SEC charges Genesis, Gemini for failing to register crypto lending product
By 
Aaron Nicodemus2023-01-13T17:21:00
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) accused two cryptocurrency firms, Genesis Global Capital and Gemini Trust Company, with selling a crypto lending product to investors as an unregistered security.
The SEC said Genesis and Gemini raised “billions of dollars’ worth of crypto assets from hundreds of thousands of investors” with an investment vehicle called Gemini Earn. The program constituted the offering and sale of a security but was not registered with the SEC, a violation of federal securities law.
In its complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, the SEC seeks permanent injunctive relief, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains plus prejudgment interest, and civil penalties.
Related articles
-
News BriefGenesis penalized $21M by SEC for sale of unregistered securities
Crypto firm Genesis Global Capital agreed to pay a $21 million civil penalty to the Securities and Exchange Commission to settle charges that the Gemini Earn investment program was an unregistered security offering.
-
News BriefNYDFS fines Gemini $37M over compliance failures
The New York State Department of Financial Services fined cryptocurrency exchange Gemini Trust Company $37 million over alleged compliance failures related to lapses in safety and soundness.
-
News BriefGenesis Global Trading fined $8M by NYDFS over AML, cyber lapses
Virtual currency brokerage firm Genesis Global Trading agreed to pay an $8 million penalty levied by the New York State Department of Financial Services for alleged compliance failures that left it vulnerable to illicit activity and cybersecurity threats.
More from Regulatory Enforcement
-
News BriefDOJ targets $14.6B in health care fraud with focus on transnational crime
Emerging enforcement priorities of the U.S. Department of Justice’s health care fraud division align with the Trump administration’s emphasis on prosecuting transnational criminal organizations and ending opioid trafficking.
-
News BriefFTC raises antitrust concerns over $1.57B Circle K deal, orders divestitures
Since President Donald Trump took office, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission has yet to keep up the level of enforcement it had under previous chair Lina Khan. The agency, however, returned to antitrust action in the case of fuel stations, just in time for the July 4th holiday.
-
News BriefJudge reinstates fired CPSC commissioners in latest battle over government cuts
In May, three commissioners for the Consumer Product Safety Commission were abruptly fired by President Donald Trump and sued for their jobs shortly after. A federal judge has ruled that the commissioners should be reinstated, although it’s unclear whether that ruling may itself be reversed.