Broker-dealers

Subscribe to Broker-dealers via RSS

On February 19, the staff of the Division of Trading and Markets of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission issued an FAQ, stating the staff will not object if a broker-dealer treats a proprietary position in a payment stablecoin (as defined in the FAQ) as having a “ready market” under SEC Rule 15c3-1 and takes…

In recent remarks, Commissioner Uyeda provided an update on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s progress toward implementation of the Treasury clearing rule.  The Commissioner emphasized the benefits associated with central clearing, which include enhancing transparency and reducing bilateral exposures.  In his remarks, he cites research from the Office of Financial Research on the benefits of…

On December 11, 2025, the staff of the Division of Trading and Markets of the Securities and Exchange Commission issued a no-action letter to The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) concerning a pilot version (the “Preliminary Base Version”) of a securities tokenization program, referred to as the “DTCC Tokenization Services.” The letter permits DTC to conduct…

On December 17, 2025, the Staff of the Division of Trading and Markets (the “Division”) of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) issued a statement explaining its views on the application of paragraph (b)(1) of SEC Rule 15c3-3 to broker-dealers seeking to establish custody of crypto asset securities.  The statement focuses on broker-dealers’ “physical…

The Report highlights FINRA’s continued focus on generative artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, small-cap securities fraud, and third-party risk

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) published its 2026 FINRA Annual Regulatory Oversight Report (the “Report”), which builds on the structure and content of FINRA’s prior reports for 2021-2025. This year, the Report was published earlier than…

On December 5, 2025, the Securities and Exchange Commission consented to modifications to the Global Research Settlement applicable to settling firms, which has been in place since the aftermath of the dot‑com bubble bursting. The Settlement contains an Addendum with undertakings that address conflicts of interest between research and investment banking. The Addendum includes a…

On November 17, 2025, the staff of the Division of Trading and Markets (the “Staff”) of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) issued no-action relief permitting a registered representative-owned personal services entity (“PSE”) to receive transaction-based compensation (“TBC”) without registering as a broker-dealer (“BD”) pursuant to Section 15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of…

Under new SEC leadership, the Division’s 2026 Examination Priorities reflect a modified approach, following a reevaluation of the Division’s risk-based priorities, and a renewed focus on several traditional risk areas (including Regulation Best Interest, adherence to fiduciary standards of conduct, complex products and the Broker-Dealer Financial Responsibility Rules) as well as continued attention to emerging …

At the recent 2025 U.S. Treasury Market Conference, Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Commissioner Mark T. Uyeda provided an update on the implementation of the Treasury Clearing Rules. In his remarks, Commissioner Uyeda said the SEC is focused on resolving regulatory ambiguities and addressing unforeseen issues associated with the implementation of the rules. He noted …

On September 7, 2025, the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) approved amendments to its Statement of Policy Regarding Real Estate Investment Trusts (the “REIT Guidelines”), which were last amended in 2007. The proposed amendments were last put forth for public comment by NASAA on March 25, 2025.

The REIT Guidelines contain requirements for non-traded…