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In response to the recent lawsuits brought forth by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) against Binance and Coinbase, the Solana Foundation has raised its objections to the classification of its native token, SOL, as a security.
SOL, introduced in March 2020, serves as a utility token within the Solana blockchain ecosystem. It is utilized for transaction validation, payment of fees, and participation in governance decisions. The Solana Foundation argues that SOL's utility nature contradicts its newly assigned security status. The SEC's decision hinges on the potential profitability of SOL tokens through the efforts of others, rather than solely on their usage and promotion. This determination could subject Solana's operations to a different regulatory landscape, necessitating additional compliance requirements. In response, the Foundation plans to collaborate closely with the SEC and legal experts to address the concerns raised.
In essence, the SEC considers securities as investment contracts, including traditional financial instruments like stocks, bonds, and shares. The agency advises a comprehensive evaluation to determine if a digital asset exhibits characteristics that would classify it as a security under federal law.
Adding further complexity to the matter, the Solana Foundation has previously conducted private token sales, which are typically regarded as security offerings. These sales were carried out through a Simple Agreement for Future Tokens (SAFT), enabling the Foundation to raise funds from institutional investors and venture firms. Compliance with SEC guidelines was maintained through appropriate filing procedures, with investors subjected to a holding period.
During Solana's Initial Coin Offering (ICO) in March 2020, SOL tokens were also made available to the public. The ICO raised $1.76 million for the Solana Foundation by allocating 8 million tokens, representing slightly over 1.5% of the initial token supply, at a rate of $0.21 per token. Despite these previous activities, the Solana Foundation maintains hope for policy clarity within the digital asset industry, while standing firm in its rejection of SOL's classification as a security.
