwary investors are high, with one in three misleading videos on TikTok mentioning Bitcoin. Viewers are advised to do their own research before making any investments.
Terraform Labs co-founder defends against SEC allegations
Do Kwon, co-founder of Terraform Labs, has defended himself against allegations of fraud from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Kwon’s lawyers have requested the dismissal of the lawsuit, claiming that the SEC's allegations are unfounded and that US law prohibits regulators from asserting jurisdiction over the digital assets in question. The lawyers also argued that the SEC failed to prove Kwon’s involvement in the collapse of Terra’s stablecoin, UST.
Trust Wallet Discloses Security Flaw Resulting in $170k Loss
Crypto wallet Trust Wallet has reported a security vulnerability, resulting in almost $170k in losses for some users. The vulnerability has been fixed after Trust Wallet found out about it through its bug bounty program.
US National Security at Risk Due to China Dominance in Mobile Payments, says former State Department Official
Former Department of State official Anja Manuel warns that if the US loses its dominance in financial innovation and payments, it could impact its national security policy, specifically on sanctions. Manuel stated that China is catching up on dominance in mobile payments, which could make enforcing sanctions against “bad actors” like Iran or North Korea more challenging.