Cryptocurrency
SEC Enforcement Actions Surge in 2024
Wednesday. September 11 at 1:00 AM
1 min. readIn 2024, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) saw a significant increase in enforcement actions against crypto firms and executives, totaling nearly $4.7 billion. This marked a substantial jump of over 3,000% from the previous year. The SEC's record-breaking year was largely driven by a $4.47 billion settlement with Terraform Labs and its former CEO, Do Kwon, making it the largest enforcement action to date. Despite taking fewer actions, the SEC's fines skyrocketed, surpassing the total amount from the past decade. The regulator's strategic shift towards targeting more impactful cases resulted in fewer but larger fines, setting precedents for the industry. Notable cases include actions against Telegram, GTV Media Group, Ripple Labs, and individuals like John and Tina Barksdale. While a significant portion of fines were below $1 million, the average fine in 2024 exceeded $420 million, indicating a shift towards more substantial penalties.