The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the United States may take legal action against the American cryptocurrency exchange Bittrex, despite the fact that it has already started the process of closing down its local business.
The enforcement division of the SEC has informed Bittrex about potential action over alleged violations related to investor protection, according to Bittrex's general counsel, David Maria. The SEC sent a Wells notice to Bittrex in March, warning that the exchange had broken the law by acting as a broker-dealer, clearinghouse, and exchange without first registering with the watchdog.
Bittrex had reportedly engaged in discussions with the SEC in late 2022 on how it could register its operations but found that complying with the SEC rules would require essentially ceasing all revenue-producing activities in the United States.
The general counsel for Bittrex stated that the lack of regulatory clarity in this area results in significant costs and uncertainty as to what can and cannot be offered, which is why the exchange is unable to comply with SEC regulations.
Bittrex announced on March 31 that it would be halting all operations in the United States, citing the challenging regulatory and economic environment. Customers in the United States were encouraged by the exchange to remove their money by April 30, 2023.
The general counsel of Bittrex stated that the business will sue if the regulators do not make a fair settlement offer despite the fact that Bittrex is closing down its operations in the U.S. Bittrex is unsure whether the SEC will launch a lawsuit at this time.
Before deciding to exit the American market, Bittrex had to deal with problems at home, including having to pay over $29 million in fines to the Office of Foreign Assets Control and Financial Crimes Enforcement Network of the United States Department of the Treasury in 2022. The settlement was related to sanctions violations in regions such as Crimea, Cuba, Iran, Sudan, and Syria between 2014 and 2017.
In summary, Bittrex is reportedly facing potential legal action from the SEC despite already winding down its operations in the U.S. The exchange cited regulatory challenges as the reason for its decision to exit the U.S. market, and its general counsel emphasized the lack of regulatory clarity in the cryptocurrency industry. Bittrex will litigate unless a reasonable settlement offer is presented by regulators.
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