Musk and Markus Challenge SEC's Claim that Crypto Lacks Inherent Value

• Elon Musk and Dogecoin co-creator Billy Markus question the SEC's stance that cryptocurrencies lack "innate or inherent value."
• The SEC's argument against Coinbase extends beyond the "Howey Test," emphasizing the flexible interpretation of federal securities laws.
• The SEC is also in a separate legal dispute with Elon Musk over his Twitter stock acquisition, adding another layer to the agency's scrutiny of high-profile tech figures.

A spirited exchange on social media between Dogecoin co-creator Billy Markus and Tesla CEO Elon Musk has reignited discussions about the intrinsic value of cryptocurrencies. The dialogue, which unfolded on October 9, 2023, comes in the wake of a contentious claim by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that digital currencies lack "innate or inherent value." Critiquing the regulator, the dogecoin co-founder wrote on X,Billy Markus, also known by his online pseudonym Shibetoshi Nakamoto, took to social media to challenge the SEC's position. His post, which questioned the agency's logic given the taxes he's paid on cryptocurrency, quickly gained traction and became a focal point of discussion.

Elon Musk also weighed in on the issue, questioning the SEC's logic. He asked, "It’s real if you have to pay taxes, but otherwise not real?".

This public discourse serves as a backdrop to the SEC's ongoing legal battle with Coinbase, one of the leading cryptocurrency exchanges. The SEC has argued that cryptocurrencies should be considered securities, invoking not only the 'Howey Test,' a legal framework used to determine what constitutes an investment contract, but also emphasizing that federal securities laws are designed to be interpreted flexibly.

Read full article at CryptoTale.