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.
Arizona v. Kalshi: Criminal Enforcement and the Next Phase of the Prediction Market Reckoning
Arizona’s criminal charges against Kalshi mark a turning point in the regulation of prediction markets, escalating the conflict between federal commodities law and state gambling regimes. This article examines the legal and structural implications of the case, including preemption, CFTC authority, and the growing tension between derivatives markets and sportsbook regulation. As prediction markets continue to expand, this enforcement action may shape the future of event-based trading in the United States.
Rule 15c2-11 and the Cost of Regulatory Drift
The SEC’s proposed amendments to Rule 15c2-11 mark a long-overdue correction to years of regulatory uncertainty affecting fixed-income markets. By narrowing the rule’s scope to equity securities, the Commission is realigning its application with market reality and prior intent. This article breaks down what went wrong, why it matters, and what the proposal signals for future rulemaking and regulatory discipline.
The SEC Closes the Loop on Howey’s Application to Crypto
The SEC’s March 17, 2026 crypto guidance marks a turning point in digital asset regulation. By clarifying token classifications and, critically, when an investment contract begins and ends under Howey, the Commission introduces a lifecycle-based framework that brings long-awaited structure to the market. This article breaks down what the new interpretation means for crypto projects, investors, and regulatory strategy going forward.
The SEC’s New Enforcement Manual Signals a Procedural Reset in Securities Enforcement
On February 24, 2026, the SEC’s Division of Enforcement published a revised Enforcement Manual. This article is a clean-room, original discussion of the press release and the 2026 Enforcement Manual. It is also meant to sit naturally inside the enforcement “throughline” I have been building on Anderson Insights: the idea that enforcement outcomes are increasingly driven by (i) data and surveillance sophistication, (ii) procedural architecture, and (iii) the downstream consequences of resolutions, often more than the headline penalty itself.
Prediction Markets, Insider Trading, and the Return of First Principles
This piece analyzes the CFTC’s advisory confirming that prediction markets are regulated derivatives subject to anti-fraud and manipulation rules. Braeden Anderson explains how insider trading doctrines apply to event contracts and what this means for exchanges, fintech platforms, and sophisticated traders operating in evolving markets.