State Attorneys General and Industry Stakeholders Challenge SEC’s Jurisdiction in Kraken Lawsuit
A coalition of state law enforcement officials from Montana, Arkansas, Iowa, Mississippi, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Texas jointly submitted an amicus brief in support of Kraken on Thursday. They expressed concerns that the SEC’s lawsuit could adversely affect consumers and criticized the agency’s attempt to broaden the definition of an “investment contract,” contending that cryptocurrencies should not automatically be classified as securities.
Furthermore, the filing underscored that state cases have historically played a crucial role in clarifying the definition of investment contracts. It cautioned that if the SEC were to prevail in its lawsuit, it could potentially override state consumer protection laws and regulations pertaining to cryptocurrencies.