Kraken counters SEC’s legal interpretation in dismissal motion

As an analyst with a background in securities law and experience in the crypto industry, I believe that Kraken’s response to the SEC’s allegations is well-reasoned and thoughtful. The discrepancies identified by Kraken regarding the SEC’s interpretation of investment contracts and misuse of terminology are significant, and if left unaddressed, could set a dangerous precedent for the crypto industry as a whole.


Kraken, in response to the SEC’s lawsuit, has submitted a counterargument denying the charges of selling unregistered securities. The company asserts that the SEC’s complaint is imprecise and misunderstands essential legal principles.

As a analyst, I’ve examined Kraken’s response filing and identified some points of disagreement with the SEC’s argument. Specifically, Kraken has called out the SEC for not correctly identifying the investment contracts that were being traded on their exchange.

Kraken contends that the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) application of terminology such as “investment concept” and “ecosystem” rather than “investment contract” and “enterprise” indicates a misinterpretation of the legal context underlying the case.

Back in November 2023, I found myself under scrutiny from the SEC when they filed a lawsuit against me. The allegation was that I had illegally generated millions of dollars through transactions involving “crypto asset securities,” and I had been operating as an exchange, broker, dealer, and clearing agency without proper registration – all in violation of the law. This came after we had already resolved similar charges over my past staking service.

Kraken counters SEC’s legal interpretation in dismissal motion

As a crypto investor, I’ve been closely following the legal battle between Kraken and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Kraken recently filed a motion to dismiss the SEC’s enforcement action against them, arguing that it sets a dangerous precedent for the agency’s jurisdiction. In response, the SEC came back with a 39-page opposition to Kraken’s motion. They insist that their enforcement action falls within the authority granted to them by Congress. In simpler terms, Kraken thinks this case could give the SEC too much power, while the SEC maintains that they are acting within their legal bounds.

In the May 9th motion filed on a Thursday, Kraken argues against the SEC’s stance that written contracts are necessary for investment agreements. Instead, Kraken highlights that verbal agreements, as well as those that are implicitly understood, can also be valid.

Kraken contends that the SEC’s attempts to dispute overlooked arguments reveal a lack of comprehension of the essential aspects of the case.

Kraken points to earlier SEC rulings on initial coin offerings as evidence for its position. These cases primarily focused on the aspects of contracts and their associated responsibilities, aligning with Kraken’s interpretation of investment contracts.

Kraken’s position relies on interpreting the SEC’s authority according to the Howey test, which identifies a security based on particular conditions, such as investing money in a shared enterprise with the belief of earning profits, fueled by others’ efforts.

At present, the United States Congress is deeply engaged in discussions regarding the regulation of cryptocurrencies, with multiple bills under consideration. Simultaneously, a coalition of eight state attorneys general in the U.S. have submitted an amicus brief in support of ongoing litigation against the cryptocurrency exchange Kraken. Their argument being that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has overstepped its granted powers in this lawsuit.

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2024-05-10 12:53