SEC vs Uniswap: SEC Initiates Lawsuit Against Uniswap

Uniswap’s CEO, Hayden Adams stated that the exchange is prepared to defend itself, following notification of a regulatory action from the authorities.

Prasanna Peshkar

Prasanna Peshkar

April 11, 2024 8:03 AM

SEC vs Uniswap: SEC Initiates Lawsuit Against Uniswap
Categories: Uniswapuniswap cryptuni crypto

Uniswap, a decentralized crypto exchange, announced on Wednesday that it has been notified by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) about potential enforcement proceedings. Following this disclosure, Uniswap's native token, UNI, experienced an immediate 16.81% decline in value.

SEC Files Lawsuit Against Uniswap

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has taken legal action against the decentralized cryptocurrency exchange Uniswap. On Wednesday, the agency sent a formal notice to Uniswap, informing them of the lawsuit that will be filed.

Uniswap CEO Hayden Adams revealed on X that the company had received the Wells notice, noting that while he wasn't surprised, he felt "annoyed, disappointed, and ready to fight."

During a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, Uniswap’s COO Mary-Catherine Lader and Chief Legal Officer Marvin Ammori informed reporters about the Wells notice they received. They explained that the notice outlined allegations of Uniswap acting as an unregistered securities broker and unregistered securities exchange. It's still uncertain whether the SEC's notice included any implications regarding Uniswap's native token, UNI, as a potential security.

Ammori expressed his belief that Uniswap does not currently meet the SEC's definition of an exchange. He referenced a recent ruling in the SEC's case against Coinbase, where a judge determined that Coinbase Wallet was not a broker, which he sees as a positive indicator for Uniswap's defense against similar charges. While the judge allowed other SEC allegations against Coinbase to proceed, this ruling suggests a favorable outcome for Uniswap.

Adams also voiced his confidence in Uniswap's offerings being legally sound and aligned with the right direction of history. However, he criticized the SEC for targeting reputable entities like Uniswap and Coinbase instead of establishing clear regulatory guidelines. Adams highlighted the agency's apparent oversight of other problematic actors like FTX.

What could be the impact of this action on Uniswap?

In a blog post on Wednesday, Uniswap expressed frustration over the Wells notice and the SEC's legal actions against Coinbase and other crypto firms, viewing them as part of a larger political effort to target innovative blockchain technology companies.

Uniswap maintains that the tokens it offers for sale should not be considered securities, despite the SEC's stance that most tokens (excluding bitcoin) fall under their regulatory oversight.

The blog post explained, "Tokens are like digital file formats, similar to a pdf or spreadsheet, capable of storing various forms of value. They are not inherently securities, just as every piece of paper is not a stock certificate." Uniswap emphasized that the vast majority of tokens traded are stablecoins, community and utility tokens, and commodities like Ethereum and Bitcoin, which are clearly not securities.

In cases where a token might be deemed a security, Uniswap criticized the SEC for failing to establish a clear registration process for businesses.

Uniswap declined further comment, referring interested parties to CEO Hayden Adams' social media post and the company's official blog statement.

Will Uniswap crash to $0?

SEC vs Uniswap
UNI/USD Daily Chart- TradingView

As of today, the price of Uniswap (UNI) stands at $9.39, with a 24-hour trading volume of $1.58 billion. The market capitalization of Uniswap is $5.62 billion, and its market dominance is at 0.21%. Over the past 24 hours, the price of UNI has decreased by -16.81%.

Uniswap reached its highest price on May 3, 2021, hitting an all-time high of $44.93. The lowest price for Uniswap was recorded on November 5, 2020, at its all-time low of $1.766920. Since reaching its all-time high, the lowest price observed was $3.38 (cycle low), and the highest price since the last cycle low was $16.84 (cycle high).

Currently, the sentiment for Uniswap's price prediction is bullish, and the Fear & Greed Index is indicating a value of 76 (Extreme Greed).

The circulating supply of Uniswap is currently 598.74 million UNI out of a maximum supply of 1.00 billion UNI. The yearly supply inflation rate is 3.68%, equating to the creation of 21.25 million UNI in the last year.

The current market dynamics and regulatory framework suggest that the likelihood of Uniswap crashing to zero is relatively low. Despite recent price fluctuations and market corrections, Uniswap has shown resilience with a robust trading volume and a considerable market capitalization of $5.62 billion. The sentiment towards Uniswap's price prediction remains bullish, indicating positive investor outlook and potential growth opportunities.

The probability of Uniswap collapsing to zero appears low, primarily due to the current regulatory environment. Efforts to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for the cryptocurrency industry have encountered significant hurdles and are expected to remain stagnant leading up to the upcoming presidential election. 

This regulatory uncertainty suggests that extreme scenarios like a complete collapse of Uniswap are less probable in the near term. Uniswap's decentralized nature and innovative market model also contribute to its resilience against external challenges. Despite market fluctuations and regulatory complexities, Uniswap's strong market position and ongoing technological advancements support its potential for sustained stability and growth.

One key factor supporting Uniswap's stability is the broader regulatory environment. Efforts to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for the cryptocurrency industry have encountered obstacles and are expected to remain stagnant leading up to the upcoming presidential election. This regulatory uncertainty, while challenging for the industry as a whole, also means that drastic measures such as a complete collapse of Uniswap are less likely in the short to medium term.

Furthermore, Uniswap's role as a decentralized exchange (DEX) and its innovative automated market maker (AMM) model continue to attract users and liquidity. Despite regulatory headwinds, the decentralized nature of Uniswap provides a level of resilience against external factors.

While market conditions and regulatory uncertainties pose challenges, the fundamentals and market sentiment suggest that Uniswap is unlikely to crash to zero. The evolving regulatory framework and ongoing market developments will continue to influence Uniswap's trajectory.

Prasanna Peshkar
Article By

Prasanna Peshkar

Prasanna Peshkar is a seasoned writer and analyst specializing in cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. With a focus on delivering insightful commentary and analysis, Prasanna serves as a writer and analyst at CryptoTicker, assisting readers in navigating the complexities of the cryptocurrency market.

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