On March 10, 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rejected the highly anticipated Winklevoss twins’ COIN bitcoin exchange traded fund (“ETF”), causing the digital currency to plummet 18% in value, to $978.76, “the lowest intraday price in a month.” Then, on March 28, 2017, the SEC rejected a second…
For the last 3 1/2 years, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has been considering whether to approve placement of the Winklevoss Bitcoin Trust ETF (Nasdaq: COIN) on the Bats exchange. The Bats exchange is currently the largest U.S. equities market operator, and placement of COIN on the exchange would essentially…
For the last three and a half years, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has been considering whether to approve placement of the Winklevoss bitcoin ETF (“COIN”) on the Bats exchange. However, the SEC’s inaction will end by March 11th, which is the SEC’s deadline to either reject COIN, or have it be automatically approved due to the…
Bitcoin Investment Trust filed a public registration statement with the SEC on January 20, 2017, for a proposed initial public offering. This is the second bitcoin investment vehicle trying to register its securities after SolidX Bitcoin Trust filed last July. According to its registration statement, the Bitcoin Investment Trust is…
On February 26, 2016, Logos Capital Fund, LLP (“Logos”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) a Form D Notice of Exempt Offering of Securities. As its Form D indicates, Logos is soliciting investments of at least $25,000 for its pooled investment fund. Logos claims an exemption from publicly…
In January 2014, Overstock.com became the first major online retailer to accept payment in bitcoin. Less than eighteen months later, Overstock is now the first company to offer qualified buyers the option of purchasing private cryptosecurities, in the form of bonds. The corporate bonds will trade using Bitcoin’s blockchain protocol….
Some recent moves by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) provide digital currency startups with an easier path to procuring up to $50 million in capital. A brief history of crowdfunding legislation is in order. Prior to 2012, the securities market was primarily open only to accredited investors – defined…
Since the turn of the century, exchange traded funds (ETFs) have grown from an industry of less than $100 billion to a $2 trillion behemoth. And as virtual currencies such as Bitcoin continue to permeate the mainstream — Overstock.com now accepts payment in Bitcoin, as do thousands of other online…
Happy New Year! With the bottles popped and the confetti descended, we take a look at the some of the most important legal and regulatory developments in the U.S. this past year. Federal Money Transmitter Law The most prolific regulatory actor in 2014 was by far the Financial Crimes Enforcement…