The Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) has issued a stop order on three crypto funds belonging to Sydney-based Holon Investments Australia Limited.
According to a Press Release shared by the regulator on Monday, the three Holon crypto funds include those linked to Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Filecoin (FIL) respectively.
According to the regulator, the reason for the halt in the offering of these crypto funds is that the firm did not meet the non-compliant target market determinations. ASIC fears that Holon is offering the product to retail investors whose investment goals and capabilities may not necessarily fit into the risks associated with the three products.
The regulator reiterated that the embargo is temporary and will remain so for the next 21 days. The selection of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Filing is essentially based on their extreme volatility and by a subtle extension, their popularity among retail investors.
“The interim orders stop Holon from issuing interests in, giving a product disclosure statement for or providing general advice to retail clients recommending investments in the Funds. The order is valid for 21 days unless revoked earlier,” the announcement reads, adding that “ASIC made the interim orders to protect retail investors from potentially investing in funds that may not be suitable for their financial objectives, situation or needs.”
The regulator noted that Holon Investments has the right to meet its requirements to offer the products, otherwise, it will place a final stop order on the products.
The Australian ecosystem is one that is very vibrant, however, with a lot of fraudulent practices hitting users in the country, regulators are very cautious in their attempts to protect the average consumer. The same sentiment is shared by regulators in other top economies like the United States and the United Kingdom.
In all, this offering of protection accounts for why many nations are still relatively slow with their embrace of regulation when compared to major crypto hubs like the UAE and Singapore.
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