Kraken Crypto Exchange Accused of Commingling Customer and Corporate Funds in SEC Lawsuit

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed a lawsuit against Kraken, accusing the crypto exchange of violating federal securities laws by commingling customer and corporate funds while operating as an unregistered broker, clearing agency, and dealer. The SEC alleges that Kraken created a "significant risk" by commingling up to $33 billion in customer crypto with its own corporate assets and holding more than $5 billion worth of its customers' cash. The regulator also claims that Kraken has paid operational expenses directly from bank accounts that hold customer cash. The SEC has previously filed similar suits against Binance and Coinbase, and settled allegations against Bittrex's now-shuttered U.S. wing.