Crypto Investment Firm Violates Securities Laws, Warns Philippines
The watchdog has warned the public over a crypto investment platform that is allegedly violating securities laws in the country.
The Philippines Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued a warning over a cryptocurrency investment platform that it alleges is offering unregistered securities.
The SEC alert also states that, based on information it has gathered, the firm has been promising potential investors returns of 200 percent interest over eight weeks.
Onecash boasts global coverage across 73 different countries, though its registered headquarters is not known.
The SEC said the firm is offering investors in the Philippines offerings of unregistered securities, and as such:
The recruitment of new scheme members is also considered a form of investment solicitation or a sale of securities, it adds.
As stated in the advisory, salesmen, brokers, dealers or agents involved with promoting, selling and recruiting investment services for Onecash may be prosecuted and face penalties up to 5 million pesos ($270,000) or imprisonment of up to 21 years.
Like regulators in a number of countries, the Philippines SEC has been increasing its oversight over cryptocurrency related investments recently, following a cease-and-desist order it issued to an initial coin offering in January. In this case, the agency stopped short of issuing such an order for Onecash, however.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Furthermore, a Senate bill introduced this week is also seeking heavier penalties for those convicted of crimes that involve cryptocurrencies.
Bitcoin and peso image via CoinDesk's archive.