Get the scoop on finance - sign up for mobile alerts
Regulators
| On
May 11, 2022

SEC Chair Gary Gensler Says Crypto Exchanges Are Betting Against Their Own Clients: Report

By Daily Hodl Staff

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chair Gary Gensler says the way crypto exchanges are structured could work to the disadvantage of users.

In a new Bloomberg report, Gensler notes that, unlike traditional finance, cryptocurrency exchanges have not set up clear distinctions between various aspects of their service.

ADVERTISEMENT

Since exchanges are responsible for the custody of assets, transacting on both sides of a marketplace as well as providing the venue for traders, Gensler says he’s concerned such “commingling” could be harmful to customers.

“Crypto’s got a lot of those challenges – of platforms trading ahead of their customers.

In fact, they’re trading against their customers often because they’re market-marking against their customers.”

The SEC chair also takes aim at so-called stablecoins, which aim to peg to the US dollar 1-for-1, by observing that the three largest stablecoins are all owned by crypto exchanges – namely Bitfinex’s Tether (USDT), Coinbase’s US Dollar Coin (USDC), and Binance’s Binance Coin (BUSD).

ADVERTISEMENT

Gensler says he’s concerned the exchanges might be enabling circumvention of anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) rules in the process.

“I don’t think that’s a coincidence. Each one of the three big ones were founded by the trading platforms to facilitate trading on those platforms and potentially avoid AML and KYC.”

Yesterday, the Federal Reserve also weighed in on the risks associated with stablecoins during a lengthy and wide-ranging report about financial stability. The Fed mentions the possibility of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) fulfilling the role of stablecoins but with government rules and secure backing.

Don't Miss a Beat – Subscribe to get email alerts delivered directly to your inbox
Check Price Action
Follow us on X, Facebook and Telegram
Surf The Daily Hodl Mix
&nbsp
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed at The Daily Hodl are not investment advice. Investors should do their due diligence before making any high-risk investments in Bitcoin, cryptocurrency or digital assets. Please be advised that your transfers and trades are at your own risk, and any losses you may incur are your responsibility. The Daily Hodl does not recommend the buying or selling of any cryptocurrencies or digital assets, nor is The Daily Hodl an investment advisor. Please note that The Daily Hodl participates in affiliate marketing.

Featured Image: Shutterstock/Natalia Siiatovskaia