How did Ethereum get round the SEC rules on selling unregistered securities, or is it registered with them?
Yes it's forgotten that Ethereum tried a sale back in January but it was cancelled when they found out it was breaking Ontario Government laws on securities and crowd funding. No idea how they are able to renew the Ether sale without breaking laws in Canada. I imagine Ethereum has either relocated to Switzerland or Uganda as indicated on their website.
I don't think relocating can exempt them from Canadian law, especially when prior evidence indicates it was a Canadian operation, but that doesn't matter since the laws takes years to prosecute people and Ethereum company by then could be dissolved. Maybe Vitalik could be under house arrest like Charlie Shrem but then it's Canada so he'ld probably just get probation "don't you ever do that again young mister, oh and you can keep that $8 million you made".
Switzerland and it's not really an IPO. Loopholes baby
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2PAHMxQCDAQ#t=216Won't stop them from getting prosecuted baby if enough people complain to their respective governments
Also just because you say "This is not an ipo. ETH is not a security or derivative" does not make it so. The OSC or the SEC could see it very differently...
Indeed. I would like to see that hold up in court. They're going to get attention by both the Canadian and Swiss authorities and I don't think a "disclaimer" can make them bypass laws on securities and crowd funding.
The group of developers and other personnel that is now, or will be, employed by, or contracted with, Ethereum Switzerland GmbH (“EthSuisse”) is termedthe“EthereumTeam.” EthSuisse will be liquidated shortly after creation of genesis block, andEthSuisseanticipates(butdoesnot guarantee) that after it is dissolved the Ethereum Platform will continue to be developed by persons and entities who support Ethereum, including both volunteers and developers who arepaidbynonprofitentities interested in supporting the Ethereum Platform.
Yup, so they already admit their first plan is to dissolve Ethereum right after it launches. Talk about a scam. Their main concern is not launching Ether but purposely trying to avoid any legal issues in an illegal securities / crowd funding offer.