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The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has agreed to drop its securities enforcement case against MetaMask after reaching an agreement with Consensys, the company behind the popular crypto wallet.
The US SEC sued Consensys Software, Inc. on June 28, 2024, alleging that the developer of the MetaMask self-hosted wallet acted as an unregistered broker through MetaMask’s interface because of its swaps and staking “services.”
The SEC also alleged that Consensys offered unregistered offerings and sales by acting as an “underwriter” of liquid staking programs termed as investment contract securities by the SEC.
Final decision expected from the SEC Commission
The case, which has loomed over MetaMask for about a year now, is set to close pending approval from the SEC Commission.
In a detailed post shared on X, Lubin expressed relief at the outcome, noting that Consensys was prepared to fight the suit to the end but welcomed the resolution.
Lubin said that no company enjoys being targeted by regulators, though he framed the battle as a duty to defend blockchain developers.
I’m pleased to announce that Consensys and the SEC have agreed in principle that the securities enforcement case concerning MetaMask should be dismissed. Subject to the approval of the Commission, the SEC will file a stipulation with the court that effectively closes the case.…
Notably, this agreement follows a tumultuous period for Consensys and the SEC.
In April 2024, Consensys took the offensive by suing the SEC to protect Ethereum, the world’s second-largest blockchain, from regulatory overreach.
Consensys argued that Ethereum’s vitality and accessibility for developers, market participants, and institutions were at stake.
Today, Consensys filed a lawsuit against the Securities and Exchange Commission. The goal behind this is to ensure that Ethereum remains a vibrant and indispensable blockchain platform and to preserve access for the countless developers, market participants, and institutions…
Seemingly, Consensys’ lawsuit paid off, as it led the SEC to drop a separate investigation into Ethereum.
Lubin has praised the efforts of Consensys’ legal team, led by Matt Corva. He also thanked the broader Consensys family for their unwavering commitment.
Lubin highlighted how every legal win, though hard-fought, paves the way for a better financial system and internet.
Lubin sees a shift in the SEC’s approach under new leadership. He described it as pro-innovation and pro-investor, a welcome change for the crypto space.
Consensys plans to stay engaged with policymakers, pushing for policies that benefit consumers and businesses alike.
The company believes the US is on track to embrace crypto’s potential.
With the lawsuit now behind them, Consensys is refocusing on innovation.
Lubin predicted that 2025 would be a landmark year for both Ethereum and Consensys. He pointed to an accelerating shift toward a decentralized world, with Consensys at the forefront.
MetaMask is updating its logo
Notably, the timing of the dropping of the lawsuit coincides with MetaMask’s logo update.
The MetaMask team had announced a logo update across its products, website, and social media scheduled for February 27.
On February 27, we’ll be introducing an updated MetaMask logo across all surfaces, including our products, website, and social media. We’re giving you a heads up about this so you aren’t alarmed when the changes occur. There will be NO action that you need to take! 🦊🧡
They, however, reassured users that the beloved fox icon would stay, cute as ever, and no action was needed from the community.
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