Using courts for every crypto issuance will squash innovation: Grayscale CEO

Grayscale Investments CEO, Michael Sonnenshein, highlighted a potential negative outcome for the United States economy if the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) continues to take a one-by-one approach to regulating the cryptocurrency industry.

During a recent interview with Fox Business, Sonnenshein expressed that the SEC could drive crypto firms out of the country by constantly resorting to enforcement actions against the industry.

“If every crypto issued needs to go to a court of law, then we are squashing the innovation taking place here,” Sonnenshein stated.

Likewise, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse echoed similar comments prior to the partial victory of Ripple, which was decided on July 13.

On June 17 Garlinghouse expressed that the SEC is “looking to kill” innovation and the cryptocurrency in the U.S. He further explained as the Ripple lawsuit is coming to a close, it is only the beginning for many others.

“Ultimately as our law suit comes to a close, for so many others its just starting, so the fight for clarity has to continue,” Garlinghouse stated.

Related: SEC decision on Bitcoin ETFs won’t leave out Wall Street giants

However, Sonnenshein holds a positive outlook regarding the ongoing developments Congress is taking to provide regulatory clarity for the industry.

“A lot of this legislation that this congress could very well pass, could give the industry the actual clarity it needs to move forward in a way that embraces crypto” Sonnenshein stated.

On July 31, Cointelegraph reported that the House Financial Services Committee (FSC) approved the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act with a 35-15 vote.

The act aims to establish registration rules for crypto firms under the jurisdiction of either the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) or the SEC.

Sonnenshein pointed out that the SEC is assessing the wrong criteria when determining which Bitcoin ETF should be introduced to the market.

“When I think about the process that the SEC should be untaking here, it’s really not to pick winners and losers, it is to ensure that all the right disclosures are put out there for investors.”

Sonnenshein further explained during the interview that there is room for several spot Bitcoin products on the market.

“We’ve been ready for a world where there are multiple spot Bitcoin products, where there are multiple bitcoin future products on the market” Sonnenshein stated.

He argued that the SEC’s previous approval of the Bitcoin Futures ETF implies it does in fact have an adequate oversight of the Bitcoin market.

“They do not believe there is sufficient surveillance in the underlying Bitcoin market[…]The SEC already has the tools to approve spot Bitcoin ETFs.”

On Aug. 11, the SEC delayed its decision on the outcome of the spot Bitcoin ETF proposed by ARK Investment Management.

After its publication in the Federal Register, the SEC initiated a public comment period for the ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF.

This marks the most recent postponement in the regulatory decision-making process regarding the approval or disapproval of a spot crypto ETF in the U.S.

Magazine: SBF ordered to jail, Bitcoin ETF delayed and SEC to appeal Ripple case: Hodler’s Digest, Aug. 6-12