Get the weekly summary of crypto market analysis, news, and forecasts! This Week’s Summary The crypto market ends the week at a total market capitalization of $2,17 trillion. Bitcoin continues to trade at around $62,300. Ethereum experiences no changes and stagnates at around $2,400. XRP is down by 2%, Solana by 1%, and Dogecoin by 3%. Almost all altcoins are trading in the red, with very few exceptions. The DeFi sector decreased the total value of protocols (TVL) to around…
Staking Under Fire: SEC Sues ConsenSys Over Lido & Rocketpool

The post Staking Under Fire: SEC Sues ConsenSys Over Lido & Rocketpool appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News
The crypto world is reeling after the SEC’s latest move. And yes, it’s brutal.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), led by Gary Gensler, has recently alleged that prominent decentralized finance (DeFi) projects like Lido and Rocket Pool qualify as securities. This move adds to a growing list of legal actions against major crypto entities, including Uniswap, Kraken, Coinbase, Metamask, and Robinhood. Lido DAO (LDO) and Rocket Pool (RPL) saw sharp price declines on Friday, with LDO down 15% and RPL down 10%, as the market responded to new regulatory challenges facing staking services.
Target Locked In: Consensys?!
The SEC has filed a complaint against ConsenSys for allegedly engaging in the unregistered offer and sale of securities. Since January 2023, ConsenSys has reportedly facilitated the sale of unregistered securities for Lido and Rocket Pool, which offer liquid staking tokens like stETH and rETH. These tokens, unlike traditional staked assets, can be freely traded and used. The SEC claims that ConsenSys is unlawfully acting as a broker for these transactions and failing to register as required by law.
Despite the allegations, neither Lido nor Rocket Pool has filed a registration statement with the Commission for the offer and sale of these investment contracts. This lack of compliance has put these projects squarely in the SEC’s crosshairs.
ConsenSys Fights Back
ConsenSys reacted to the SEC’s allegations by accusing the agency of an anti-crypto agenda and regulatory overreach, calling the latest charges a continuation of its unfair enforcement actions against the crypto industry.
The Crypto Community Responds
Ryan Sean Adams, a crypto investor and expert, argues that these regulatory measures are part of a broader, systematic attempt to attack the cryptocurrency industry, which is popular among U.S. crypto users. He believes that Gensler’s aggressive stance could harm these beloved projects and potentially stifle the growth of the crypto sector.
Politics at Play!
According to Adams, these regulatory actions are driven by political motives. He claims that Gensler’s approach might alienate marginal voters and negatively impact President Biden’s chances of re-election. Adams further suggests that Biden is not directly managing these policies, but rather, they reflect a larger agenda of control and expansion by the administrative state.
He also contends that there was a chance for Democrats to adopt a more favorable stance on cryptocurrency earlier in the year, but that opportunity has now been lost.
A Broader Crackdown
The SEC’s lawsuit against ConsenSys is part of a broader crackdown on staking services in the cryptocurrency industry. Earlier this year, in February, the SEC successfully sued Kraken, leading the exchange to settle for $30 million and shut down its staking services for U.S. clients.
This recent legal action against ConsenSys extends the SEC’s ongoing efforts to regulate and enforce rules on staking platforms. The crypto community remains divided on whether these measures are necessary regulations or a power grab by the government.
Also Read: Ripple vs SEC: Judge Amy Berman Jackson Upholds Ripple XRP Ruling in Binance vs. SEC Case
Where do you stand on the SEC’s crackdown on staking services? We’d love to hear from you!
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