Digital/Crypto Assets

The SEC is reported to be planning to issue rule proposals creating a regulatory framework for trading of tokenized, digital securities of publicly-traded companies that are issued by third parties unaffiliated with the issuer.  The tokens would be similar to “phantom stock,” representing digital representations of the securities, but would have no equity or voting

The SEC’s Division of Trading & Markets today issued a conditional no-action position that it would not object if compliant “user interfaces” designed to facilitate the execution of crypto securities transactions operate without registering as broker-dealers.  In plain English, the staff’s position applies to interfaces operating in a neutral fashion by providing mechanics to facilitate

There has been movement forward on the Clarity Act, and the SEC and CFTC have anticipated its passage by pre-emptively completing a “memorandum of understanding” that would be required by the Act, and by beginning the “rulemaking” process with a joint interpretive release distinguishing between “investment contract assets” regulated by the SEC and “digital commodities”