BRAEDEN ANDERSON

Welcome to Anderson Insights.

We provide authoritative analysis on securities and commodities regulation, SEC and FINRA enforcement, and legal developments affecting crypto, digital assets, fintech, and financial services, authored by Braeden Anderson.

Please enjoy our legal writings. If you want to talk anything through, send Braeden an email.

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The full Anderson Insights archive is now searchable. Use the search bar to find past content by topic, agency, or keyword. Try searching: “SEC v. Jarkesy,” “ATS regulation,” “custody” or “digital assets”

K. Braeden Anderson 12/26/24 K. Braeden Anderson 12/26/24

Anderson’s Guide to Effective Independent Internal Investigations

Organizations face heightened scrutiny as financial misconduct, fraud, and ethical breaches become increasingly complex. A well-executed internal investigation is more than just a response to misconduct—it’s an opportunity to demonstrate accountability, strengthen compliance frameworks, and protect your organization’s reputation.

At Anderson P.C., we approach internal investigations with precision, independence, and the strategic foresight our clients demand. Whether you are addressing allegations of misconduct or reinforcing your compliance program, our tailored methodologies ensure thorough, defensible, and results-oriented outcomes.

K. Braeden Anderson 12/26/24 K. Braeden Anderson 12/26/24

A Quick Guide on AI in Corporate Compliance in 2025

As we step into 2025, artificial intelligence (AI) continues to redefine corporate landscapes, becoming both an asset and a focal point for regulatory scrutiny. In September 2024, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a significant shift in its Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Programs (ECCP), highlighting the risks associated with AI technologies. For organizations, this move underscores an urgent need to integrate AI risk management into their compliance frameworks.

K. Braeden Anderson 12/21/24 K. Braeden Anderson 12/21/24

Beware of Pig Butchering Schemes and the Growing Threat of Crypto Scams

2024 has seen alarming developments in the world of financial fraud, with North Korean hackers stealing a record $1.3 billion in cryptocurrency this year alone. According to a recent Chainalysis report, North Korean-linked hackers accounted for more than half of the $2.2 billion stolen from cryptocurrency platforms in 2024. While these state-sponsored cyberattacks pose a significant threat to national security, individual scams like pig butchering schemes are wreaking havoc on unsuspecting victims worldwide.

K. Braeden Anderson 12/21/24 K. Braeden Anderson 12/21/24

SEC Adopts Amendments to Broker-Dealer Customer Protection Rule: Daily Computations and Enhanced Safeguards

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has adopted amendments to Rule 15c3-3, commonly known as the Customer Protection Rule, implementing significant updates to the frequency of reserve calculations for broker-dealers. The changes are aimed at bolstering protections for customer assets and enhancing financial stability within the securities markets.

K. Braeden Anderson 12/19/24 K. Braeden Anderson 12/19/24

FINRA Regulatory Notice 24-16: Simplified Customer Arbitrations and Document Production Lists

FINRA recently issued Regulatory Notice 24-16, announcing amendments to the applicability of the Document Production Lists for simplified customer arbitrations under Rule 12800. These changes, effective March 3, 2025, introduce greater flexibility for customers while clarifying the rules surrounding discovery in such proceedings. Simplified customer arbitrations are designed for disputes involving $50,000 or less, excluding interest and expenses.

Featured

Braeden Anderson

K. Braeden Anderson serves as a Partner at Gesmer Updegrove LLP, where he leads the firm’s Blockchain & Digital Assets and Securities Enforcement & Investigations practices. He also chairs Mackrell International’s Blockchain & Digital Assets Group and its Securities Enforcement & Investigations Group.

Named to Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America (2025) for Financial Services Regulation Law and Securities Regulation, Mr. Anderson has built a national reputation as a securities regulatory and enforcement attorney operating at the intersection of traditional finance and emerging technologies. His practice focuses on advising financial institutions, fintech companies, investment advisers (including robo-advisors), broker-dealers, trading platforms, and digital asset companies in complex regulatory, enforcement, and compliance matters before the SEC, CFTC, FINRA, DOJ, and state regulators.

Within the digital asset and blockchain space, Mr. Anderson regularly counsels clients on issues involving market structure, tokenization, robo-advisor and broker-dealer registration, custody frameworks, AML and KYC obligations, and secondary trading considerations for regulated assets. His work spans both established financial institutions and early-stage ventures, helping clients operate within rapidly evolving regulatory environments with precision and strategic clarity.

Mr. Anderson also represents professional athletes and sports organizations in connection with regulatory and investigative matters requiring careful handling and discretion.

Prior to joining Gesmer, Mr. Anderson founded a Washington, D.C.-based law firm. He previously served as Assistant General Counsel at Robinhood Markets, Inc. (HOOD), where he advised on significant regulatory and enforcement matters. Earlier in his career, he practiced at Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Sidley Austin LLP in New York and Washington, D.C., representing clients in matters involving major federal enforcement authorities and providing regulatory advice on complex financial matters.

Mr. Anderson is an active contributor to the national conversation on securities and digital asset regulation. He publishes a widely followed weekly newsletter that has reached millions of legal and financial professionals and produces video content on YouTube for an audience of over 160,000 subscribers. He is also the editor of this legal publication, Anderson Insights, where he provides in-depth analysis for regulators, in-house counsel, and compliance professionals.

Mr. Anderson is also the creator of The Long Game with Braeden Anderson, a new digital series on YouTube exploring the intersection of golf, discipline, and high-performance thinking, featuring match-play conversations with legal executives and business leaders.

He was recently recognized as the most-read fintech thought leader in the United States in Mondaq’s Spring 2025 Thought Leadership Awards.