Securities Enforcement. Corporate Investigations. Financial Regulation.
Independent analysis of the laws, regulations, investigations, and enforcement actions shaping modern financial markets.
BRAEDEN ANDERSON
Braeden is one of the top securities lawyers in the country and was recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America in the Financial Services Regulation Law and Securities Regulation categories. This honor is awarded to only the top 2% of attorneys in the United States and is based on a comprehensive peer-review survey.
Braeden helped lead Gesmer Updegrove to recognition in The Legal 500 United States for Corporate Investigations & White Collar Crime, Tier 3, and Finance: Fintech, Tier 4.
Braeden is active in the U.S. securities enforcement community through Securities Docket, where he has served on the 2025 and 2026 Advisory Boards and contributed video commentary through the Weekly Update.
Braeden was named the #1 United States author in FinTech in Mondaq’s Spring 2025 Thought Leadership Awards, reflecting the national reach and influence of his writing on fintech, securities regulation, and digital asset policy.
SEC Reevaluates Controversial Market Surveillance Tool Amid Legal and Industry Pushback
In a move that signals regulatory recalibration, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has paused litigation surrounding its Consolidated Audit Trail (CAT) — a long-debated, market-wide surveillance system that has drawn growing criticism from investors, industry participants, and conservative watchdogs. The SEC’s pause suggests that the agency may be open to modifying or even scaling back one of the most ambitious trade monitoring initiatives in modern market history.
Judge Rejects SEC and Ripple’s Joint Bid to Reduce Fine and Vacate Injunction
In a striking rebuke to both a federal agency and a prominent digital asset firm, U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres has rejected a joint motion by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Ripple Labs to finalize a reduced civil penalty and vacate a previously imposed injunction in their high-profile enforcement battle. The ruling underscores the limits of private settlement power in the face of final judicial determinations and reinforces the judiciary’s role in upholding statutory mandates — especially in cases involving violations of the federal securities laws.
Ripple and SEC Seek to Resolve Civil Penalty Dispute with $75M Release to Ripple
In a notable shift toward final resolution, Ripple Labs and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have jointly filed a motion in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York seeking to modify the judgment in their long-standing enforcement matter and release funds held in escrow. Under the proposed stipulation, $125 million in civil penalties previously imposed on Ripple would be partially redistributed—$50 million paid to the SEC, with the remaining $75 million returned to Ripple.
DOJ Charges Amalgam Founder With Crypto Fraud: A Case Study in Deception
The Justice Department has unsealed criminal charges against Jeremy Jordan-Jones, alleged founder of the now-defunct crypto venture Amalgam, accusing him of orchestrating a $1 million investor fraud built on fabricated partnerships, fictitious technology, and the trappings of blockchain legitimacy.
The indictment is the latest in a growing string of federal enforcement actions targeting fraudulent schemes masquerading as legitimate digital asset businesses. The message from prosecutors is clear: the novelty of blockchain will not shield bad actors from traditional fraud charges.
The GENIUS Act: A Long Overdue Framework for Blockchain-Era Banking
The recent Senate vote to advance the GENIUS Act—a bipartisan bill to regulate stablecoins—is more than just another milestone in crypto policy. It represents a long-overdue recognition that fiat-backed digital dollars are not speculative assets; they are infrastructure.
At Anderson P.C., we strongly support the GENIUS Act and believe it lays the foundation for a safer, more credible, and ultimately more competitive U.S. digital economy.