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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K. Braeden Anderson 1/28/25 K. Braeden Anderson 1/28/25

Business Advisers Defeat SEC Allegations of Penny Stock Fraud

In a notable ruling, a Boston federal judge rejected the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) allegations that Roger Bendelac, a business adviser, and his brother-in-law, Thomas Capellini, participated in a $2.3 million penny stock fraud scheme. The decision followed a four-day bench trial in October and highlights the complexities of securities enforcement cases, where the evidence often lies in the fine details.

K. Braeden Anderson 1/28/25 K. Braeden Anderson 1/28/25

Factors U.S. District Judge with Weigh in Sentencing Former U.S. Senator Robert Menendez This Week

When U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein sentences former U.S. Senator Robert Menendez this week on federal bribery and corruption charges, he will weigh a complex mixture of factors, balancing a lifetime of public service against the gravity of the crimes. Menendez, who once donned a bulletproof vest to fight corruption in New Jersey, now faces sentencing for accepting bribes in the form of gold bars, cash, and luxury goods in exchange for political favors.

K. Braeden Anderson 1/24/25 K. Braeden Anderson 1/24/25

SEC Withdraws Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 121

On January 23, 2025, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) 122, formally withdrawing the controversial SAB 121. The previous guidance, introduced under the leadership of former SEC Chair Gary Gensler, required public companies, including banks, to record customers’ cryptocurrency holdings on their own balance sheets. This requirement was intended to provide added investor protections during bankruptcies but faced criticism for its potentially burdensome implications for institutions handling digital assets.

K. Braeden Anderson 1/22/25 K. Braeden Anderson 1/22/25

SEC Announces Formation of Crypto Task Force 2.0

Acting Chairman Mark T. Uyeda of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced the launch of a dedicated Crypto Task Force aimed at establishing a clear and comprehensive regulatory framework for crypto assets. Commissioner Hester Peirce will chair the task force, supported by Richard Gabbert as Chief of Staff and Taylor Asher as Chief Policy Advisor.

K. Braeden Anderson 1/19/25 K. Braeden Anderson 1/19/25

Trump’s SEC Leadership: A New Chapter for Cryptocurrency Regulation?

As the nation prepares for a change in leadership, the cryptocurrency industry is abuzz with speculation about the potential regulatory shift under the incoming Trump administration. With Hester Peirce and Mark Uyeda poised to take on pivotal roles at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), it appears a crypto-friendly overhaul may be on the horizon. Sources close to the matter suggest that these changes could begin as early as next week.

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.