200 Companies Under Investigation for Alleged Information Leaks Tied to Crypto-Related Stock Rallies
- SEC and FINRA investigate 200+ firms for crypto-linked stock surges and Reg FD violations tied to pre-announcement trading patterns. - Cases like Bitmine's 1,000% stock jump before Ethereum treasury plans raise concerns over nonpublic information leaks. - Regulators scrutinize $100B+ crypto-treasury trend, warning against market manipulation risks and unequal investor disclosures. - Legal experts warn probes could reshape corporate crypto strategies amid sector growth and fragile "mNAV flywheel" models.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) along with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) are currently examining more than 200 publicly listed companies for possible insider trading and breaches of Regulation Fair Disclosure (Reg FD) related to their strategies involving cryptocurrency holdings. These investigations are centered on irregular trading activity detected in the periods leading up to announcements by these companies regarding their intentions to invest in
According to reports from the Wall Street Journal and Reuters, these inquiries reflect a rising pattern of public firms turning to crypto-treasury strategies—raising funds to acquire digital assets either as a safeguard against inflation or to emulate the achievements of companies such as MicroStrategy. Collectively, over 200 companies have amassed upwards of $100 billion for crypto acquisitions in 2025. Nevertheless, the SEC and FINRA are closely reviewing whether these disclosures complied with Reg FD, which requires that all investors receive equal access to important information. Dozens of companies have received official notices cautioning them against actions that might be considered market manipulation.
Some of the questionable activities involve companies like
Regulators are also paying attention to the inherent risks in corporate crypto treasuries. The “mNAV flywheel” approach—where increasing share prices allow for more crypto purchases, which in turn boosts market confidence—has been adopted by companies like MicroStrategy. However, this model can become unstable if the market value (mNAV) drops below 1, potentially leading to rapid sell-offs and a loss of investor trust. With more than 194 public companies now collectively holding over 1 million BTC (worth $110 billion), the sector’s swift expansion has brought greater regulatory attention to issues of compliance and transparency.
Legal specialists caution that these investigations may lead to significant changes in how corporations approach crypto strategies. Venture capitalist Mike Dudas described the current situation as a “brewing bloodbath,” emphasizing the need for tougher enforcement to rebuild confidence in the industry. Regulators are also probing whether insider trading laws have been broken, especially in cases where insiders or their associates may have acted on leaked information. These ongoing probes highlight the difficulties of maintaining both innovation and market fairness in an industry characterized by high volatility and shifting regulations.
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Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.
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