Stephen Vogt

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On March 25, 2025, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) held a Crypto Task Force roundtable to explore regulatory considerations surrounding custody of crypto assets through broker-dealers and other financial institutions, such as state chartered limited purpose trust companies. Newly installed SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins opened the roundtable by stating that he expects “huge…

On February 28, 2025, House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill (R-AR), Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott (R-SC), and Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) sent a letter (the “Letter”) to Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) Acting Chair Mark Uyeda requesting that the Commission launch a comprehensive review of all aspects of the Consolidated Audit…

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) published its 2025 Annual Regulatory Oversight Report (the “Report”), which builds on the structure and content of FINRA’s prior reports for 2021-2024. This year, the Report adds new topics relating to the third-party risk landscape, registered index-linked annuities and extended hours trading. The Report also includes new content…

On February 5, 2025, Robert Cook, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Industry Regulatory Industry, Inc. (FINRA), announced that FINRA will not set an effective date for its recent amendments (the “Amendments”) to Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine (TRACE) reporting rules to reduce the current 15-minute timeframe to one minute for reporting transactions…

On December 31, 2024, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) issued Regulatory Notice 24-18 (“RN 24-18”) to provide updated guidance to members regarding Rules 15c3-1, 15c3-3 and 17a-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“SEA”), Rule 204 under Regulation SHO, FINRA Rules 4210, 4230(b), 4521 and 4524, and Regulation T of the Federal…

Priorities Include Artificial Intelligence and Other Emerging Technologies, Complex Products, Reg BI, Cybersecurity, Outsourcing, Private Funds and Compliance with New and Amended SEC Rules

On October 21, 2024, the Division of Examinations (the “Division”) of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) released its examination priorities for fiscal year 2025 (which started October 1, 2024).

On August 14, 2024, FINRA published an update (the “Update”) on its ongoing efforts to engage with its members related to crypto asset activities. The Update describes “crypto assets” as assets that are issued or transferred using distributed ledger or blockchain technology. They include, but are not limited to, so-called virtual currencies, coins, and tokens.

On June 27, 2024, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) issued Regulatory Notice 24-09 (the “Notice”) reminding member firms that FINRA’s rules and the securities laws apply to the use of artificial intelligence (“AI”), including large language models and other generative AI (“Gen AI”) technology, just as they apply when member firms use any…

On May 15, 2024, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) adopted amendments (the “Amendments”) to Regulation S-P under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), which governs the treatment of nonpublic personal information about consumers by certain financial institutions, to modernize and enhance the protections under the regulation.

The Amendments require broker-dealers…

On March 18, 2024, FINRA announced that it has fined a broker-dealer $850,000 in connection with the firm’s program to pay individuals with followings on social media sites (i.e., “influencers”) to promote the firm in social media communications.  This matter represents FINRA’s first disciplinary action involving a firm’s supervision of social media influencers.…