Although early reporting suggested the SEC would likely look to “potentially freeze some litigation that does not involve allegations of fraud”, the first case the SEC has proposed freezing is SEC v. Binance: a case alleging serious fraud and knowing violation of US securities laws.
The original complaint alleges that not only did Binance lie about trying to prevent fraudulent behavior on Binance.US, one of the primary companies involved in illegal wash trading on the exchange was controlled and operated by Binance’s founder and Binance employees.
Despite claims from the SEC’s new leadership that they intend to provide “sensible, clear rules” without providing a “haven for fraudsters”, this action definitely seems to reveal their true marching orders.
It’s likely that they will soon request to pause ongoing enforcement cases against companies including Coinbase, a company which has alone spent more than $100 million on political lobbying over the past two years.
Complaint against Binance: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67474542/1/securities-and-exchange-commission-v-binance-holdings-limited/
Motion to stay: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67474542/296/securities-and-exchange-commission-v-binance-holdings-limited/
Early reporting about freezing non-fraud enforcement: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trumps-new-sec-leadership-poised-kick-start-crypto-overhaul-sources-say-2025-01-15/
It's fascinating to me that Coinbase went from the company that gave me a whole-ass bitcoin to apologize for messing up my account in, like, 2010, to one that's defrauding people en masse in 2025.
@molly0xfff@hachyderm.io
@molly0xfff probably just in time to launch SwampCoin
@molly0xfff money well spent by the sound of it