SEC ends Uniswap investigation! Founder: Spent millions of dollars and 3 years, DeFi finally wins

The SEC's investigation into Uniswap Labs officially concluded yesterday without taking any enforcement action, which Uniswap called a 'Decentralized Finance major victory.' Founder Hayden Adams stated that the investigation lasted for 3 years, costing millions of dollars and putting immense pressure on the team... Last April, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the U.S. issued a Wells notice to Ethereum DEX leader Uniswap Labs, accusing them of operating an unregistered securities exchange, engaging in unregistered brokerage or clearing activities, and even involving unregistered security issuance, potentially facing legal risks. Now, this saga has finally come to an end as Uniswap Labs announced early this morning that the SEC officially closed the investigation yesterday without taking any enforcement action. The official description labels this as a 'Decentralized Finance major victory' and emphasizes: 'This once again proves the fact we have always believed in - the technology we build stands on the right side of the law, and our work stands on the right side of history.' Uniswap: Decentralized Finance is the future, and now the U.S. can lead this trend. Uniswap Labs further stated in a declaration that Decentralized Finance is improving the financial markets, allowing users to trade instantaneously, securely, transparently, without relinquishing control of assets. At Uniswap Labs, we are committed to expanding the accessibility of Decentralized Finance through technology, enhancing Liquidity and price transparency, reducing reliance on intermediary institutions, and dropping Transaction Cost. Our products not only serve users but also strengthen the entire financial system. Uniswap also acknowledges the new leadership at the SEC, believing that they are re-examining enforcement investigations and litigations within the industry, not limited to the Uniswap case, and realizing there are more effective ways to protect American consumers. The end of this investigation is not just a victory for Uniswap Labs but also a collective victory for the Decentralized Finance community, developers, and users as we strive to build a better financial system. Finally, Uniswap reiterates their willingness to engage in dialogues with regulatory agencies and policymakers to establish a clear and reasonable regulatory framework for Decentralized Finance and looks forward to engaging in more constructive discussions in the future. Hayden Adams: SEC's investigation consumed 3 years and millions of dollars from us. In response, Uniswap co-founder Hayden Adams elaborated on the SEC's (previous administration) investigation lasting for 3 years, costing them countless time and millions of dollars, even bringing personal pressure. He pointed out: Federal investigations are intrusive and stressful, to the extent that there is a legal saying: 'The investigation itself is the punishment.' But this should not be the cost that American innovators have to bear. He emphasized that Uniswap Labs is not a broker, the Uniswap protocol itself is not an unregistered exchange or clearing entity, and UNI Token is not a security. However, the SEC still took enforcement action against Uniswap Labs, attempting to include Decentralized Finance in a regulatory framework that is incompatible with its essence through arbitrary enforcement, without providing clear rules or Compliance pathways. These charges by the SEC have now been dropped, leading him to state that this victory belongs to the entire Decentralized Finance ecosystem: This once again proves our stance: Decentralization technology and self-custody are fundamentally different from the centralized intermediary systems they aim to replace. He further pointed out that self-custody funds running on Smart Contracts on public chains bring unprecedented transparency to the financial markets. Applying regulatory frameworks designed for the centralized, opaque TradFi market to Decentralized Finance is fundamentally unworkable. Lastly, Adams expressed gratitude to the new SEC leadership for taking a more constructive regulatory approach and looks forward to future cooperation to ensure that Decentralized Finance can thrive in the U.S. rather than being forced overseas. The SEC under the previous administration 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... - Hayden Adams on February 25, 2025. Related Reports: Afraid of being targeted by the SEC? Uniswap delays 'protocol fee rewards for stakers' vote, UNI plummets in response. Uniswap fights back against SEC securities accusations: UNI Token is a 'file format,' not an investment contract. Opinion: SEC plans to bring an impossible lawsuit against Uniswap Labs. 'SEC Ends Uniswap Investigation! Founder: 3 Years and Millions of Dollars Burned, Decentralized Finance Finally Triumphs' This article was first published on BlockTempo by BlockTempo, the most influential blockchain news media.