Blockchain gaming company Immutable has announced that it has received a Wells notice from the U.S. SEC, suggesting the agency may pursue enforcement action over alleged securities law violations.
Immutable has received a Wells notice from the SEC, the latest in their de facto policy of regulation by enforcement. We received this within hours of our first ever conversation, on a timeline clearly accelerated to land before an election.Sadly, stories like this are becoming…
— Immutable (@Immutable) October 31, 2024
The notice, reportedly issued shortly after Immutable’s initial meeting with SEC representatives, accelerates the agency’s scrutiny of crypto-based companies.
Immutable has suggested that the SEC’s potential concerns relate to its IMX token, particularly its listing and private sales in 2021. However, the company stated that the Wells notice contained minimal details about the allegations.
Rapid SEC Response Raises Questions
A Wells notice is a preliminary notification alerting companies of potential SEC enforcement actions. Typically, such notices follow a series of investigative steps, often including months of dialogue between company counsel and the agency.
Immutable noted that in its case, however, the Wells notice was issued promptly, in contrast to the usual timeline. According to the company’s statement, the SEC informed Immutable of the upcoming Wells notice at the very first meeting, which was followed by its arrival within hours.
Immutable characterized this response as “unusual” in its timing, as early interactions between a company and the SEC often aim to clarify concerns over an extended period.
Immutable believes that the SEC’s interest likely centers on the 2021 activities around IMX, the company’s native token. This includes both its listing and private sale transactions during that period.
Although the company expressed confidence in its regulatory compliance, it acknowledged the possibility of a broader investigation. Immutable has also indicated that, aside from the SEC, it is “aware of related inquiries” from the Department of Justice but stated it has not been informed of any formal or anticipated actions from the DOJ.
Industry-Wide Trend in Regulatory Actions
This development comes amid increased regulatory scrutiny of the crypto industry, with multiple prominent firms receiving Wells notices over the past year.
Other companies apart from Binance include Robinhood Crypto, Crypto.com, and OpenSea which have received similar notifications while significantly leveraged entities like Coinbase and Kraken have engaged direct enforcement actions.
SEC chair, Gary Gensler has been aggressively urging crypto firms to register with the SEC noting compliance with investor protection laws.
On the other hand, some participants in the crypto industry tend to state that generally applicable rules are primarily tailored to financial organizations and may be unsuitable for cryptocurrencies.
Immutable’s Stance on IMX Token Classification
Reacting to the action by the SEC, Immutable has come out strongly to say that they do not consider IMX as a security. The company maintained that it is willing to advance this position before regulatory bodies if required.
Immutable underlined the importance of owning digital assets, particularly to the games industry and stood firm on the rights of its industry to be protected in laws that govern the sector.
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