Blockchain and Cryptocurrency: People, Culture and Tech
The Republican appointee praised cryptocurrency for making the principle that people have a fundamental right to voluntarily to engage in mutually beneficial transactions with one another more powerful than ever before in history.
Ever since the agency’s crackdown on initial coin offerings, the only way to participate in the private capital markets used to raise money for startups is to meet the definition of an “accredited investor”—which boiled down to “be a millionaire” for individuals and “entities” with at least $5 million.
The Securities and Exchange Commission wants to make it easier to become a sophisticated investor. The term is, technically, “accredited investor,” and currently, it translates roughly to “rich.” Since the agency’s crackdown on ICOs, accredited investors have been a primary way to raise money in the cryptocurrency market. Under the Securities Act of 1933’s Regulation D, it is far easier to sell securities to individuals and businesses that meet this standard. The problem with “accredited investors” that the agency feels it needs to solve is summed up nicely in a Dec. 18 statement by the ever-quotable Commissioner Hester Peirce, also known as “Crypto Mom” for her industry advocacy. “Our current definition includes investors that…
