The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has allocated 20 additional positions to the unit responsible for protecting investors in crypto markets and from cyber-related threats.

The newly renamed Crypto Assets and Cyber Unit (formerly known as the Cyber Unit) in the Division of Enforcement will grow to 50 dedicated positions.

Since its creation in 2017, the unit has brought more than 80 enforcement actions related to fraudulent and unregistered crypto asset offerings and platforms, resulting in monetary relief totalling more than $2 billion. The expanded Crypto Assets and Cyber Unit will leverage the agency’s expertise to ensure investors are protected in the crypto markets, with a focus on investigating securities law violations related to:

Crypto asset offerings;
Crypto asset exchanges;
Crypto asset lending and staking products;
Decentralised finance ("DeFi") platforms;
Non-fungible tokens ("NFTs"); and
Stablecoins.

In addition, the unit has brought numerous actions against SEC registrants and public companies for failing to maintain adequate cybersecurity controls and for failing to appropriately disclose cyber-related risks and incidents. The Crypto Assets and Cyber Unit will continue to tackle the omnipresent cyber-related threats to the nation’s markets.