The Office of Compliance Inspection and Examination (OCIE) of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission announced its 2018 test priorities on Wednesday. A special interest will be placed on matters related to important market structures, duties for retail investors, and development in cryptosurgery, initial coin offerings and secondary market business this year. Investigators will continue to monitor the development of the cryptococulture and initial coin offerings (ICO) and "Investigators will investigate their proposal and the registrar involved in the sale to ensure adequate disclosure of the risks associated with these investments."
SEC Chairman J. Clayton commented, "I appreciate the maximizing the effectiveness of OCIE's own resources, which leads to property verification, market infrastructure, and duties for retail investors."
"As the markets continue to evolve and products and services are available for investors, the OCIs should prioritize the interests of retail investors in their risk-based examination program and examine those aspects of the securities risks to investors and our capital market , "Said OCIE director Pete Drissol.
Protect retail investors
In the document of the program, the regulators explained this: "Cryptocurrence and ICO markets have increased rapidly and present many risks to retail investors. In addition to the development of these products and markets, as well as brokers and investment consultants in this space The number is also increasing. We will continue to monitor sales of these products, and where the products are securities, check for regulatory compliance Not. "
In the areas of focus, among other things, "whether financial professionals should maintain adequate controls and security measures to protect these assets with theft or non-inadequacy, and whether financial professional investors are exposed to the risk of investment The risks associated with these investments are disclosing losses, liquidity risks, price volatility, and potential fraud. "