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    Qadir Ak is the founder of Coinpedia. He has over a decade of experience writing about technology and has been covering the blockchain and cryptocurrency space since 2010. He has also interviewed a few prominent experts within the cryptocurrency space.

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  • 2 minutes read

Messari CEO Challenges SEC Authority, Eyes Pro-Crypto Future

Story Highlights
  • Messari CEO declared war on the SEC, criticizing its crypto regulations and leadership.

  • He plans to fight the SEC through legal actions, lobbying Congress, and media campaigns.

  • This move reflects a growing tension between crypto firms and regulators, potentially impacting the future of crypto regulation.

On July 6, 2024, Ryan Selkis, CEO of crypto intelligence firm Messari, made a dramatic declaration: his company is officially severing ties with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), positioning itself as an adversary to the agency under President Bidenโ€™s administration. This announcement is likely to stir significant interest among U.S. crypto investors, who are hoping for a pro-crypto victory in the upcoming presidential elections.

The SECโ€™s recent stumbles in high-profile cases against Binance and Ripple suggest that things are changing – fast.

A Defiant Declaration

In a draft letter shared on X, Selkis expressed his intent to wage a โ€œwarโ€ against the SEC, criticizing the agencyโ€™s approach to crypto regulation as corrupt and ineffective.ย 

He accused SEC Chair Gary Gensler of incompetence and claimed the SECโ€™s regulatory authority over crypto markets is illegitimate, citing failures in fraud prevention and recent Supreme Court decisions as grounds for their challenge.

Whatโ€™s the Plan? 

Selkis’s strategy encompasses a range of actions, including legal battles, appeals to Congress, and public relations campaigns. He aims to demonstrate that the SEC has failed U.S.-based crypto firms and to prove that Messariโ€™s track recordโ€”highlighted by its investigations into Mt. Gox, FTX, and Genesis Capitalโ€”shows a more effective approach than that of the SEC.

The draft letter, set to be refined and submitted to Congress soon, represents a growing rift between forward-thinking crypto firms and traditional regulatory bodies. This could have far-reaching implications for the industry.

The Community Reacts

The crypto community is buzzing with reactions to Selkisโ€™s bold stance. Analyst MartyParty noted that recent legal developments, such as the Supreme Courtโ€™s Chevron case precedent and the dismissal of charges in the SEC vs. Binance case, have weakened the SECโ€™s position. MartyParty believes these events indicate a shift away from SEC jurisdiction, potentially ending its regulatory dominance over the crypto market.

There is widespread speculation that Selkis should also address the Ripple vs. SEC case, given that XRP is the only cryptocurrency with a legal status in U.S. history. Ripple has frequently criticized the SECโ€™s overreach on crypto assets. It will be intriguing to see how Selkisโ€™s perspective on the SEC influences future regulatory decisions.

Read Also: FTXโ€™s $16 Billion Payout: Key Dates to Watch for Bitcoinโ€™s Next Move!

Crypto vs. SEC: Who’s winning this war?

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