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.
Safeheron Discovers Security Flaw in MPC Wallets
Safeheron has identified a security flaw in MPC wallets when used with Starknet-based apps like dYdX and Fireblocks. The flaw allows attackers to bypass the security protection of private keys in MPC wallets, potentially leading to unauthorized transactions.
Algorand Wallets Hacked Again
Algodex warns of a security breach on March 5, while MyAlgo urges users to withdraw assets or rekey funds following a February hack.
Hong Kong Suffers Surge in Crypto Scams in 2022
Hong Kong police reported a surge in crypto-related scams in 2022, with losses amounting to HK$1.7 billion ($216.6 million), up 106% from the previous year. The number of crypto-related scam cases reported in Hong Kong also surged by 67% from 2021. Such scams accounted for over 50% of the HK$3.2 billion ($407 million) stolen from city residents in technology crimes. The Hong Kong police CyberDefender website reported almost 23,000 cases of technology-related crimes in 2022. The use of cryptocurrency has made it more complicated for enforcement to track criminal funds, as fraudsters can hide their identities, transactions, and final destination.
Binance pivots to stablecoins after SEC regulatory action
Binance, the largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, has turned to alternative stablecoins such as TrueUSD (TUSD) and decentralized stablecoins, following a regulatory action against its native stablecoin, Binance USD (BUSD), by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Binance was forced to seek alternatives after the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) asked BUSD issuer Paxos Trust to stop minting new BUSD altogether.
Ripple CEO Warns SEC's "Enforcement" Approach May Hurt US Crypto Industry
Ripple CEO, Brad Garlinghouse, has suggested that the US Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) approach to regulation is putting the US at risk of missing out on being an attractive hub for the next evolution of blockchain and crypto innovation. Garlinghouse noted that the SEC's case against Ripple is the SEC simply playing "offense" and "attacking" the industry as a whole. He added that the crypto industry has "already started moving outside" of the US given its crypto regulation process is "behind" other countries such as Australia, UK, Japan, Singapore, and Switzerland.
Robinhood Receives Investigative Subpoena from SEC Over Crypto Business
Robinhood disclosed in a recent 10-K filing that it received an investigative subpoena from the SEC in December 2022 regarding its supported cryptocurrencies, custody of cryptocurrencies, and platform operations. The subpoena was in response to the bankruptcies of several major cryptocurrency trading venues and lending platforms earlier in the year, including FTX, Three Arrows Capital, Voyager Digital Holdings, and Celsius Network. This follows previous subpoenas from the California Attorney General's Office and scrutiny from the Massachusetts Securities Division. Robinhood's crypto division was also fined $30 million by the New York District of Financial Services in August 2021 for failing to invest the proper resources and attention to develop and maintain a culture of compliance.
Grayscale CEO Calls on SEC to Protect Investors
Grayscale Investments’ CEO Michael Sonnenshein has called on the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to protect Grayscale investors by returning the true asset value to them. Sonnenshein stated in a recent interview that the SEC acted arbitrarily by denying approval for the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) to be a spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) in June 2022, while approving Bitcoin Futures ETFs. He explained that the SEC violated the administrative procedures act, and that Grayscale is suing the SEC over the denial of its initial application. Grayscale has over a million investor accounts, and Sonnenshein called on the SEC to protect investors and return the value to them.
Crypto Lawyers Dispute SEC Chief's Jurisdiction Claims
Lawyers for the cryptocurrency industry have challenged recent comments made by the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Gary Gensler, in which he claimed that all cryptocurrencies except Bitcoin fall under the agency's jurisdiction. The lawyers argue that the SEC must prove its case in court for each token individually before it can claim jurisdiction over them.
Crypto Industry Continues to Experience Hacks and Exploits: Can Increased Security Measures Help?
Despite recent recoveries, $4bn was lost to hacks, fraud, and scams in 2022. Increased security measures, such as DeFi and multi-signature wallets, can help.
Jump Crypto Recovers $140 Million Worth of Tokens from Wormhole Hack
Jump Crypto and Oasis recover $140m from Wormhole hack, showcasing importance of collaboration and innovation in fighting crypto hacks.