The SEC today hit San Francisco-based cryptocurrency exchange Kraken with a $30 million fine for violating securities laws.
In a Thursday announcement, the regulatory body објави the firm had failed to register the offer and sale of their crypto asset staking-as-a-service program.
Kraken—which consists of Payward Ventures, Inc. and Payward Trading Ltd.—agreed to halt its staking service for U.S. clients but did not admit or deny the allegations in the SEC’s complaint.
SEC Chair Gary Gensler said: “Today’s action should make clear to the marketplace that staking-as-a-service providers must register and provide full, fair, and truthful disclosure and investor protection.”
Kraken did not immediately respond to Дешифрирај’s questions but рече it would still offer staking services for non-U.S. clients through a separate Kraken subsidiary.
Staking is the process of “locking-up” cryptocurrency to keep a blockchain’s network running. Those who hold доказ за удел assets—such as Етереум (ЕТХ), the second biggest cryptocurrency—pledge it to the network by sending it to a specific blockchain address and can receive rewards for doing so. For example, holding ETH on Kraken would have generated between 4% and 7% yield on those holdings. On Coinbase, ETH holders can currently earn up to 4.27% APY on their tokens.
Kraken is the fourth largest crypto exchange by daily volume, according to CoinGecko. It allows customers to buy and sell cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin.
Its staking service allows users to earn up to 24% yearly with some tokens.
The SEC has got tough on the crypto world lately—especially exchanges: Just last month it хит Genesis и Gemini со давачки за понуда на нерегистрирани хартии од вредност.
SEC Chair Gary Gensler wants to crack down on all the coins and tokens he believes are unregistered securities.
Regulators have stepped up pressure following the колапс of the huge digital asset exchange FTX last year.
The company was once one of the biggest exchanges in the space but went bankrupt after it was allegedly criminally mismanaged by—во зборовите of its new CEO John J. Ray III—“a very small group of grossly inexperienced and unsophisticated individuals.”
Its ex-boss and co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried is now facing осум кривични пријави. Тој се изјасни за невин last month and will appear in court again in October.
Kraken has faced regulatory troubles recently. In November, it се согласи да плати Канцеларијата за контрола на странски средства на Министерството за финансии на САД 362,158.70 долари за очигледни прекршувања на санкциите против Иран.
Editor’s note: This article was updated after publication to clarify that Kraken is only halting its staking service in the U.S.
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