SEC Launches Cross-Border Task Force to Combat International Fraud Schemes

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) unveiled a new Cross-Border Task Force on September 5, 2025, targeting fraudulent activities originating outside the country. The initiative will focus on market manipulation tactics like pump-and-dump schemes, particularly those involving foreign entities accessing U.S. capital markets.

SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins emphasized the agency's zero-tolerance approach toward bad actors, including intermediaries and gatekeepers facilitating cross-border fraud. The task force will leverage consolidated investigative resources to pursue transnational violations of securities laws.

Enforcement efforts will specifically scrutinize the role of auditors, underwriters, and jurisdictional factors in enabling fraudulent activities. This move signals heightened regulatory scrutiny of international market participants operating in the crypto space.