U.S. SEC Charges Cumberland DRW for Operating As an Unregistered Crypto Dealer

As a seasoned researcher with a focus on the intersection of finance and technology, I find this latest development between the SEC and Cumberland DRW LLC intriguing. The crypto space has been notoriously ambiguous when it comes to regulatory oversight, making incidents like these a crucial stepping stone towards clarity.


On October 10th, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) disclosed that it had initiated a civil lawsuit against Cumberland DRW LLC, a crypto-oriented division of DRW Holdings, LLC, a multifaceted trading company that carries out proprietary trading across multiple asset types. The SEC alleges that Cumberland has been functioning as an unregistered dealer in over $2 billion worth of cryptocurrency assets, which is deemed a breach of federal securities laws.

As stated in a lawsuit filed by the SEC, Cumberland has been actively trading cryptocurrencies that are classified as securities since at least March 2018. The company is alleged to have carried out these transactions without adhering to the registration guidelines specified in Section 15(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

According to the SEC, Cumberland, known for its significant role in the cryptocurrency market, is accused of purchasing and selling digital assets through its trading platform, Marea, and other over-the-counter (OTC) methods. The SEC claims that these cryptoassets were considered investment contracts, making them securities under U.S. law. However, despite this classification, Cumberland failed to register as a dealer, which is mandatory by law.

Jorge G. Tenreiro, temporarily leading the SEC’s Crypto Assets and Cyber Unit, emphasized that the registration of securities dealers plays a crucial role in safeguarding investors. Tenreiro explained that while crypto enthusiasts often argue that digital assets operate like commodities, entities such as Cumberland and their trading partners have been managing these assets as securities, earning profits without the protective oversight offered by registration.

The SEC’s complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, seeks permanent injunctive relief against Cumberland, along with the disgorgement of profits, prejudgment interest, and civil penalties.

In response to the announcement made on social media platform X, Cumberland stated they won’t be modifying their business activities or the list of cryptocurrencies they provide liquidity for due to this particular action.

— Cumberland (@CumberlandSays) October 10, 2024

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2024-10-11 08:44