SEC chief wants more scrutiny & regulation of cryptocurrencies

Posted:
in General Discussion
The new head of the SEC, Chair Gary Gensler, wants to protect cryptocurrency investors from fraud and believes that changes in investment laws will be needed soon.




Cryptocurrencies are a hot-button topic in financial circles, and the prospect of government oversight of the field has been raised repeatedly. In his first interview on cryptocurrencies since assuming office in April, Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gensler offers some positive thoughts on the subject.

According to Gensler, he is "neutral on the technology, even intrigued," having previously spent three years "teaching it, leaning into it." However, speaking to Bloomberg, he says there is a need for safety, claiming "I'm not neutral about investor protection."

"If somebody wants to speculate, that's their choice, but we have a role as a nation to protect those investors against fraud," said the SEC chief.

Admitting the SEC's powers are already quite broad, Gensler has asked Congress to create a law that grants the commission the authority to monitor cryptocurrency exchanges.

The largely unregistered nature of the industry is the reason behind the request. Though Bitcoin and others that act as currencies are thought of as commodities instead of securities, there are many other digital coins and tokens that Gensler believes can be classified as unregistered securities, which must follow SEC rules.

The SEC is looking into at least seven different crypto-related issues, including initial coin offerings, trading venues, decentralized finance, and ETFs, under Gensler's urging. "I've asked the staff to use all of our authorities anywhere we can," he adds.

In terms of speed, Gensler reckons the regulation of crypto exchanges would be the simplest way for the government to get started. However, he is still concerned about other avenues, including peer-to-peer lending. Decentralized finance operations advertising interest rates on cryptographic assets could be an item that can be overseen by the SEC, he offers.

Gensler's actions could cause some concerns for industry observers, suggests Georgetown University law school's cryptocurrency teacher Patrick McCarthy.

"When the crypto people say they want legal certainty, they don't mean that - they want to be unregulated," McCarthy said. "That's never been Gary's point of view."

McCarthy does admit that Gensler's knowledge and experience with digital assets will still give the industry as a whole a "fair hearing."

Gensler's intended regulation for cryptocurrencies could encourage major tech companies to take bigger steps in the market. In the case of Apple, in May it was seeking a business development manager focused on "alternative payment" platforms, including cryptocurrencies and digital wallets.

Read on AppleInsider

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 6
    22july201322july2013 Posts: 3,564member
    I'm not sure what they can do. "Decentralized finance operations advertising interest rates on cryptographic assets" does sound like one option. But it would apply only to such operations that are based in the US.
  • Reply 2 of 6
    BeatsBeats Posts: 3,073member
    The government wants to control everything from companies to our money.
    edited August 2021 rinosaur
  • Reply 3 of 6
    WgkruegerWgkrueger Posts: 352member
    One word … PetroDollars. Or is that two words?
    rinosaur
  • Reply 4 of 6
    JWSCJWSC Posts: 1,203member

    I do wonder if the title ‘cryptocurrency’ is a misnomer.  While people can and do use them as alternative currencies, many are focused on investment in them as assets rather than use of cryptocurrencies as an actual currency.

    Cryptocurrencies do require regulation to safeguard those who use them.  We need to eliminate the possibility of using them as dark money.

    At the same time we should monitor closely what the SEC, the Federal Reserve, and other regulatory agencies request.  Cryptocurrencies represent a very serious long term threat to the current system of government currency control.

    Consider what would happen if people moved away from a government controlled currency in lieu of a cryptocurrency.  That government would no longer be able to print money and issue debt.  It would not be able to run a deficit.  To you and me that sounds really good.  But to government entities it’s represents a frightening loss of monetary control.

  • Reply 5 of 6
    applguyapplguy Posts: 235member
    Today there is between 2,000 and 10,000 different cryptocurrencies in the world so I can see why government wants to look at preventing fraud. 
  • Reply 6 of 6
    Beats said:
    The government wants to control everything from companies to our money.
    Protecting people from fraud is well within the legitimate use of government power.
Sign In or Register to comment.