MyComplianceOffice Blog

Europe has been at the forefront regarding crypto asset regulation with its recently approved Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) legislation, which goes into effect in phases starting in 2024. It represents the most significant attempt by global governments to regulate the growing market for digital assets.  

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission adopted proposed amendments to Rule 10b5-1 to enhance disclosure requirements and investor protections against insider trading. According to the SEC release, "the final rules aim to strengthen investor protections concerning insider trading and to help shareholders understand when and how insiders are trading in securities for which they may at times have material nonpublic information."

The preservation of healthy financial markets relies on having safe, properly regulated environments where investors can confidently trade securities. Unfortunately, high-profile insider trading cases have grabbed the spotlight in recent years.

Cases of insider trading and securities compliance failures have made headlines in recent years. And for a good reason. Financial markets rely heavily on high liquidity, making it easy to trade securities without affecting price. However, when markets are manipulated, liquidity is affected, transaction costs can increase, and investor returns are reduced.

The SEC’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs recently released the Spring 2022 Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions. The report provides an update on the short and long-term regulatory actions that the agency plans to take.