You may or may not know "WHEN A COIN IS CONSIDERED A SECURITY BY THE SEC THEN....."
⚖️ 1. What does it mean for the SEC to consider a crypto coin as "security"?
The SEC uses a standard called the "Howey Test" to determine whether an asset is a security or not.
Accordingly, if a coin:
Has monetary investment,
In a project managed by others,
And expects to profit from the efforts of others,
→ Then it may be considered a security.
For example: If you buy a token just because you believe the team will increase the price → The SEC may consider that token a security.
🚨 2. If considered a security, what will happen to that crypto coin?
❌ a. Major exchanges (like Binance, Coinbase) may delist it
→ They fear being sued by the SEC for trading unlicensed securities.
🏛️ b. The project behind the token may be sued by the SEC
→ For example: The SEC previously sued Ripple (XRP), Solana, ADA, BNB, etc.
📉 c. The price may plummet due to investor fear of legal risks
→ FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt) spreads causing users to panic sell.
🌍 d. Hinders development in the U.S. market
→ Investment funds and financial institutions may hesitate to engage, leading to decreased liquidity.
✅ 3. Does being considered a security by the SEC mean the coin is "dead"?
Not necessarily.
If the project is strong enough and has a global community, it can continue to thrive outside of the U.S.
For example: XRP, despite being sued, saw a strong recovery at times and partially won its case in 2023.
📌 What about BNB?
BNB was previously targeted by the SEC, claiming that the BNB ICO in 2017 was an "unregistered securities offering."
Consequences:
Binance US delisted BNB in mid-2023.
But BNB still thrives thanks to its community, users, and the BNB Chain ecosystem.