On January 10, 2022, the Securities and Exchange Commission
("SEC" or the "Commission") announced it settled charges in In re tZERO ATS, LLC, No. 93938 (SEC
Order Jan. 10, 2022) ("Order"). The Order details
how the SEC fined blockchain-based trading platform tZERO ATS, LLC
("tZERO"), an alternative trading systems
("ATS"), for alleged violations of Regulation ATS, which
requires certain disclosures to the Commission.
An ATS is a trading system that meets the definition of
"exchange" under federal securities laws but is not
required to register as a national securities exchange if the ATS
operates under an exemption provided under regulations under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange Act").
As stated in the Order, tZERO is an ATS that offers both
"digitally enhanced securities" recorded on a blockchain
and trading and settlement services for unique investments that may
not be available through traditional brokerages.