OpenSea Faces SEC Legal Threat Over NFTs as Securities

The NFT marketplace OpenSea has been issued a Wells notice by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), signaling potential legal action regarding the classification of NFTs as securities.

OpenSea’s CEO, Devin Finzer, expressed his surprise on X, criticizing the SEC’s broad actions against creators and artists and pledging to contest any legal action.

While Finzer acknowledged that the SEC has previously taken similar steps in the crypto sector, targeting companies like Coinbase, Uniswap, and Kraken, he emphasized that viewing NFTs as securities is a novel and uncharted approach.

Finzer warned that if the SEC were to categorize NFTs as securities, it could stifle innovation across various sectors, putting countless online artists and creators at risk—many of whom lack the resources to defend themselves legally.

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He argued that NFTs are fundamentally creative products, encompassing art, collectibles, and video game assets, and should not be subject to the same regulations as financial securities.

Additionally, Finzer touched on how digital collectibles on the blockchain affect professionals in various industries, including indie game developers and student artists, emphasizing the potential negative impact of regulatory threats on creativity.

To counter the SEC’s move, OpenSea has committed $5 million to assist NFT creators and developers with legal fees if they receive similar notices. The company aims to protect innovation in the NFT industry from regulatory pressures.

Finzer concluded by expressing hope that the SEC will reconsider its stance, vowing that OpenSea will continue to defend the NFT industry.

Alexander Stefanov