FINRA asked that member firms notify their risk-monitoring analysts if the firms currently engage in, or intend to engage in, any activities involving digital assets.

In the regulatory notice, FINRA requested continuing disclosures on:

  • transactions in digital assets, pooled funds investing in digital assets and derivatives (e.g., futures and options) tied to digital assets;
  • participation in an initial or secondary offering of digital assets (e.g., an initial coin offering ("ICO") or pre-ICO);
  • the management of a platform for the secondary trading of digital assets;
  • the acceptance of cryptocurrencies (e.g., Bitcoin) from customers;
  • the mining of cryptocurrencies;
  • clearance and settlement services for cryptocurrencies; and
  • the use of blockchain technology, particularly when recording cryptocurrencies using distributed ledger technology.

Primary Sources

  1. FINRA Regulatory Notice 21-25: FINRA Continues to Encourage Firms to Notify FINRA if They Engage in Activities Related to Digital Assets

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