The more time passes, the more difficulties the crypto sector faces. After its spat with Ripple and Coinbase, the SEC is once again grappling with a crypto company. The real estate regulator has issued an order that is giving Sparkster a hard time, and influencer Ian Balina is not exempt.
SEC issues cease and desist order against Sparkster
The instability of the crypto sector puts regulators to work. Among these, the SEC (Securities Exchange and Commission) of the United States is undoubtedly the one with the most to do. Indeed, we hear a lot about him in cases against exchanges and crypto companies. On Monday, the regulator issued a cease and desist order against an unlisted cryptocurrency company.
Sparkster Ltd and its CEO Sajjad Daya face sanctions following the issuance and sale of unregistered crypto asset securities between April and July 2018. According to the regulator, Daya and Sparkster raised $30 million from 4,000 investors in the USA and abroad to develop the company’s software platform.
To achieve their goal, they reassured investors that the tokens would increase in value over time while promising to make them available on an exchange. So, in an agreement with the SEC, Sparkster agreed to destroy the remaining tokens. But also to publish the regulator’s order on its website and social media and request the removal of its tokens from trading platforms.
The regulator does not intend to stop there!
In Sparkster’s agreement with the SEC, the crypto company agrees to refrain from participating in digital asset securities offerings for five years. Additionally, the company and its CEO agree to settle and pay over $35 million to a fund that will be used to repay investors.
The one who doesn’t do well in this story is crypto influencer Ian Balina. Indeed, the SEC accuses the latter of having promoted SPRK tokens without disclosing that he gained an advantage there. Balina had purchased $5 million tokens and promoted them on Telegram, Youtube and other social networks from May to July 2018 notwithstanding a 30% bonus.
Then the influencer would have offered and sold the unregistered tokens to at least 50 people. As a result, the US regulator accuses him of violating the offer registration provisions of the Securities Act. He is therefore asking for an injunction, reimbursement as well as prejudgment interest and civil penalties.
Following this announcement, Ian Balina does not hesitate to speak. He states in a tweet that the SEC’s accusation is baseless and based on completely false ideas. However, this does not change much of the order issued against Sparkster.
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