SEC’s Gary Gensler is getting irked being asked about crypto

As a researcher with a background in finance and securities law, I have followed the regulatory landscape surrounding cryptocurrencies closely. The recent comments from Gary Gensler, the head of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), regarding his frustration with the media’s focus on crypto and its perceived outsized presence in scams and frauds, resonates with my experience.


It seems that Gary Gensler, the chief of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), is growing weary of the numerous inquiries he’s receiving about cryptocurrencies. He has stated publicly that he gets a disproportionate amount of questions on this topic compared to traditional finance matters.

“During an interview on CNBC’s Squawk Box on May 7, I stated that cryptocurrencies represent a limited segment of the broader financial markets when addressing questions about the Securities and Exchange Commission’s focus areas.”

As a crypto investor, I can tell you that Gary Gensler, the head of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), has drawn an intriguing comparison between the traditional $110 trillion capital market that the SEC regulates and the emerging $2.4 trillion crypto market. He’s emphasized that a significant portion of issues such as scams, frauds, and non-compliance with U.S. securities laws lie within the crypto sector due to its current lack of regulatory clarity and structure.

“And so thus, you end up with like an outsized ratio of journalist questions and crypto journalists to market cap.”

As a crypto investor, I’ve noticed that reporters often ask about cryptocurrencies during interviews with regulatory figures, such as Gary Gensler of the SEC. Andrew Ross Sorkin posed this question to Gensler, implying that the media’s focus on crypto might be due to the SEC’s increased scrutiny in this area. However, Gensler corrected him by emphasizing that it’s actually a reflection of where his own attention lies. In other words, he pays close attention to cryptocurrencies and thus fields many questions related to them.

As a researcher examining the financial landscape, I can tell you that the crypto market represents a relatively minor segment of the larger financial markets. However, it disproportionately contributes to the prevalence of scams, frauds, and other problematic activities within our financial system.

— Squawk Box (@SquawkCNBC) May 7, 2024

The SEC chief remarked, “Reflect on this. I’ve appeared on your program approximately a dozen times. Each time, you’ve inquired about cryptocurrencies.”

“My guessing is this will be a majority crypto interview. While the capital markets are $110 trillion. So it’s also about where the financial media is focused.”

Gensler repeatedly declined to answer consecutive inquiries regarding the SEC’s Wells notice to Robinhood over their cryptocurrency listing and custodial services, stating that he is unable to comment on the specific actions of any single company.

He argued that investors were not being provided with the necessary or sufficient information about cryptocurrencies, and he emphasized that many of these tokens fell under the legal classification of securities, according to US Supreme Court rulings.

As a crypto investor, I strongly urge Gary Gensler, the head of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), to cease any further misrepresentation of facts – cryptocurrency tokens do not fall under the category of securities.

“Their pleadings notwithstanding, your own attorneys have admitted this in court,” Grewal added.

Gensler declined to comment on whether Ether (ETH) qualifies as a security or if the SEC would endorse an Ether-based exchange-traded fund (ETF). Instead, he mentioned that relevant filings will be addressed by the SEC commissioners in due course.

As a crypto investor, I’d like to clarify my perspective on the recent exchange between Gary Gensler and House Financial Services Chair Patrick McHenry regarding the SEC’s classification of Ethereum (ETH). Contrary to McHenry’s accusation, I believe it’s important to note that as SEC chairman, I have a responsibility to uphold the securities laws and regulations. During the questioning, I chose not to answer specific questions on ETH’s classification because doing so might inadvertently provide information that could be interpreted as guidance or advice, potentially influencing market decisions before the SEC has made a formal determination. This is essential to maintaining a level playing field for all investors and ensuring transparency and fairness within our regulatory framework.

He refused to discuss if there was an ongoing investigation or if someone was breaking the law in his view, unless they had filed a formal charge.

I believe McHenry argued that Gensler’s refusals were deliberately misleading regarding the SEC’s stance, and he supported this claim by referencing ConsenSys’ lawsuit from April. In this lawsuit, it was alleged that the SEC intended to classify ETH as a security.

Gensler however argued that he tells Congress “accurately what we’re doing.”

As a crypto investor, I understand that there are certain queries you may have during this live interview or even in a congressional hearing that I might choose not to address directly. Instead, I prefer to focus on providing clear and accurate information about my investments and the crypto market in general. However, due to regulatory complexities and the evolving nature of the industry, there are some questions that may be best answered by industry experts or legal counsel.

This year, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has initiated six lawsuits involving cryptocurrencies. In contrast, during the previous year, the SEC took legal action against 46 crypto companies – marking a ten-year record and more than double the number from the year before.

At least a dozen lawsuits filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are currently being heard in American courts, with numerous defendants accused of selling unregistered securities and engaging in illegal activities.

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2024-05-08 05:26