- The SEC has dropped its investigation into Uniswap Labs without pursuing enforcement action
- This decision follows similar closures of probes into crypto firms like Coinbase, Robinhood and OpenSea
- The regulatory shift indicates a more lenient approach toward the cryptocurrency industry under the current U.S. administration
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has officially ended its investigation into Uniswap Labs, opting not to pursue any enforcement actions against the decentralized finance (DeFi) platform. This development comes on the heels of the SEC closing similar investigations into other prominent crypto entities, including Robinhood and OpenSea, signaling a broader regulatory easing toward the cryptocurrency sector under the current administration. The decision to ditch all these investigations raises the prospect of its appeal against Ripple also being canned.
“Huge Win for DeFi”
Uniswap Labs announced on February 25, 2025, that the SEC had concluded its probe without filing charges. The investigation, which began in April 2024 with the issuance of a Wells notice, centered on allegations that Uniswap operated as an unregistered securities broker and exchange, and had issued unregistered securities.
In response to the SEC’s decision, Uniswap described the outcome as a “huge win for DeFi,” emphasizing their commitment to compliant innovation within the decentralized finance space:
The conclusion of our investigation is not only welcome – and just – relief for Uniswap Labs, but also for the broader DeFi community of builders, users, and developers working toward a better financial system for all of us.
This regulatory leniency is not isolated to Uniswap; recently, the SEC also terminated its investigations into Coinbase, Robinhood and the NFT marketplace OpenSea. These actions reflect a significant shift in the SEC’s regulatory stance under the current U.S. administration, with the agency appearing to be adopting a more accommodating approach toward the cryptocurrency industry, moving away from the stringent enforcement policies characteristic of previous leadership.
The SEC (under the previous admin) tried to claim that Uniswap Labs operated an unregistered broker, exchange, and clearing agency, and issued an unregistered security. Those claims have now been dropped.@Uniswap Labs is not a broker. The Uniswap Protocol is not an unregistered… https://t.co/uVPgkN35DT
— Hayden Adams 🦄 (@haydenzadams) February 25, 2025
The broader implications of this regulatory shift suggest a more favorable environment for crypto and NFT companies operating in the United States. As the SEC continues to reassess its approach, industry participants remain optimistic about the potential for clearer guidelines and a more supportive regulatory framework that balances consumer protection with technological advancement.
