The Intersection of Cryptocurrencies with Securities Law

Abstract

The Intersection of Cryptocurrency and Securities Law has been discussed in various legal contexts in the present scenario. The rise of cryptocurrencies has put forth fresh challenges for investors as well as regulators and there is a need for clear direction on how to interpret the transactions that include digital currencies. The advent of crypto exchanges has formed an entire ecosystem of services and participants, who are looking to provide liquidity, exploit price differences for profit, and support the investments. The focus of the study is to investigate the legal and regulatory steps taken to include cryptocurrencies within securities law. The paper will delve into the distinctive attributes of cryptocurrencies and analyse the different regulations in which they can be classified as securities. Moreover, it will inspect the fluctuating regulatory strategies adopted by various countries and entities, such as the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (SIC), Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and others.