Crypto and digital assets
156 staff comments in this corpus, to 17 registrants, filed 2023-01-05 to 2025-11-18.
Corpus in progress. This is an early build. It does not yet cover every comment letter the SEC has published, so counts here are counts within this corpus and must not be read as complete SEC-wide totals. Every quotation is verbatim and links to its filing; what is incomplete is coverage, not accuracy. See Methodology.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Comments raising this issue | 156 |
| Share of all 4,297 comments in the corpus | 3.6% |
| Distinct registrants | 17 |
| With a recorded company response | 155 |
The exchanges
SEC staff comment
Comment 4 – Risk Factors – Risks Related to Digital Assets – The trading prices of many digital assets, page 11 Please revise to include quantitative examples of LINK’s historic price volatilities.
The company responded
The Registrant directs the Staff to the disclosure at the end of the first paragraph of the referenced risk factor, which is set forth below: Chainlink has exhibited a historical annualized volatility of 104.63% and maximum annual price decrease of 85.87% over the past five years. November 18, 2025 Page 3
Bitwise Chainlink ETF · filed 2025-11-18 · 0001213900-25-112219
SEC staff comment
Comment 2 – Form N-CSR – Summary of Holdings by Investment Type ( BITC ) The “Principal Investment Strategies” section of the Fund’s most recently filed prospectus (the “Prospectus”) provides that “[u]nder normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in Bitcoin Futures Contracts and U.S. Treasury securities.” The Staff notes that as of December 31, 2024, approximately 70% of the Fund’s assets were invested in money market funds. Please supplementally explain how the Fund’s portfolio holdings as of December 31, 2024 were consistent with the Fund’s “Principal Investment Strategies” section of the Prospectus.
The company responded
The Registrant respectfully acknowledges the Staff’s comment and notes that, under normal circumstances, the Fund’s portfolio holdings are consistent with the Fund’s “Principal Investment Strategies” section of the Prospectus. The Registrant notes that the Fund’s portfolio holdings as of December 31, 2024 were a result of an unusual circumstance that the Fund does not believe will be repeated, which is that the Fund was required to distribute approximately 31% of its total net assets. The Fund utilizes a long-flat trend-following strategy in which its portfolio is rotated between 100% exposure to Bitcoin Futures Contracts and 100% exposure to U.S. Treasury Securities. Accordingly, the Fund will either be: (1) long Bitcoin Futures Contracts with approximately 100% exposure to Bitcoin Futures Contracts; or (2) flat Bitcoin Futures Contracts and long U.S. Treasury Securities with…
Bitwise Funds Trust · filed 2025-10-23 · 0001213900-25-101770
SEC staff comment
Comment 7 – Form N-CSR – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Consolidation of Subsidiary ( BTOP, AETH ) Please supplementally explain why, as of December 31, 2024, the assets of Bitwise Bitcoin and Ether Equal Weight Strategy Cayman Subsidiary, LLC and Bitwise Ethereum Strategy Cayman Subsidiary, LLC, the wholly owned subsidiaries of BTOP and AETH, were $0.
The company responded
The Registrant respectfully notes that the Funds utilize a “long-flat” trend-following investing strategy pursuant to which the Funds’ exposure alternates between 100% exposure to crypto asset Futures Contracts and 100% exposure to U.S. Treasury Securities. A long-flat strategy takes a long position when a trend is detected, seeking to take advantage of an anticipated increase in an asset’s value. However, when a downward trend is detected, the strategy exits the position and remains in cash or cash equivalents. The Funds' strategy is based upon a quantitative, proprietary signal that compares the respective crypto assets' 10-day and 20-day exponential moving average price, with a focus upon the price movement of Ether. The exponential moving average applies a weighting factor to each price point to give more weight to recent data to respond to new price changes and trends. The…
Bitwise Funds Trust · filed 2025-10-23 · 0001213900-25-101770
SEC staff comment
3. We note your disclosure that you provide title insurance for real estate based cryptocurrency issued by a related party. Please clarify what revenues, if any, you have derived from this business. Describe any liability that you assume in favor of the related party, or the purchasers of the cryptocurrency, based on your title work. In addition, given that the agreement is with a related party, please make that clear here and add a related party transactions section describing this transaction.
The company responded
We have revised the disclosure on page 5 to include the requested information. We note that the dollar amount involved in the transactions with the related party through the date hereof totals $12,377, which is less than the $120,000/1% of the average assets threshold threshold under Item 404(d) of Regulation S-K. Although this transaction is not disclosable as a related party transaction, with the inability to speak with the Staff, Beeline elected to include the requested information. Risk Factors The sale or issuance of our common stock to C/M will create dilution, page 7
Beeline Holdings, Inc. · filed 2025-10-21 · 0001493152-25-018828
SEC staff comment
Comment 3 – Risk Factors – Risks Associated with Dogecoin and the Dogecoin Blockchain – Dogecoin is a relatviely new technological innovation…, page 15 The Staff notes your response to prior Comment 4 that you have revised this risk factor to state that “Dogecoin began trading on major global cryptocurrency exchanges – including US exchanges – in December 2013,” but it does not appear that the risk factor has been revised. Please revise to specifically state how long Dogecoin has been traded and how long it has been traded in the United States.
The company responded
Pursuant to the Staff’s comment, the Registration Statement has been updated to reflect the revisions referenced in the prior comment.
Bitwise Dogecoin ETF · filed 2025-10-06 · 0001213900-25-096485
SEC staff comment
4. We note your risk factor in response to comment 3. Please describe in this risk factor your internal processes for how you determine, or will determine as you expand your business, whether particular crypto assets (including NFTs) are securities within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. Please also clarify that such processes are risk-based assessments made by the company and are not a legal standard or binding on any regulatory body or court.
The company responded
The Company has amended disclosure on page 18 in response to the Staff’s comments. Risk Factors Risks Related to Our Business and Industry A particular crypto asset’s status as a “security” in any relevant jurisdiction is subject to a certain degree of uncertainty...., page 18
Lion Group Holding Ltd · filed 2023-03-28 · 0001213900-23-023593
SEC staff comment
4. You state that “[t]he legal test (i.e. the Howey Test) for determining whether any given crypto asset is a security is a highly complex and fact-driven analysis,” that “the SEC’s views in this area have evolved over time, and therefore a particular crypto asset’s status as a “security” in any relevant jurisdiction is subject to a certain degree of uncertainty” and “there is currently no certainty under the applicable legal test that such assets are not securities.” Please remove these statements, as the legal tests are well-established by U.S. Supreme Court case law and the Commission and staff have issued reports, orders, and statements that provide guidance on when a crypto asset may be a security for purposes of the U.S. federal securities laws.
The company responded
The Company has amended disclosure on page 18 in response to the Staff’s comments Should you have any questions relating to the foregoing or wish to discuss any aspect of the Company’s filing, please contact me at +852.5600.0188. Very truly yours, /s/ Lawrence S. Venick Lawrence Venick Partner
Lion Group Holding Ltd · filed 2023-03-28 · 0001213900-23-023593
SEC staff comment
1. We further note that the OKX exchange is not available in the U.S. Please tell us how you execute trades through the OKX exchange. Please also revise to discuss the potential risks associated with using the OKX exchange, such as whether Bitcoin and/or fiat currency must be transferred between entities to trade on OKX, and whether this complies with the OKX terms of service..
The company responded
We note the Staff’s comments, and in response hereto, respectfully advise the staff that we have not traded any Bitcoins on the OKX exchange and we noted that the OKX exchange is not available in the United States. We have revised on page 5 of the Registration Statement Amendment No. 5 that if we determine that it is necessary to sell Bitcoins to improve the cashflow, our CFO will instruct the Vice President to transfer the Bitcoins to the Coinbase exchange and execute the trade. We do not have an agreement with the Coinbase exchange. If the Bitcoins cannot be sold at the approved price within one day after the transfer, the CFO will review the recalibrated proposal prepared by the finance department and approve the new price and new number of Bitcoins to be sold if the CFO deems the proposal is reasonable. If we trade Bitcoins for fiat currency, we will withdraw the fiat currency…
BIT ORIGIN Ltd · filed 2023-03-24 · 0001104659-23-036651
SEC staff comment
1. Please address the following: • You state that CBIT tokens may only be created by, transferred to and redeemed by your commercial customers on the CBIT instant payments platform. If true, please confirm that CBIT tokens may not be transferred to an external party and explain how you prevent such transfer; • Tell us if CBIT tokens have any value or possible use outside of the CBIT payment platform; • Tell us whether CBIT tokens can be minted or burned in any way other than by connecting a DDA to a CBIT wallet and making intrabank transactions; • Tell us how you maintain access to, or control over, CBIT tokens in a customer's CBIT wallet to make transfers, redeem or freeze tokens under the circumstances you enumerate; • You state that the primary business purpose for the CBIT payment platform is to provide a closed-system for real-time intrabank commercial transactions and is not…
The company responded
• We are confirming that CBIT tokens may not be transferred to an external party. The CBIT instance of the Tassatpay platform is a closed loop environment, whereby a customer can only send a CBIT token to another customer of Customers Bank on the CBIT instant payments platform with an active CBIT wallet. The platform environment only permits the transfer of CBIT tokens to other customers that are on CBIT platform – customers that have a DDA with Customers Bank and that have been manually onboarded to CBIT platform, and that have an active CBIT wallet address. If a customer tries to send funds to a wallet outside the CBIT environment, the transaction will fail. • We are confirming that the CBIT tokens have no value or possible use outside of our CBIT payment platform. CBIT tokens cannot be transferred outside the CBIT payment platform. • There are no other ways to mint or burn CBIT…
Customers Bancorp, Inc. · filed 2023-03-22 · 0001488813-23-000027
SEC staff comment
2. You disclose that you do not currently trade Bitcoin on any exchange or store Bitcoin on any trading platform but that you do trade Bitcoins for fiat currency as you note that "[i]f the Bitcoins price decreases when we trade the Bitcoins for fiat currency, the amount of fiat currency we receive will decrease as well and our results of operation will be negatively impact[ed]." Please clarify how you trade Bitcoin for fiat currency and the policies related to when you do trade Bitcoin for fiat currency.
The company responded
We note the Staff’s comments, and in response hereto, respectfully advise the staff that we added the disclosure on page 5 of the Registration Statement Amendment No. 4 that our finance department is constantly monitoring the trend of Bitcoin price and will make proposals to our CFO. The CFO will determine whether the Bitcoin trading price is favorable and whether it is necessary for the Company to Bitcoins to improve the cashflow. If the CFO approves the trading of Bitcoins, she will instruct the Vice President to transfer the Bitcoins to the OKX exchange and execute the trade. We do not have an agreement with the OKX exchange. If the Bitcoins cannot be sold at the approved price within one day after the transfer, the CFO will review the recalibrated proposal prepared by the finance department and approve the new price and new number of Bitcoins to be sold if the CFO deems the proposal…
BIT ORIGIN Ltd · filed 2023-03-17 · 0001104659-23-033875
SEC staff comment
2. We note your response to comment 11 in our January 20, 2023 letter indicating that you had no exposure to recent bankruptcies and crypto market disruptions. In light of more recent events, including those related to Voyager Digital, Genesis, BlockFi, and Silvergate Capital, please tell us whether you have any material exposure and revise as appropriate. In addition, revise the fourth risk factor on page 22 to specify whether or not you have experienced any issues with banks or other financial institutions as discussed generally in the risk factor.
The company responded
We note the Staff’s comments, and in response hereto, respectfully advise the staff that we do not have any business relationships and have no direct and material exposure to Voyager Digital, Genesis, BlockFi and Silvergate Capital. In addition, we have not experienced any service disruptions with or have our accounts closed by any banks or other financial institutions. We revised the disclosure under the section “Impact of Recent developments Regarding Crypto Asset Market” on page 11, the first risk factor on page 17, and the fourth risk factor on page 22 of the Registration Statement Amendment No. 4. Mining Facilities Cheyenne, Wyoming, page 9
BIT ORIGIN Ltd · filed 2023-03-17 · 0001104659-23-033875
SEC staff comment
7. Your press release announces the approval of a plan to issue a $10 Blockchain-based Digital Discount Coupon (Non Fungible Token “NFT”), or $10 NFT Coupon, per ordinary share to all shareholders as a move to reward shareholders. Additionally, we note your statement that “[t]he digital coupons are not securities and are issued as ERC721 tokens...” Please advise us how you have determined whether this digital asset is not a security and disclose the risk that the federal securities law may apply to the distribution of the $10 NFT Coupons, including by (i) providing us with your legal analysis that these NFTs are not securities within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws and, therefore, you are not facilitating, or causing you to engage in, transactions in unregistered securities and (ii) addressing the risks related to a potential violation of Section 5 of the Securities Act…
The company responded
● The Reward Coupons are coupons that happen to be digital in format. The digital coupons are not securities and are issued as ERC721 tokens, which are a standard for representing ownership of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), that is, where each token has a unique identifier. The NFTs are merely coupons for a future discount on services. The law regarding whether a particular digital asset, including NFTs, is a security is based on what is commonly referred to as the Howey Test which was enumerated in the seminal case, SEC v. W.J. Howey Col, 328 U.S. 293 (1946). The Howey Test looks at four factors: 1. An investment of money 2. In a common enterprise 3. With the expectation of profit 4. To be derived from the efforts of others Based thereon, the Reward Coupons are not securities as follows: ● Investment of money – the Reward Coupons are being issued for free to shareholders. ● Common…
Genius Group Ltd · filed 2023-03-15 · 0001493152-23-007792
SEC staff comment
6. Please expand your discussion of the security precautions you will take to keep your customers crypto assets secure and highlight the risk that you may be liable for any cybersecurity breach resulting in the loss of customer assets. Additionally, given that the wallets will be non-custodial, please provide more detail on how the "cold storage" feature will work.
The company responded
It is simply too early to answer some of the questions you are asking about the cold wallet, security, or any segment that will first require our fully funding the build-out with the next stage development team in place and then planning the structuring of the writing of the code. That’s where we will see the newest and latest security technology, the best options for cold wallet storage and the most user friendly UX as it’s becoming more integrated with everyday users. It is our intention to build a highly secure, easy to use, non-custodial wallet. We plan to bring in the most advanced technology for security when we begin writing the code. We will have a cold wallet system that allows the users to transfer between storage and active modes and plan to include2FA, fingerprint and/or facial recognition technology. We plan to have multiple additional security daemons that review account…
APPlife Digital Solutions Inc · filed 2023-03-06 · 0001096906-23-000486
SEC staff comment
2. Please included updated disclosure on the current status of your cryptocurrency mining activities.
The company responded
The Company has amended the disclosure on page 9 in response to the Staff’s comments.
Lion Group Holding Ltd · filed 2023-03-03 · 0001213900-23-017288
SEC staff comment
3. Please provide a description of your internal processes for how you determine, or will determine as you expand your business, whether particular crypto assets (including NFTs) are securities within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. Please also clarify that such processes are risk-based assessments made by the company and are not a legal standard or binding on any regulatory body or court. Further, please include a risk factor addressing the uncertainty of such assessments and the consequences of making an incorrect assessment or a regulatory body or court disagreeing with the company’s assessment. Finally, please address the potential regulatory risks under the U.S. federal securities laws if such crypto assets are determined to be securities, such as compliance with Section 5 of the Securities Act or whether the company could become subject to regulation as a national…
The company responded
The Company has amended the disclosure on page 18 in response to the Staff’s comments. Los Angeles New York Chicago Nashville Washington, DC San Francisco Beijing Hong Kong www.loeb.com For the United States offices, a limited liability partnership including professional corporations. For Hong Kong office, a limited liability partnership. Ms. Jessica Livingston Securities and Exchange Commission Page 2
Lion Group Holding Ltd · filed 2023-03-03 · 0001213900-23-017288
SEC staff comment
4. Please disclose any significant crypto asset market developments material to understanding or assessing your business, financial condition and results of operations, or share price since your last reporting period, including any material impact from the price volatility of crypto assets.
The company responded
The Company has amended the disclosure on page 9 in response to the Staff’s comments.
Lion Group Holding Ltd · filed 2023-03-03 · 0001213900-23-017288
SEC staff comment
5. To the extent material, please discuss how the bankruptcies of certain crypto asset market participants, and the downstream effects of those bankruptcies have impacted or may impact your business, financial condition, customers, and counterparties, either directly or indirectly. Clarify whether you have material assets that may not be recovered because of the bankruptcies or may otherwise be lost or misappropriated.
The company responded
The Company has amended the disclosure on page 9 in response to the Staff’s comments.
Lion Group Holding Ltd · filed 2023-03-03 · 0001213900-23-017288
SEC staff comment
6. If material to an understanding of your business, please discuss any steps you take to safeguard your customers’ crypto assets and describe any policies and procedures that are in place to prevent self-dealing and other potential conflicts of interest. Describe any policies and procedures you have regarding the commingling of assets, including customer assets, your assets, and those of affiliates or others. Identify what material changes, if any, have been made to your processes in light of the current crypto asset market disruption.
The company responded
The Company has amended the disclosure on page 13 in response to the Staff’s comments.
Lion Group Holding Ltd · filed 2023-03-03 · 0001213900-23-017288
SEC staff comment
7. We note that you own or have issued crypto assets and hold crypto assets on behalf of third parties. To the extent material, please explain here or in your incorporated Management’s Discussion and Analysis whether these crypto assets serve as collateral for any loan, margin, rehypothecation, or other similar activities to which you or your affiliates are a party. If so, identify and quantify the crypto assets used in these financing arrangements and disclose the nature of your relationship for loans with parties other than third-parties. State whether there are any encumbrances on the collateral. Discuss whether the current crypto asset market disruption has affected the value of the underlying collateral.
The company responded
The Company has not pledged any crypto assets to any parties since the start of crypto business and has amended the disclosure on page 9 in response to the comments.
Lion Group Holding Ltd · filed 2023-03-03 · 0001213900-23-017288
SEC staff comment
8. To the extent material, please explain whether, to your knowledge, crypto assets you have issued serve as collateral for any other person’s or entity’s loan, margin, rehypothecation or similar activity. If so, discuss whether the current crypto asset market disruption has impacted the value of the underlying collateral and explain any material financing and liquidity risk this raises for your business.
The company responded
The Company is unaware that the MetaWords NFTs currently held by its users serve as collateral for any other person or entity and has amended the disclosure on page 9 in response to the comments. Ms. Jessica Livingston Securities and Exchange Commission Page 3 Risk Factors, page 12
Lion Group Holding Ltd · filed 2023-03-03 · 0001213900-23-017288
SEC staff comment
10. To the extent material, please discuss any reputational harm you may face in light of the recent disruption in the crypto asset markets. For example, discuss how market conditions have affected how your business is perceived by customers, counterparties, and regulators, and whether there is a material impact on your operations or financial condition.
The company responded
The Company has amended disclosure on pages 16 and17 in response to the Staff’s comments.
Lion Group Holding Ltd · filed 2023-03-03 · 0001213900-23-017288
SEC staff comment
12. Please describe any material risks to your business from the possibility of regulatory developments related to crypto assets and crypto asset markets. Identify material pending crypto legislation or regulation and describe any material effects it may have on your business, financial condition, and results of operations.
The company responded
The Company has amended disclosure on page 17 in response to the Staff’s comments. Ms. Jessica Livingston Securities and Exchange Commission Page 4
Lion Group Holding Ltd · filed 2023-03-03 · 0001213900-23-017288
SEC staff comment
13. Please describe any material risks you face related to the assertion of jurisdiction by U.S. and foreign regulators and other government entities over crypto assets and crypto asset markets.
The company responded
The Company has amended disclosure on page 17 in response to the Staff’s comments.
Lion Group Holding Ltd · filed 2023-03-03 · 0001213900-23-017288
SEC staff comment
14. Please describe any material risks related to safeguarding your, your affiliates’, or your customers’ crypto assets. Describe any material risks to your business and financial condition if your policies and procedures surrounding the safeguarding of crypto assets, conflicts of interest, or comingling of assets are not effective.
The company responded
The Company has amended disclosure on page 19 in response to the Staff’s comments.
Lion Group Holding Ltd · filed 2023-03-03 · 0001213900-23-017288
SEC staff comment
15. To the extent material, please describe any gaps your board or management have identified with respect to risk management processes and policies in light of current crypto asset market conditions as well as any changes they have made to address those gaps.
The company responded
The Company has amended disclosure on page 19 in response to the Staff’s comments.
Lion Group Holding Ltd · filed 2023-03-03 · 0001213900-23-017288
SEC staff comment
16. To the extent material, please describe any of the following risks from disruptions in the crypto asset markets: ● Risk from depreciation in your stock price. ● Risk of loss of customer demand for your products and services. ● Financing risk, including equity and debt financing. ● Risk of increased losses or impairments in your investments or other assets. ● Risks of legal proceedings and government investigations, pending or known to be threatened, in the United States or in other jurisdictions against you or your affiliates. ● Risks from price declines or price volatility of crypto assets.
The company responded
The Company has amended disclosure on page 16 in response to the Staff’s comments. Should you have any questions relating to the foregoing or wish to discuss any aspect of the Company’s filing, please contact me at +852.5600.0188. Very truly yours, /s/ Lawrence S. Venick Lawrence Venick Partner
Lion Group Holding Ltd · filed 2023-03-03 · 0001213900-23-017288
SEC staff comment
3. Please revise to clarify who maintains control of, or has access to, the private keys for your Bitcoin wallets, and the security processes and procedures you have in place for withdrawing or transferring Bitcoin from those wallets.
The company responded
We note the Staff’s comments, and in response hereto, respectfully advise the staff that the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company maintain countl of and have access to the private key. We have policy to safeguard our crypto assets. All the transactions involving the Bitcoins, such as withdrawing, transferring, or selling the Bitcoins from our wallet must be set up by the Vice President, authorized by the Chief Financial Officer and executed by the Chief Executive Officer. We also verbally confirm the wallet address with the receiver and perform a trial transaction with 0.01 Bitcoin before any transactions to verify the wallet address of the receiver. Additionally, we capture and keep record of the screenshots of the transactions and balance of the wallet on a daily basis. We revised the disclosure on page 6 of the Registration Statement Amendment No. 3.…
BIT ORIGIN Ltd · filed 2023-03-01 · 0001104659-23-027463
SEC staff comment
2. Please disclose the range of bitcoin prices for the periods covered by each table up to the most recent practicable date, and clarify how you calculated the "weighted average" of the hosting price. Also, we note your disclosure on page 6 that "[t]he depreciation expenses are the sunk cost to the mining operation at $17,600/BTC mined." To the extent that these costs are not included in your breakeven analyses on page 6, please include these costs or tell us why you believe this is not necessary. In addition, please revise your disclosure on page 5 to discuss the impact to your business of your policy to hold bitcoin instead of trading it for fiat currency.
The company responded
We note the Staff’s comments, and in response hereto, respectfully advise the staff that we revised the disclosure on page 6 of the Registration Statement Amendment No. 3 that from May 1, 2022 to November 30, 2022 the B itcoin price range was between $15,787 and $39,698; from December 1, 2022 to February 27, 2023, the B itcoin price range was between $16,440 and $24,829. In addition, we corrected “weighted average” to “average” of the hosting price. The breakeven price primarily illustrates the threshold that might result in negative cashflow for mining operation. We believe depreciation expenses is irrelevant to the threshold and shall not be a meaningful operation ratio for the management. We also revised the disclosure on page 5 of the Registration Statement Amendment No. 3 that if the Bitcoins price decreases when we trade the Bitcoins for fiat currency, the amount of fiat currency…
BIT ORIGIN Ltd · filed 2023-03-01 · 0001104659-23-027463
SEC staff comment
4. Refer to your response to prior comment 8. Please revise to discuss any pending regulation related to electricity consumption by mining companies or the exchange of crypto assets.
The company responded
We note the Staff’s comments, and in response hereto, respectfully advise the staff that we revised the disclosure on page 13 and added a risk factor “Pending regulation related to electricity consumption by mining companies may impact our result of operation” on page [23] of the Registration Statement Amendment No. 3. Recent Developments, page 13
BIT ORIGIN Ltd · filed 2023-03-01 · 0001104659-23-027463
SEC staff comment
6. Refer to your response to prior comment 12. Please reconcile your disclosure on page 24 that "[t]he Security and Pledge Agreement granted a security interest in favor of the Collateral Agent . . . for the benefit of the Selling Shareholder in all personal property and assets, whether now owned or thereafter acquired (including all crypto assets)," with your disclosure on page 22 that you "have pledged a portion of [y]our Bitcoins as collateral for financing, including the transaction as discussed under the section titled 'The October 2022 Private Placement.'”
The company responded
We note the Staff’s comments, and in response hereto, respectfully advise the staff that we revised the disclosure on page 22 of the Registration Statement Amendment No. 3 that we have pledged all of our Bitcoins as collateral for financing. We hope this response has addressed all of the Staff’s concerns relating to the comment letter. Should you have additional questions regarding the information contained herein, please contact our outside securities counsel William S. Rosenstadt, Esq. or Mengyi “Jason” Ye, Esq. of Ortoli Rosenstadt LLP at wsr@orllp.legal or jye@orllp.legal. Very truly yours, /s/ Lucas Wang Name: Lucas Wang Title: Chief Executive Officer
BIT ORIGIN Ltd · filed 2023-03-01 · 0001104659-23-027463
SEC staff comment
6. Sections 151, 202 and 364 have also been amended to clarify that the notices given to holders of uncertificated shares pursuant to those sections may be given by electronic transmission. On August 1, 2017, the Governor of Delaware signed the proposed DGCL amendments into law. The changes to Delaware law permit issuers to begin to issue as digital securities. The basic idea behind digital securities is to “tokenize” shares of stock, debentures, warrants or any other type of security, by representing each unit of a given security as a unique cryptographic public-private key pair that is stored and transferred on a blockchain. The changes to the DCGL were merely clarifications of what was already possible based on the truly fundamental changes to the DGCL in 2005 that permitted the issuance of “uncertificated” shares of stock. Perkins Coie, in fact, gave the very first “duly authorized…
The company responded
[Upstream] All shares of Nutriband common stock have been registered with the Commission and make up the entire number of shares issued and outstanding and have the same CUSIP/ISIN number. There are no differences in shareholder rights such as transferability. Shareholders may elect to hold their shares in depositories: Book Entry with TA, CEDE & Co or MERJ Dep. Digital securities on Upstream are interchangeable on terms that have the same meaning. The digital securities (or tokenized equities) are a digital representation of the company’s common stock that have been issued and registered with the Commission. A digital security is a 1:1 representation of a company’s common stock that acts as a receipt for the deposit or purchase and ownership of shares in the company. The digital recording of ownership is handled in the same manner as a database of shares issued to shareholders and, on…
NutriBand Inc. · filed 2023-02-27 · 0001213900-23-014679
SEC staff comment
1. We note your disclosure on page 12 that you store digital currencies at NYDIG ABL LLC, which you represent is a regulated, audited and insured cryptocurrency custodian, and that the custody arrangements require that you “mine to a custodial wallet address where the private key is held by the custodian and all keys for the wallet are held in cold storage.” Please confirm for us that you are the counterparty to the custody arrangements, the number of arrangements, and describe your material rights and obligations under such arrangements. Also describe the nature of the asset you have under the custody arrangements, such as a digital asset, derivative asset, or other asset, and provide your supporting accounting analysis with citation to authoritative literature.
The company responded
We confirm that we are the counterparty to one custody arrangement. The custodied assets are stored and held in an account, in the Company’s name, for our benefit and the custodian has no right, interest, or title in those custodied assets. The custodied assets are at all times identifiable on the blockchain and in custodian’s database as being stored in the account for the benefit of the Company. In future filings we will make clear that the custodian has custody of our “Bitcoin” digital assets (or “Currencies” or “Currency”) of which the nature of the Bitcoin assets are described within Item 1 of our 10-K’s. We account for these currencies in accordance with ASC 350 as indefinite lived intangible assets which are initially recorded at fair value. Pursuant to guidance from ASC 820, the Company determines the nonrecurring fair value measurement using the quoted price of the Currency to…
Ault Alliance, Inc. · filed 2023-02-27 · 0001214659-23-003129
SEC staff comment
2 . We note your response to comment 7 and that you began converting Bitcoin into fiat currency subsequent to December 31, 2021. Please clarify how you presented the conversion of Bitcoin into fiat currency in your statements of cash flows for the interim period ended September 30, 2022.
The company responded
As no explicit guidance is given within ASC 230 for the conversion of digital currencies and as there had been some divergence in industry practices, we presented the conversion of Bitcoin to fiat currency in the September 30, 2022 Form 10-Q with cash flows from investing activities. Upon further consideration, we believe that this activity would be better reflected within cash provided by operating activities as cash flows from the sale of Bitcoin are used to fund our business operations. Additionally, we do not currently hold any digital assets as investments. In the future we will include cash flows from the conversion of Bitcoin to fiat currency within cash provided by operating activities in our statements of cash flows.
Ault Alliance, Inc. · filed 2023-02-27 · 0001214659-23-003129
SEC staff comment
6. We are unable to reconcile your accounting convention of determining the price of bitcoin nightly with the requirements of ASC 350-30-35-19, which indicates impairment exists whenever carrying value exceeds fair value. Please revise your accounting to comply with ASC 350-30-35-19.
The company responded
We will revise our accounting to comply with ASC 350-30-35-19 and conform our disclosure related to digital currency fair value impairment testing. We will remove the reference to a “nightly” measurement when determining fair value for impairment testing and instead reference Bitcoin intraday lows as the measurement used for fair value testing. 8. Digital Currencies, page F-30 Comment No.
Ault Alliance, Inc. · filed 2023-02-27 · 0001214659-23-003129
SEC staff comment
7. We note your response to comment 14. Please ensure you provide a rollforward of each material holding of crypto assets in all future filings. We did not see a rollforward within your Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2022.
The company responded
We will include a rollforward of our crypto asset holdings, showing additions, disposals (by sale or otherwise), gains and losses, along with disclosure about the nature of the additions (e.g. purchases, mining or staking rewards) and/or disposals within all future filings. Form 10-Q for the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2022 7. Property and Equipment, Net, page F-17 Comment No.
Ault Alliance, Inc. · filed 2023-02-27 · 0001214659-23-003129
SEC staff comment
8. We note that you had Bitcoin miners with a carrying value of $38 million with Compute North Holdings, Inc. at the time they filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Please tell us in sufficient detail how you determined that the mining equipment was not impaired as of September 30, 2022. In doing so, tell us if the bankruptcy triggered an interim impairment assessment under ASC 360-10-35-21.
The company responded
Prior to filing, we inspected the Bitcoin miners that are installed at the hosting facility in Texas and observed the following: · We were not restricted from accessing our mining equipment at the hosting facility in Texas; · The Bitcoin miners were inspected and appeared to be in good condition; · At the reporting date we were in discussions with operator of the facility to energize the equipment to allow us to begin mining operations; and · At the time of the filing management fully intended and expected the miners to begin mining within two to four weeks. Based on the above, we expected the mining equipment to be operational within a reasonable timeframe, which did not trigger an interim impairment assessment. * * * Should you have any questions regarding the foregoing, please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned at (949) 444-5464 or our General Counsel, Henry Nisser at (646)…
Ault Alliance, Inc. · filed 2023-02-27 · 0001214659-23-003129
SEC staff comment
3. Request to deposit shares using the upstream app Open Upstream, Tap Investor, Manage Securities, Deposit Securities. Next, Enter the Company’s Ticker Symbol and Number of Shares you’re requesting to deposit. Confirm whether your shares are free trading or restricted, then tap Submit. Please note that the value of each share deposit request on the Upstream app may not exceed $100,000. This value is determined by the closing price of the security on the previous trading day multiplied by the number of shares being deposited. Once you make the share deposit request using the Upstream app, and the transfer agent has your shares in ‘book entry’, then most of the time the Upstream deposit process typically completes within 48 hours (Monday to Friday, excluding U.S. holidays). However, if the transfer agent requires further information regarding your share transfer, then you will receive an…
The company responded
The Company has no current plans to offer digital dividends to shareholders. Upon consideration of issuing such dividends or coupons/rewards, all shareholders will be eligible to receive them. Notifications and access information will be provided via press releases and Form 8K, and any subsequent registration for dividends will also be communicated upon its effectiveness.
Jupiter Wellness, Inc. · filed 2023-02-24 · 0001493152-23-006045
SEC staff comment
1. In future filings, please provide disclosure regarding any significant crypto asset market developments material to understanding or assessing your business, financial condition and results of operations or share price. Consider each comment issued in our January 20, 2023 letter relating to your Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to your Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed on December 15, 2022, and make the relevant disclosures in future filings. For additional guidance, please see the Division of Corporation Finance’s Sample Letter to Companies Regarding Recent Developments in Crypto Asset Markets issued by the Staff in December 2022.
The company responded
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and respectfully submits that the impact of crypto asset market developments on the Company continues to be indirect, and such impacts were described in the following sections of the 10-K: • Part I Item 1. Business – Government Regulation • Part I Item 1A Risk Factors – Risks Related to Our Business – The digital asset exchange on which cryptocurrencies, including bitcoin, trade are relatively new and largely unregulated, and thus may be exposed to fraud and failure. Such failures may result in a reduction in the price of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies and can adversely affect an investment in us. DOCPROPERTY "CUS_DocIDChunk0" 156137991v3 • Part I Item 1A Risk Factor – Risks Related to Our Securities – The price of our common stock may be volatile and could fluctuate widely, which could result in substantial losses for investors. The…
CLEANSPARK, INC. · filed 2023-02-22 · 0000950170-23-003846
SEC staff comment
2. In future filings, please include a comprehensive breakeven analysis for your bitcoin mining operations or any other crypto assets that you earn or mine that compares the cost to earn or mine one crypto asset with the value of the crypto asset.
The company responded
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and respectfully submits that it included an analysis of the profitability of its bitcoin mining operations under the heading “Bitcoin Mining Operations” in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section of the Quarterly Report. The Company further confirms that it will update such disclosure as appropriate in future filings. Lines of Business, page 5
CLEANSPARK, INC. · filed 2023-02-22 · 0000950170-23-003846
SEC staff comment
5. In future filings, to the extent that you plan to expand your mining business to mine crypto assets other than bitcoin, please identify the crypto assets you plan to mine, if known, and please disclose the procedures and policies related to selecting the crypto assets. In addition, disclose the stage of any material strategic acquisitions and an estimated time line, as well as the estimated costs, and the sources of capital for any such planned acquisitions. DOCPROPERTY "CUS_DocIDChunk0" 156137991v3
The company responded
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and confirms, as disclosed under the heading “Lines of Business” in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section of the Quarterly Report, that it has no intention to mine or produce any other cryptocurrencies at this time. If such intent changes, it will include such disclosure in future filings. The Company further confirms that it will disclose the information requested regarding material strategic acquisitions in its 2023 10-K and in other applicable future filings.
CLEANSPARK, INC. · filed 2023-02-22 · 0000950170-23-003846
SEC staff comment
6. In future filings, please disclose here whether you intend to hold or monetize the mined bitcoin, and please disclose your policies related to the uses for the mined bitcoin. Disclose here how you monetize your bitcoin, including any exchanges you use, whether you have any agreements with any exchanges, and whether you store any of your crypto asset holdings on any exchanges’ platforms. In this regard, we note your disclosure on page 21 that you exchange your bitcoins directly for U.S. dollars on Coinbase. In addition, please disclose whether you hold any other types of crypto assets. If so, please identify the types and amount of such crypto assets, and discuss the purpose of holding the other types of crypto assets.
The company responded
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and will disclose the information requested in its 2023 10-K and in other applicable future filings. In addition to bitcoin, the Company does hold de minimis amounts of the following digital assets: • 1.36 Sustainable Bitcoin Certificates (SBC) issued by the Sustainable Bitcoin Protocol, a startup organization that aims to encourage miners to utilize environmentally friendly energy sources. The Company was awarded 21.36 SBCs, 20.0 of which were exchanged for $10,000 value of USD Coin (USDC), a crypto asset, which the Company currently holds as disclosed under the heading “Lines of Business” in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section of the Quarterly Report as of December 31, 2022. The Company does not believe the 1.36 SBCs have an accounting value as there is no current liquid market…
CLEANSPARK, INC. · filed 2023-02-22 · 0000950170-23-003846
SEC staff comment
8. We note your disclosure on page 7 that Coinmint has agreed to house and power the mining equipment in its facilities and that it has agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to mine DOCPROPERTY "CUS_DocIDChunk0" 156137991v3 bitcoin on your behalf. In future filings, please disclose whether Coinmint contributes your computing power to a mining pool that it or another third-party operates, and please identify the mining pool operator or operators. In this regard, we note your disclosure regarding Foundry Digital on page 18. Also, please discuss how mining pools operate more generally, and disclose whether the mining pools you use provide services only for bitcoin mining or if they are multi-crypto asset mining pools. Also disclose the fees associated with participating in the mining pools and whether the payouts you receive from Coinmint, Foundry Digital and any other mining pools…
The company responded
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and will disclose the information requested in its 2023 10-K and in other applicable future filings. Cybersecurity, Page 10
CLEANSPARK, INC. · filed 2023-02-22 · 0000950170-23-003846
SEC staff comment
9. In future filings, please disclose your custody procedures and arrangements by identifying all third-party custodians and the material terms of the agreements, including: • what portion of your bitcoin or other crypto assets, if any, are held in hot wallets and cold wallets; • the geographic location where crypto assets are held in cold wallets; • whether any persons (e.g., auditors, etc.) are responsible for verifying the existence for the crypto assets held by the third party custodian(s); • a description of your custodian’s insurance and the degree to which those policies provide coverage for the loss of your crypto assets; and • whether any insurance providers have inspection rights associated with the crypto assets held in storage.
The company responded
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and will disclose the information requested in its 2023 10-K and in other applicable future filings.
CLEANSPARK, INC. · filed 2023-02-22 · 0000950170-23-003846
SEC staff comment
10. In future filings, please describe the terms and provisions of any insurance policies covering your crypto assets in the event of loss or fraud and any insurance policies covering your miners, including the amount of coverage, term and termination provisions, renewal options and limitations on coverage. To the extent that you do not have insurance coverage for your crypto assets or miners, please add risk factor disclosure.
The company responded
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and respectfully submits that the 10-K includes a risk factor “The properties included in our mining operation may experience damages, including damages that may not be covered by insurance,” which discloses insurance risk with respect to our miners. The Company further submits that the Quarterly Report includes a new risk factor “Our lack of insurance protection exposes us and our shareholders to the risk of loss of our bitcoin for which DOCPROPERTY "CUS_DocIDChunk0" 156137991v3 no person is liable,” which discloses insurance risk with respect to our bitcoin. The Company further submits that the above named risk factors include all material information regarding insurance risk. The value of bitcoin has historically been subject to wide swings, page 17
CLEANSPARK, INC. · filed 2023-02-22 · 0000950170-23-003846
SEC staff comment
11. In future filings, please expand this risk factor to include quantitative information regarding the wide swings of bitcoin prices.
The company responded
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and respectfully submits that the risk factor has been updated in the Quarterly Report to include quantitative information regarding the wide swings of bitcoin prices. If the SEC or another regulatory body consider bitcoin to be a security, page 28
CLEANSPARK, INC. · filed 2023-02-22 · 0000950170-23-003846
SEC staff comment
12. In future filings, please confirm whether you mine crypto assets other than bitcoin or have plans to mine crypto assets other than bitcoin. If so, please identify the relevant assets and expand this risk factor to briefly discuss the process and framework you have in place to determine whether any crypto assets that you may mine, hold or acquire are securities as defined under Section 2(a)(1) of the Securities Act. In this regard we note your references on page 28 and elsewhere to “bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies we mine or otherwise acquire or hold for our own account.”
The company responded
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and confirms that, as disclosed under the heading “Lines of Business” in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section of the Quarterly Report, it has no intention to mine or produce any other cryptocurrencies at this time. If such intent changes, it will include the disclosure requested above in future filings. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Results of Operations for the Year Ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, page 37
CLEANSPARK, INC. · filed 2023-02-22 · 0000950170-23-003846
SEC staff comment
14. In future filings, please revise your non-GAAP disclosure for the following: • Revise to clarify how the following adjustments for (a) other impairment loss (related to bitcoin), (b) realized gain on sale of bitcoin, and (c) legal fees meet the definitions in Item DOCPROPERTY "CUS_DocIDChunk0" 156137991v3 10(e)(1)(ii)(B) of Regulation S-K, and Questions 100.01 and 102.03 of the Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations on Non-GAAP Financial Measures. • We note your disclosure on page 39 that you have excluded non-cash items that you believe are not reflective of your general business performance and for which the accounting requires management judgment and the resulting expenses could vary significantly in comparison to other companies. In future filings, please revise to disclose in sufficient detail the nature and amounts for all material non-cash items that are excluded. Refer to…
The company responded
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and submits that, taking into account guidance provided in Questions 100.01 and 102.03 of the Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations (as updated on December 13, 2022), it clarified in its non-GAAP measures disclosure in the Quarterly Report to state that some of the excluded items involve cash outlays and some of them recur on a regular basis but that management does not believe any such items are normal operating expenses necessary to generate bitcoin related revenues. The Company also notes that it removed any disclosure implying that all such adjustments were non-recurring. The Company further submits that the new disclosure specifically identifies each adjustment to Adjusted EBITDA, including each non-cash line item, and each such item is quantified in the reconciliation table. The Company further notes that similarly modified the…
CLEANSPARK, INC. · filed 2023-02-22 · 0000950170-23-003846
SEC staff comment
16. Please provide us your analysis supporting your revenue recognition policy for your mining pool participation activities. In your response, where appropriate, reference for us the authoritative literature you relied upon to support your accounting: Step 1 of ASC 606 • Provide us a representative sample contract and cross reference your analysis to the specific provisions of that contract. • Tell us whether there are any penalties for contract termination by either party and explain when a contract begins and describe its term for accounting purposes. As it appears that you may cancel at any time, tell us what happens if you cancel midterm. Also explain whether you can withdraw computing power midterm and reinstitute it later that same day. Step 2 of ASC 606 • Substantiate how the provision of computing power to the mining pool is your sole performance obligation. Step 3 of ASC 606 •…
The company responded
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and respectfully submits that the Company has analyzed the revenue requirements under ASC 606 as follows: Step 1 of ASC 606 The Company noted the following requirements pursuant to ASC 606-10-25-1: “An entity shall account for a contract with a customer that is within the scope of this Topic only when all of the following criteria are met: a) The parties to the contract have approved the contract (in writing, orally, or in accordance with other customary business practices) and are committed to perform their respective obligations. b) The entity can identify each party’s rights regarding the goods or services to be transferred. c) The entity can identify the payment terms for the goods or services to be transferred. d) The contract has commercial substance (that is, the risk, timing, or amount of the entity’s future cash flows is expected to…
CLEANSPARK, INC. · filed 2023-02-22 · 0000950170-23-003846
SEC staff comment
17. In future filings, please revise to disclose the following: • Whether your transaction fee revenue includes other than a digital reward and your consideration to disclose it separately. Refer to ASC 606-10-50-4. • The time frame of when the revenue is deposited into your wallet. • Whether the digital assets are received in whole or fractions.
The company responded
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and respectfully submits that the Company’s transaction fee revenue does not require any amounts other than bitcoin, and therefore, there is no additional considerations under ASC 606-10-50-4 for disclosure. Bitcoin rewards are typically deposited the next day after earning such rewards and such bitcoin received are rounded to four decimal places (ten-thousandths).
CLEANSPARK, INC. · filed 2023-02-22 · 0000950170-23-003846
SEC staff comment
18. In future filings, please reconsider the appropriateness of your statements in the filing that there is no definitive guidance under GAAP for the accounting for bitcoin recognized as revenue or held. We observe that the FASB codification is the source of authoritative generally accepted accounting principles and that there is codification guidance whose scope applies to your transactions.
The company responded
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and respectfully submits that the Company has removed any such statements from the Quarterly Report. Concentration of Credit Risk, page F-13
CLEANSPARK, INC. · filed 2023-02-22 · 0000950170-23-003846
SEC staff comment
19. In future filings, revise to correct the inconsistencies in your disclosures that the custodian’s accounts for your bitcoin are not insured by the FDIC, and your disclosure that the fair market value of bitcoin held in accounts covered by FDIC limits was $11,147,478 and $23,603,210 for the periods ended September 30, 2022 and 2021.
The company responded
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and respectfully submits that the Company made the necessary change in the Quarterly Report. 2022 Goodwill Impairment Analysis, page F-16 DOCPROPERTY "CUS_DocIDChunk0" 156137991v3
CLEANSPARK, INC. · filed 2023-02-22 · 0000950170-23-003846
SEC staff comment
21. Regarding your impairment testing for bitcoin, please tell us the following information and reference for us the authoritative literature you rely upon to support your accounting: • Tell us whether or not you evaluate multiple units (or fractional units) of bitcoin that have different carrying amounts for impairment as a group; • Tell us the market(s) you used to determine the quoted price used to assess impairment; • Tell us whether these market(s) are your principal market(s), and if not, explain why not, and how the markets are determined; • Tell us in detail how often you assess impairment and the timing of the quoted price used in your assessment; • Explain how you consider a qualitative assessment given the existence of a quoted price on apparently active markets.
The company responded
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and respectfully submits that the Company values each bitcoin (or fraction thereof) individually at the fair value on the date it was mined. Each of these individual bitcoins which are held at the quarter end are then evaluated for impairment based on their respective carrying basis. The impairment analysis on bitcoin, performed quarterly, compares the carrying amount of each bitcoin to the lowest daily closing bitcoin price during such quarter. The fair value of bitcoin pricing is derived daily from NASDAQ.com and the Company compares the quoted price from NASDAQ.com to other sources to ensure there is no material variance in quoted pricing. The Company selected NASDAQ.com due to its consistent daily activity, whereas other sources were not as reliable on a daily basis. The Company utilizes quotes from NASDAQ.com to impair its bitcoin…
CLEANSPARK, INC. · filed 2023-02-22 · 0000950170-23-003846
SEC staff comment
22. Please tell us how your classification of bitcoin as current assets is consistent with the definition of current assets in ASC 201-10-20. In your response, at a minimum address each of the following: • Tell us how you reasonably expect to realize your Bitcoin in cash through sale or otherwise when it appears that you hold significant amounts of these assets on your balance sheet. • For Bitcoin held at September 30, 2022 and 2021, tell us the average length of time it has been held and how frequently it turns over, explaining how you calculated this turnover. • Tell us your consideration for carrying a portion of your holdings that are not expected to be sold for cash as long-term. DOCPROPERTY "CUS_DocIDChunk0" 156137991v3
The company responded
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and respectfully submits that the Company believes the Staff was referring to ASC 210-10-20 and the Company’s response will reflect its analysis of that codification section. ASC 210-10-20 notes that current assets are defined as follows: “Current assets is used to designate cash and other assets or resources commonly identified as those that are reasonably expected to be realized in cash or sold or consumed during the normal operating cycle of the business.” The Company converts bitcoin to USD to cover its various operating and capital expenditures on a frequent basis. Since bitcoins are delivered to the Company’s wallet within a day of earning the bitcoin, the Company has immediate access to convert the bitcoin to USD or send bitcoin to vendors as payment. The Company held 595 bitcoin as of September 30, 2022, which approximately…
CLEANSPARK, INC. · filed 2023-02-22 · 0000950170-23-003846
SEC staff comment
1. We note that you operate a crypto asset platform, INX.One, and that you offer crypto asset-related products and services, including the INX Token, the INX ATS, capital raising services (e.g., minting and issuing crypto assets) as well as the ability to exchange AVAX, BTC, CRV, ETH, FTM, GYEN, LTC, MANA, MATIC, LINK, SAND, UNI, USDC, ZEC, and ZUSD on INX.One. In future filings, please identify all of the crypto asset services that you provide for each crypto asset. In this regard, we note your disclosure that you continue to expand your product offerings available on INX.One.
The company responded
In response to the Staff’s comment, the Company respectfully notes that it provides the following services for all crypto assets available on its platform: ● Crypto assets trading (such as BTC, ETH, AVAX); ● Security tokens listing and trading; and ● Capital raise services through primary offerings. INX.ONE is a platform for trading and investing in digital assets, i.e. crypto assets and security tokens. There are two entities behind each type of asset classes – (i) INX Digital, Inc. (“INXD”), which is utilized for crypto assets dealing and has a license to operate in 43 states in the United States (“U.S.”) plus Washington D.C and Puerto Rico (for state licenses please see: https://www.inx.co/legal/state-licenses/); and (ii) INX Securities, LLC (“INX Securities”, or “INXS”), a FINRA-registered broker-dealer and operator of an alternative trading system (“ATS”), which has duly filed its…
INX Ltd · filed 2023-02-21 · 0001213900-23-013287
SEC staff comment
3. In future filings, please disclose the risks and limitations of your internal policies and procedures for determining whether or not a crypto asset is a security, including that they are risk-based judgments made by the company and not a legal standard or determination binding on any regulatory body or court.
The company responded
In response to the Staff’s comment, the Company intends to describe risks and limitations of its internal policies and procedures for determining whether or not a crypto asset is a security by including the following risk factor in the Company’s upcoming annual report on Form 20-F: A particular crypto asset’s status as a “security” in any relevant jurisdiction is subject to a high degree of uncertainty. If the Company is unable to properly characterize a digital asset listed for trading as a “security”, it may be subject to regulatory scrutiny, inquiries, investigations, fines, and other penalties, which may adversely affect the business, operating results, and its financial condition. The Commission and its staff have taken the position that certain crypto assets fall within the definition of a “security” under the U.S. federal securities laws. The legal test for determining whether…
INX Ltd · filed 2023-02-21 · 0001213900-23-013287
SEC staff comment
4. We note that you mint, issue and facilitate secondary trading of crypto asset securities. In future filings, please disclose your policies and procedures for ensuring that the issuance and secondary trading of crypto asset securities are in compliance with the federal securities laws, and please add risk factor disclosure that addresses potential liability if they are not.
The company responded
In response to the Staff’s comment, the Company intends to include the following risk factors in the Company’s upcoming annual report on Form 20-F: We are subject to an extensive and highly-evolving regulatory landscape and any adverse changes to, or our failure to comply with, any laws and regulations could adversely affect our brand, reputation, business, operating results, and financial condition. INX Securities is registered with FINRA and the SEC as a broker-dealer authorized to operate as an ATS that is allowed to facilitate the trading of security tokens in compliance with the SEC’s “Three-Step Process.” Additionally, INX Securities is registered in all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, and is also permitted to act as the broker-dealer of record in primary offerings for traditional and digital securities. As such, the Company has implemented policies,…
INX Ltd · filed 2023-02-21 · 0001213900-23-013287
SEC staff comment
5. In future filings, please disclose the process you used to decide to add the Millennium Sapphire token to your ATS, and to adding Compound and Aave to your platform. Your discussion, should both be general to your process for adding any such crypto asset securities and cryptocurrencies, as well as the specifics involved in adding these, and any others you have added for the financial period covered. For example, please clarify whether you make available crypto asset securities on your ATS that you did not mint for your customers, and disclose the factors you consider in making available cryptocurrencies on your platform. For the Millenium Sapphire token, please provide us with a discussion of how the token is sold by the issuer, whether that distribution is registered or conducted pursuant to an exemption, and how you analyze the secondary market trades on your ATS, including whether…
The company responded
In response to the Staff’s comment, the Company intends to include the following disclosure in the Company’s upcoming annual report on Form 20-F: Adding crypto assets to, or removing from our platform As to the Company’s general process for adding an asset to the platform and our evaluation thereof, please see our response to comment 3 above. As specified in our response to comment 3, the Company has a policy and process in place for adding new crypto asset securities and cryptocurrencies for listing or trading on its platform. The Company’s legal and compliance teams, in cooperation with the Chief Compliance Officer, the legal, compliance, technology, cybersecurity, and operational risks with respect to listing a cryptocurrency. The evaluation is done in the form of a due diligence checklist, upon which the above parties have to signify approval, and once this is done, the checklist is…
INX Ltd · filed 2023-02-21 · 0001213900-23-013287
SEC staff comment
8. Please disclose the material terms of your agreements with third-party custodians, including: what portion of your client’s crypto assets and your crypto assets are held in hot wallets and cold wallets; the geographic location where crypto assets are held in cold wallets;
The company responded
In response to the Staff’s comment, the Company respectfully notes that none of its or its client’s crypto assets are currently held in cold wallets. ● whether any persons (e.g., auditors, etc.) are responsible for verifying the existence for the crypto assets held by the third-party custodian(s); Greenberg Traurig, LLP | Attorneys at Law www.gtlaw.com U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission February 21, 2023 Page 21
INX Ltd · filed 2023-02-21 · 0001213900-23-013287
SEC staff comment
10. We note that you accept certain crypto assets as payment fees for services. In future filings, please disclose the crypto assets you accept as payment fees, how you determine the value of such crypto assets and your policies related to monetizing such crypto assets.
The company responded
In response to the Staff’s comment, the Company intends to disclose the crypto assets it accepts as payment fees, how it determines the value of such crypto assets and its policies related to monetizing such crypto assets by including the following language in the Company’s upcoming annual report on Form 20-F: Crypto assets as payment fees for crypto and security token services With regards to trading of digital assets, a transaction fee is charged and deducted from the customer account at the time of the order execution. The transaction fee is set as a percentage of the transaction value based on the fee schedule published on the Company’s website (https://www.inx.co/fee-schedules/) and is charged in the currency of the consideration paid by the customer. For example, if a customer buys BTC with USD, the transaction fee would be charged in USD. The same process is followed with regards…
INX Ltd · filed 2023-02-21 · 0001213900-23-013287
SEC staff comment
11. We note that you intended to establish a platform for the trading of cryptocurrency-based futures, options and swaps. To the extent that you still plan to establish this platform, please disclose, in future filings, the timeline, estimated costs and source of funds for the development of the platform.
The company responded
In response to the Staff’s comment, the Company respectfully notes that it is exploring options such as obtaining a Designated Contract Markets (“DCM”) license with the CFTC, but has not made an affirmative decision to pursue this application at this time. Should this path change, the Company will advise the Staff and provide adequate disclosure in its future filings. Greenberg Traurig, LLP | Attorneys at Law www.gtlaw.com U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission February 21, 2023 Page 24
INX Ltd · filed 2023-02-21 · 0001213900-23-013287