Consensys 因以太幣分類糾紛起訴 SEC

MetaMask 背後的公司 Consensys 已對 SEC 提起訴訟，以阻止其將以太幣作為證券進行監管。在此之前，SEC 向 Consensys 發出了 Wells 通知，表明其打算採取執法行動。 Consensys 認為，以太幣不是證券，美國證券交易委員會沒有合法權利對其進行監管。此外，該公司認為將以太幣歸類為證券會抑制創新並損害美國經濟。

Consensys Files Lawsuit Against SEC Over Ether Regulation Dispute

Consensys 就以太坊監管糾紛向 SEC 提起訴訟

New York, New York – April 21, 2023 – Consensys, the blockchain software company behind the popular cryptocurrency wallet MetaMask, has filed a lawsuit against the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in a bid to prevent the agency's attempt to regulate Ether, the native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum network, as a security.

紐約州紐約 – 2023 年 4 月 21 日 – 流行加密貨幣錢包 MetaMask 背後的區塊鏈軟體公司 Consensys 已對美國證券交易委員會 (SEC) 提起訴訟，以阻止該機構監管以太幣的嘗試，以太坊網絡的原生加密貨幣，作為一種證券。

Consensys: SEC Overstepping Authority

Consensys：SEC 越權

In a press release published on Thursday, Consensys claimed that the SEC is overstepping its authority by trying to regulate Ether as a security. The company believes that regulatory overreach would stifle innovation and harm the U.S. economy.

在周四發布的新聞稿中，Consensys 聲稱 SEC 試圖將以太幣作為證券進行監管，這是越權行為。該公司認為，過度監管將扼殺創新並損害美國經濟。

"Ethereum is a world-changing technology, and ether itself has the potential to be a significant driver of the U.S. economy of the future," said Joe Lubin, Co-founder of Ethereum and Founder/CEO of Consensys. "Unlawful SEC regulation, however, threatens to jeopardize this potential and impedes the U.S.'s ability to use blockchain technology as the basis for countless new innovations and technologies – even as other nations race ahead."

以太坊聯合創始人兼 Consensys 創始人/首席執行官 Joe Lubin 表示：“以太坊是一項改變世界的技術，以太坊本身有潛力成為未來美國經濟的重要推動力。” “然而，美國證券交易委員會的非法監管可能會危及這一潛力，並阻礙美國利用區塊鏈技術作為無數新創新和技術基礎的能力——即使其他國家正在領先。”

Consensys' Arguments

Consensys 的論點

According to Consensys, the SEC has historically considered Ether a commodity, not a security. Putting Ether under securities regulation could ultimately hurt millions of Ether holders, cripple Ethereum's use in the US, and make it difficult for US developers to build on Ethereum.

據 Consensys 稱，美國證券交易委員會歷來認為以太幣是一種商品，而不是一種證券。將以太幣置於證券監管之下最終可能會傷害數百萬以太幣持有者，削弱以太坊在美國的使用，並使美國開發商難以在以太坊上進行開發。

The company argued that the SEC has no legal right to regulate either Ether itself or user-controlled software interfaces built on Ethereum, like MetaMask.

該公司辯稱，美國證券交易委員會沒有合法權利來監管以太幣本身或基於以太坊構建的用戶控制的軟體介面，例如 MetaMask。

Threefold Court Ruling

三重法院裁決

With the latest legal action against the SEC, Consensys seeks a threefold court ruling. First, they aim to secure a declaration that Ether is not a security.

隨著針對 SEC 的最新法律訴訟，Consensys 尋求法院的三重裁決。首先，他們的目標是確保以太坊不是證券的聲明。

Second, they hope the ruling will prevent the SEC from taking legal action against Consensys based on these arguments. Finally, Consensys seeks a court decision clarifying that its MetaMask wallet does not function as a securities broker.

其次，他們希望這項裁決能阻止 SEC 基於這些論點對 Consensys 採取法律行動。最後，Consensys 尋求法院裁決，澄清其 MetaMask 錢包不具備證券經紀人功能。

SEC's Wells Notice

SEC 的威爾斯通知

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, comes in response to the SEC's Wells Notice sent to Consensys earlier this month. A Wells Notice is typically a formal notification informing the recipients that the agency plans to bring civil enforcement actions against them for potential violations of securities laws.

該訴訟向美國德克薩斯州北區地方法院提起，是對本月早些時候發送給 Consensys 的 SEC 威爾斯通知的回應。威爾斯通知通常是一份正式通知，通知收件人該機構計劃對他們可能違反證券法的行為採取民事執法行動。

SEC's Crackdown on Cryptocurrency

SEC 對加密貨幣的打擊

Before Consensys, the SEC also sent a Wells Notice to Uniswap Labs, the developer behind the major decentralized exchange (DEX) Uniswap. Instead of waiting for the SEC to take action, Consensys initiated the legal battle.

在 Consensys 之前，SEC 也向主要去中心化交易所（DEX）Uniswap 背後的開發商 Uniswap Labs 發出了 Wells 通知。 Consensys 沒有等待 SEC 採取行動，而是發起了法律訴訟。

Securities classification and the Howey test are mainly the SEC's core arguments in precedent cases. Therefore, even though the Uniswap team hasn't specified the SEC's reason for targeting Uniswap, it's highly possible that the agency still relies on the classification method.

證券分類和Howey測試主要是SEC在先例中的核心論點。因此，儘管 Uniswap 團隊沒有具體說明 SEC 針對 Uniswap 的原因，但該機構很有可能仍依賴分類方法。

Uniswap's Chief Legal Officer Marvin Ammori said the SEC wants to pursue Uniswap's responsibility for allegedly being an unregistered stock exchange and brokerage.

Uniswap 首席法務長 Marvin Ammori 表示，SEC 希望追究 Uniswap 涉嫌未註冊證券交易所和經紀公司的責任。

Both Uniswap and Consensys vow to defend their rights. Uniswap claimed that in the US, there is still no specific law for the cryptocurrency sector, no case law on crypto exchanges or brokers being declared as processing securities transactions, and its UNI token does not meet the criteria of the Howey Test to be listed as a security.

Uniswap 和 Consensys 都誓言捍衛自己的權利。 Uniswap 聲稱，在美國，加密貨幣領域仍然沒有具體的法律，沒有關於加密貨幣交易所或經紀商被宣佈為處理證券交易的判例法，其 UNI 代幣不符合 Howey Test 被列為安全。

Ethereum ETFs Blocked

以太坊 ETF 被封鎖

Earlier today, Reuters reported that the SEC will likely reject applications to launch spot Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Sources familiar with the matter say ETF issuers' meetings with the SEC lacked expected detail on the products, unlike the in-depth discussions that preceded the approval of several spot Bitcoin ETFs in January.

今天早些時候，路透社報道稱，美國證券交易委員會可能會拒絕推出以太坊現貨交易所交易基金（ETF）的申請。知情人士稱，ETF 發行人與 SEC 的會議缺乏預期的產品細節，這與 1 月批准幾隻現貨比特幣 ETF 之前的深入討論不同。

Ten issuers, including BlackRock, Grayscale, Bitwise, Fidelity, VanEck, and ARK Investment Management, have filed with the SEC to list ETFs tracking Ethereum's spot price. The SEC is expected to decide on VanEck's and ARK's filings by May 23-24, respectively.

包括 BlackRock、Grayscale、Bitwise、Fidelity、VanEck 和 ARK Investment Management 在內的 10 家發行人已向 SEC 提交申請，列出追蹤以太坊現貨價格的 ETF。 SEC 預計將在 5 月 23 日至 24 日之前分別對 VanEck 和 ARK 的申請做出決定。

Unlike spot Bitcoin ETFs, the current situation around spot Ethereum ETF progress has shown less optimism. Analysts suggest that if the SEC rejects these ETF filings, it may face a new legal battle from the ETF issuers.

與現貨比特幣 ETF 不同，目前現貨以太坊 ETF 的進展並不那麼樂觀。分析師表示，如果 SEC 拒絕這些 ETF 申請，可能會面臨 ETF 發行人的新法律訴訟。