Consensys, the firm behind the widely-used crypto wallet metamask, has taken a significant step by filing a lawsuit against the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and its five commissioners. This legal action, initiated on April 25 at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, alleges regulatory overreach by the SEC.
The lawsuit specifically accuses the SEC of attempting to regulate Ether (ETH) as a security, a move that could have profound implications for the Ethereum network and its stakeholders. In a blog post on April 25, the firm wrote:
Our action today is intended to protect the Ethereum ecosystem as well as the entirety of the extended decentralized protocol ecosystem.
The complaint lodged by Consensys paints a stark picture of the potential disruption that could befall the Ethereum network and the company’s operations. It references previous statements by SEC Chair Gary Gensler in 2018 that did not classify ETH as security, contrasting them with the SEC’s current stance.
Consensys argued that the SEC’s current position represents an ‘unlawful seizure of authority’ over ETH. Such a situation could have dire consequences for ETH holders and the broader use of the Ethereum blockchain in the U.S.
The lawsuit also brings to light the potential regulatory impact on Consensys’ MetaMask products. On April 10, Consensys received a Wells notice indicating potential enforcement actions for operating as an unregistered broker-dealer with its MetaMask Swaps and Staking products.
The filing states that MetaMask plays a key role in allowing users to manage their digital identities and engage with decentralized applications. It argues that these capabilities are different from those of a securities brokerage.
In its blog, Consensys has actively defended the non-security status of its operations and products. The firm highlighted the momentous implications for web3 development if MetaMask were to be classified as a securities broker.
Furthermore, the lawsuit reveals that in 2023, Consensys was served with three subpoenas requesting detailed information on its “acquisitions, holdings, and sales of ETH.” Consensys portrays the SEC’s actions as an attempt to “pull the rug out” from firms operating in compliance with established regulatory expectations.
Consensys specifically pointed out inconsistencies in Gensler’s comments regarding ETH’s regulatory classification. The filing notes his reluctance to clarify the commission’s stance in a 2023 hearing, despite his previous assertions as a professor that ETH was not a security.
The firm is seeking a court ruling affirming that ETH is not a security under the Securities Act. This would clarify the regulatory landscape for Consensys and other stakeholders in the Ethereum ecosystem.
