SEC Lawsuits Target Multiple Tokens: DCG Founder Points Out Absence of PoW Cryptos

In an unfolding legal battle against two major cryptocurrency exchanges, Coinbase and Binance, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has declared various tokens as securities. These tokens include SOL, ADA, MATIC, FIL, SAND, AXS, CHZ, FLOW, ICP, NEAR, VGX, DASH, and NEXO in the case against Coinbase. For Binance, the list features SOL, ADA, MATIC, FIL, ATOM, SAND, MANA, ALGO, AXS, and COTI.

This declaration by the SEC highlights its ongoing effort to regulate the cryptocurrency market and could have substantial implications for these tokens and their holders. If the SEC succeeds in classifying these tokens as securities, it would subject them to more stringent regulatory rules and obligations.

Barry Silbert, the founder of Digital Currency Group (DCG), commented on the situation via Twitter, noting, “No Proof of Work tokens in any of the lawsuits, I believe (BTC, LTC, XMR, ETC, ZEC, etc.).” Silbert’s tweet refers to the SEC’s decision to not include tokens that use Proof of Work (PoW) consensus mechanism in their lawsuits. This includes Bitcoin (BTC), Litecoin (LTC), Monero (XMR), Ethereum Classic (ETC), and Zcash (ZEC), among others.

The implication of Silbert’s statement suggests that the SEC might be differentiating between PoW tokens and other tokens. This differentiation could lead to different regulatory standards and implications for tokens depending on their underlying consensus mechanism.

This ongoing case and the SEC’s decisions could set a precedent for future regulations and classifications in the crypto market. As such, all eyes within the crypto community are keenly focused on the developments. It is yet to be seen how these decisions will shape the regulatory landscape of digital assets.

Coinbase Suspends Trading for $MULTI, $VGX, $OOKI, DDX, JUP, BOND

Key takeaways

* Coinbase suspends trading for BarnBridge (BOND), DerivaDAO (DDX), Jupiter (JUP), Multichain (MULTI), Ooki (OOKI), and Voyager (VGX).

* The decision was based on “recent reviews” to ensure the assets meet Coinbase’s listing standards.

* Users can still access and withdraw their funds in the suspended assets.

Coinbase, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, announced the suspension of trading for six cryptocurrencies: BarnBridge (BOND), DerivaDAO (DDX), Jupiter (JUP), Multichain (MULTI), Ooki (OOKI), and Voyager (VGX). The suspension took effect on September 6, 2023, at approximately 9 AM PT, according to a statement released by the company.

Regulatory Compliance and Listing Standards

Coinbase stated that the decision was made after “regularly monitor[ing] the assets on our exchange to ensure they meet our listing standards.” The company did not elaborate on the specific reasons for the suspensions but emphasized that it was part of their ongoing compliance efforts. The announcement received 8,862 views, 8 reposts, 4 quotes, 25 likes, and 1 bookmark within hours of being posted.

User Impact and Next Steps

For users holding any of the six affected cryptocurrencies, Coinbase assured that “your funds will remain accessible to you, and you will continue to have the ability to withdraw your funds at any time.” The company directed users with further questions to their help center at help.coinbase.com.

Market Response

The delisting of these coins are announced on 24 August. Typically, the delisting of a coin from a major cryptocurrency exchange triggers a downtrend for that asset. For instance, Multichain (MULTI) experienced a significant surge on September 4, spiking over 115% to reach a high of $2.447. However, before its suspension from Coinbase, the coin has retraced to $1.286.

Similarly, Ooki (OOKI) saw a 2.5% increase with a price amplitude of 19%, reaching $0.002282 on September 4. Before the delisting, it has declined to $0.00189.

Given these market responses, it’s crucial for investors to monitor coins that are slated for delisting and consider selling off their holdings when prices pump prior to the suspension.

Implications for the Cryptocurrency Industry

The suspension of these six assets highlights the ongoing challenges that cryptocurrency exchanges face in balancing regulatory compliance with a diverse asset offering. It also raises questions about the criteria used by exchanges like Coinbase to evaluate the cryptocurrencies they list.

Conclusion

Coinbase’s decision to suspend trading for six cryptocurrencies underscores the exchange’s focus on regulatory compliance. While the immediate market impact remains to be seen, the move serves as a reminder of the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency regulations and the importance of due diligence for both exchanges and investors.

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