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Regulatory Oversight Securities Regulation Enforcement Actions

Troutman Pepper Locke

4 Actions for Cos. as SEC Rebrands Cyber Enforcement Units

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On Feb. 20, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission announced the creation of the Cyber and Emerging Technologies Unit, which will replace the Enforcement Division’s previous Crypto Assets and Cyber Unit. Originally...more

Vinson & Elkins LLP

SEC Chairman Decrypts the Regulatory Future of Crypto Asset Markets

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On May 12, 2025, the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC” or the “Commission”), Paul Atkins, announced his plan to “develop a rational regulatory framework for crypto asset markets” during his keynote...more

Carlton Fields

U.S. Supreme Court Denies Alpine’s Petition Challenging Constitutionality of FINRA Enforcement Proceedings

Carlton Fields on

On June 2, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court denied a petition for writ of certiorari filed by Alpine Securities Corp. in Alpine Securities Corp. v. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. In doing so, the Supreme Court declined...more

Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP

SEC Staff Green Lights Various Staking Activities

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Division of Corporation Finance released a statement articulating its position that certain cryptocurrency staking activities fall outside the federal securities laws. This...more

Carlton Fields

SEC Engages in “Targeted, Common-Sense” Reorganization

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It has been reported that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently reduced head count by an estimated 12% due to the Trump administration’s effort to rapidly downsize the federal government. Particularly hard-hit...more

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP

SEC Enforcement in the First Quarter of the New Administration

The new presidential administration began on January 20, 2025, and change came quickly to many federal agencies, including the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). On Inauguration Day, Paul S. Atkins was nominated...more

Cornerstone Research

CME Group Disciplinary Notices Held Steady in 2024 After Significant Jump in 2023

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Disciplinary notices issued by the CME Group’s Market Regulation Enforcement team remained steady in 2024 after experiencing a significant increase in 2023, according to a new report by Cornerstone Research. The report,...more

Troutman Pepper Locke

SEC Reportedly Announces Major Reorganization of Enforcement and Exams Divisions

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The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has reportedly announced internally a major reorganization of its enforcement and exams divisions. This restructuring, effective April 9, 2025, was detailed in a staff memo...more

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP

No Soup for You - SEC Commissioners Revoke Authority of Director of Enforcement to Launch Investigations

In a famous Seinfeld episode, a master soup maker had strict rules for ordering his delicious confections.  A violation of his rules, resulted in “No soup for you!”...more

Latham & Watkins LLP

SEC Staff Clarifies That Meme Coins Are Not Securities

Latham & Watkins LLP on

The Staff stated that most meme coins are not subject to federal securities laws or SEC fraud enforcement; who will oversee meme coins remains an open question. On February 27, 2025, the Securities and Exchange...more

McDermott Will & Emery

SEC Pumps Fun

While we anticipated a relaxed US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the new administration, even the biggest proponents of a lax SEC did not expect a “meme coin” blessing within weeks of a new SEC chair being...more

Cooley LLP

Under the new Administration, will Enforcement have a lighter touch?

Cooley LLP on

Reuters is reporting exclusively that, according to its sources, under the new Administration, some Enforcement staff at the SEC “have been told they need to seek permission from the politically appointed leadership before...more

Paul Hastings LLP

SEC Reportedly Requiring Enforcement Staff to Seek Commission Approval for Formal Orders of Investigation

Paul Hastings LLP on

On February 2, media outlets reported that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC or Commission) has told SEC Enforcement attorneys that they need the approval of the agency’s commissioners for all formal orders of...more

Carlton Fields

Piecing Alpine Together

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Is FINRA constitutional? According to the D.C. Circuit’s November 2024 opinion in Alpine Securities Corp. v. FINRA, FINRA proceedings may be unconstitutional in one narrow set of circumstances. ...more

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

NFT Legal Issues

This year, the SEC has ramped up its enforcement efforts against digital asset marketplaces for selling non-fungible tokens (“NFTs”) (and other digital assets) the agency alleges are securities. In response, some potential...more

Alston & Bird

SEC Settlement Suggests the Agency’s Attempt to Regulate Cybersecurity Controls

Alston & Bird on

Does the R.R. Donnelley settlement mean heightened Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) involvement in regulating public companies’ cybersecurity policies and practices? Our Securities Litigation, Privacy, Cyber & Data...more

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

New Senate Crypto Bill Would Limit SEC Regulatory Role in Favor of CFTC

A bipartisan bill introduced in the U.S. Senate last week seeks “to bring crypto assets within the regulatory perimeter” by granting oversight responsibility to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) for most forms...more

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP

In Depth: Regulation and Enforcement of the Digital Assets Markets, Part Two – Focus on Enforcement

In last week's Cabinet News and Views, we examined the U.S. regulators' approach to the digital asset space, with a focus on the assertion of jurisdiction by the CFTC, the SEC, prudential regulators, state executive and...more

Perkins Coie

Securities Enforcement Forum West 2022: SEC Affirms Aggressive Approach

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On May 12, 2022, senior Division of Enforcement officials from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) shared the stage with SEC alumni, private practitioners, and other professionals in the field at the Securities...more

Orrick - On the Chain

SEC Division of Enforcement 2019 Annual Report Shows Cryptocurrency Is Still Under the Microscope

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The SEC Division of Enforcement’s 2019 Annual Report, released earlier this month, shows a continuing focus on activities involving blockchain and cryptocurrency, and its website shows an increase in cases since last fiscal...more

Polsinelli

BitBlog Weekly Update

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This BitBlog summary focuses on the continuing actions by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) against the issuers of noncompliant initial coin offerings (“ICOs”) and other crypto related transactions including...more

Carlton Fields

SEC Now May Consider a Simultaneous Settlement Offer and Waiver Request

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Certain “bad actors” who settle with the SEC may be subject to automatic disqualifications or collateral consequences under federal securities laws and regulations. The Commission, however, may grant a settling party’s...more

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