✓ Official source
SEC reports 348 enforcement actions and $1.095 billion in ordered relief for fiscal 2026, including several crypto fraud cases
Summary
The SEC said it filed 348 enforcement actions in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, made up of 235 standalone actions and 113 follow-on administrative proceedings, according to its Nov. 10 press release.
The agency said it obtained orders for $1.095 billion in monetary relief, including $752 million in disgorgement and prejudgment interest and $343 million in civil penalties, and returned about $731 million to more than 250,000 harmed investors.
Crypto-related matters it highlighted include charges against three purported crypto asset trading platforms and four investment clubs over an alleged scam of at least $14 million, and against the founder of a bitcoin mining business accused of raising more than $95.6 million and misappropriating $48.5 million.
Chairman Paul Atkins said enforcement actions and financial remedies "are important measures of activity, but they are not the only or most telling measures."
Key facts
- SEC: two-thirds of standalone actions included charges against at least one individual.
- SEC: a settled action found an audit engagement partner's negligent conduct during audits of the now-defunct FTX resulted in a GAAP violation.
- SEC: a jury in February found Ismael Sanchez liable in the alleged $300 million CryptoFX Ponzi scheme that targeted more than 40,000 mostly Latino investors.
- SEC: the Enforcement Division launched an Office of Super Intelligence and Analytics whose work includes improved blockchain and financial-flow analysis.
- SEC: it received about 26,000 whistleblower tips and awarded more than $158 million to 65 whistleblowers in the fiscal year.