• treadful@lemmy.zip
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    0
    ·
    1 month ago

    What crackdown? The SEC has only charged actual scammers and they’ve “requested information” from the legitimate players to figure out how to proceed. Other than some bad calls by sanctioning software, there’s hardly been anything considered a “crackdown.”

    • Telorand@reddthat.com
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      0
      ·
      1 month ago

      But that’s not as exciting as promising to end something that’s barely happening in the first place.

      People elected Trump to be entertaining, not for sensible governance.

    • xodoh74984@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      0
      ·
      1 month ago

      I don’t know why this is being taken at face value with so many upvotes. The Gensler SEC was right to go after actual scammers and ponzis, but they went much further and clearly had an agenda.

      Gensler targeted the most reputable exchange in the US alleging that their core business is illegal, because the Gensler SEC decided to classify crypto assets as securities rather than define a new regulatory framework that actually fits.

      https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2023-102

      Coinbase wanted to follow the rules and spent years asking for clarity. Rather than provide clear rules, the SEC provided a lawsuit.

      • Voroxpete@sh.itjust.works
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        0
        ·
        1 month ago

        There wasn’t a need to “define a new regulatory framework that actually fits” because, funnily enough, the existing regulatory framework already fits. It turns out, inventing new words doesn’t actually change the fundamental nature of the thing you’re describing. Refusing to call something an “investment” doesn’t change the fact that you’re selling an investment, refusing to call something a “security” doesn’t prevent it from being a security if it meets the definition.

          • Voroxpete@sh.itjust.works
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            0
            ·
            1 month ago

            No

            An investment contract exists if there is an “investment of money in a common enterprise with a reasonable expectation of profits to be derived from the efforts of others.”

            And just to be absolutely clear, many cryptocurrencies do not qualify as investments, and the government agrees. However there are numerous other regulations that the crypto industry apparently cannot handle, such as “Know Your Client” laws, which all financial institutions have to abide by, and which exist to prevent money laundering (Binance’s internal emails revealed that they knew perfectly well that their clients were using their service to facilitate crime, and they were perfectly happy with that).

            These are not bad faith regulations. They exist for good reasons, and there is absolute no good reason why the crypto industry shouldn’t also be subject to them. If these are currencies they should be regulated like currencies. If they are investments they should be regulated like investments.

            • desktop_user@lemmy.blahaj.zone
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              0
              ·
              1 month ago

              lack of technical (not legal) requirements to follow know your client laws is by far one of if not the biggest advantage crypto currencies have over traditional currencies.

      • treadful@lemmy.zip
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        0
        ·
        1 month ago

        That’s fair, but hardly so aggressive that I’d call it a “crypto crackdown.”

        But it’s hardly unexpected to see lawsuits around unsettled law. Everyone should expect more as we start settling case law and bringing crypto inline with existing law.

        Also, wasn’t it mostly centered around their non-exchange activities? Press release specifically mentions their “Staking-as-a-Service” offering. Not that I see anything wrong with it, but I could see how that could be considered a security. Doesn’t really pass the Howey test.

    • Cheems@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      0
      ·
      1 month ago

      That means, in Republican speak, that they will allow anyone to scam anyone without repercussion.

      • immutable@lemm.ee
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        0
        ·
        edit-2
        1 month ago

        Republicans love a good scam

        Next up is the dismantling of the ACA. They will roll out these amazingly cheap alternatives. Health insurance for $10 a month!

        So the poor and the stupid will sign up. They’ll go to the bar and saunter up to a “libtard” and tell them that trump fixed everything.

        Then when they get sick and try to use MAGA super plan plus premium they won’t be able to find a doctor. The $10/month plan only covers an annual trip to a CVS minute clinic. They’ll go on Facebook and write up how the goddamn liberals tricked him. Other faithful republicans will pray for them and tell them that it must be a glitch because trump made things better.

        The con will win because it’ll only hurt those without power.

    • M600@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      0
      ·
      1 month ago

      One thing that stopped me from using it is that every single crypto transaction needs to be reported on your US tax return due to the way profits from the coins are taxed in situations where the value increases. It is annoying to have to compile all the data. If that changes, I will probably start using crypto again.