SEC Sues Helium Network’s Nova Labs For Securities Violation
The post SEC Sues Helium Network’s Nova Labs For Securities Violation appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com.
US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed a lawsuit against Nova Labs, the creator of Helium Network, alleging that it sold ‘unregistered securities’ and misled investors about high-profile partnerships. SEC Alleges Helium Network’s Creator Nova Labs Misled Investors The lawsuit was filed against three Helium-related tokens: the Helium Network Token (HNT), Helium Mobile Token (MOBILE), and Helium IoT Network Token (IoT). As per SEC’s filing, these three tokens were marketed and sold as unregistered securities, violating federal securities laws. Filed on Friday, SEC’s lawsuit seeks monetary penalties and a ban on Nova Labs from purchasing, offering, or selling crypto assets classified as securities. The SEC also accuses Nova Labs of overstating partnerships with major companies such as Nestlé, Lime, and Salesforce. Despite claims that these companies were actively using the Helium network, the SEC alleges they were neither customers nor users. In fact, the lawsuit reveals that when Nestlé and Lime learned of these claims, they sent cease-and-desist letters to Nova Labs. Helium founder Amir Haleem had previously responded to criticism regarding the use of logos from Lime and Salesforce on Helium’s website, stating the company had approval to discuss use cases but would implement stricter protocols for logo usage going forward to avoid any confusion. The lawsuit alleges that Nova Labs executives knowingly exaggerated these partnerships. In one internal message cited in the lawsuit, the company’s Business Development VP reportedly expressed disbelief that Nestlé hadn’t called them out sooner. Meanwhile, in response to Lime’s cease-and-desist letter, Nova Labs’ COO reportedly told the CEO “they also fired all their PR people so no one will challenge us.” Helium Network Founder Amir Haleem Criticizes SEC Founder Amir Haleem took to X, to call out the lawsuit as “the last gasp of a failed crusade against crypto companies in the U.S.” …
Filed under: News - @ January 20, 2025 3:23 am