According to Cointelegraph, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that cryptocurrency platform Abra has agreed to a settlement over allegations that the firm did not register the offers and sales of its lending product.In an August 26 notice, the regulator stated that Abra, “without admitting or denying the SEC’s allegations,” has agreed to pay civil penalties to be determined by a court and an injunction prohibiting the firm from violating securities laws. The SEC filed charges against the lending platform for failing to register the offers and sales of Abra Earn and operating as an unregistered investment company.The SEC alleged that Abra marketed its Earn service as a way for investors to earn interest “auto-magically” but instead generated income for itself. The platform began offering Abra Earn to US investors in July 2020, facilitating roughly $600 million in assets globally at its peak.“Abra allegedly sold its own securities while skirting applicable Investment Company Act provisions that provide a number of important protections to investors, including minimizing conflicts of interest,” said SEC enforcement associate director Stacy Bogert. “This matter reflects yet again, that in conducting enforcement investigations, we are governed by economic realities, not cosmetic labels.”This is a developing story, and further information will be added as it becomes available.
