California financial regulator opposes SEC crypto plan, warns it could weaken investor protection

Odaily report: The California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) has submitted a comment letter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) opposing its "Regulation Crypto Assets" proposal, stating that the plan could weaken investor protection and limit state government review of issuance projects. DFPI Commissioner KC Mohseni said California opposes federal regulators undermining state-level regulatory authority and protective measures.

The proposal would allow eligible issuers to raise up to $5 million over four years through a startup exemption; another crypto fundraising exemption would allow issuers to raise up to $75 million within 12 months. Relevant issuances would need to disclose project details, risks, and other information necessary for investor assessment, and some fundraisings would also require submission of financial statements and ongoing reporting.

Federal securities laws still preserve states' authority to investigate securities fraud, deceptive practices, and illegal broker or dealer activities. Blockchain payments company Ripple, crypto exchange Coinbase, and exchange operator Nasdaq all support adjusting the proposal; the DFPI said its scam tracker list added nearly 200 crypto-related scams, an increase of 30% from the previous year. (Bitcoin.com News)