Breaking: New York Judge Rules Securities Laws Can Apply to Cryptocurrencies

A New York federal judge has ruled that a case of alleged crypto fraud falls under the Securities Exchange Act.

In what appears to be the first U.S. court case to address the matter, a New York federal judge has ruled that U.S. securities laws are applicable for prosecuting crypto fraud allegations, Reuters reports September 11.

U.S. District Judge Raymond Dearie ruled that the case against Brooklyn resident Maksim Zaslavskiy, which alleges that he defrauded investors in two cryptocurrencies reportedly backed by real estate and diamonds, can continue.

Dearie ruled Tuesday, Sept. 11, that federal securities laws should be interpreted “flexibly,” dismissing a motion from Zaslavskiy’s lawyers to drop the charges on the grounds that the cryptocurrencies didn’t fall under the Securities Exchange Act.

Cointelegraph will update this story as it continues.