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 1/9/25 K. Braeden Anderson 1/9/25

Why Startups Should Consider Fractional General Counsel Services

At Anderson P.C., we’re thrilled to announce that we now offer this innovative legal solution to startups. Our fractional GC services are designed to help founders focus on what they do best—building their business—while we handle the legal complexities. If you’re interested in learning more about how fractional General Counsel services can benefit your startup, contact us today.

K. Braeden Anderson 1/8/25 K. Braeden Anderson 1/8/25

Court Grants Coinbase’s Motion for Interlocutory Appeal, Stays SEC Litigation

In a pivotal development for the cryptocurrency industry, Coinbase Inc. has successfully secured the right to pursue an interlocutory appeal in its ongoing legal battle with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This rare legal maneuver allows the U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange to challenge a critical issue in the case before the litigation proceeds further.

K. Braeden Anderson 1/7/25 K. Braeden Anderson 1/7/25

Operation Chokepoint 2.0: Regulatory Overreach and the Battle for Crypto’s Future

In the wake of newly uncovered Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) documents obtained through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, the debate over “Operation Chokepoint 2.0” has escalated to a fever pitch.

K. Braeden Anderson 1/5/25 K. Braeden Anderson 1/5/25

The SEC’s $10 Billion Dilemma: The Challenges of Collecting Financial Penalties

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has long been heralded as a vigilant enforcer of securities laws, imposing billions of dollars in penalties on violators each year. However, a recent Wall Street Journal report reveals a sobering reality: over the past decade, the SEC has written off nearly $10 billion in fines it was unable to collect. This highlights the significant hurdles the agency faces in enforcing financial sanctions, particularly against individuals and entities adept at evading payment.

K. Braeden Anderson 12/27/24 K. Braeden Anderson 12/27/24

Corporate Transparency Act Reporting Obligations Reinstated with New Deadlines

On December 23, 2024, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit granted the U.S. government’s request for an emergency stay, effectively reinstating enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). The stay lifts a nationwide preliminary injunction issued earlier this month by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, which had temporarily blocked CTA compliance requirements and paused the January 1, 2025, reporting deadline.

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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.