Australian financial regulators have ordered Holon, a digital assets manager, to stop funding Bitcoin, Filecoin and Ethereum temporarily. The agency reportedly claimed that the funds do not comply with their target market determination (TMD) rules.
Regulators Temporarily Stopped Holon’s Crypto Funding Operation
According to reports, the Australian Security and Investment Commission (ASIC) has placed an interim embargo on three crypto funding on Holon’s platform. Consequently, the crypto lending platform has halted customers from investing in BTC, ETH, and FIL.
Furthermore, the financial agency explained that the funds are not compliant with their TMD rules. A target market determination (TMD) is a file that describes who is eligible for a product and how to distribute the product.
Additionally, ASIC stated that Holon didn’t properly examine the risks and components of the funds before setting their target markets. The agency added that the funds do not fit the vast target market conditions stated in the TMD.
According to ASIC, investors can lose fortunes to unregulated crypto funding. It also noted that the product disclosure statement on Holon’s platform said funds could lose value completely.
The agency continued that its order would help prevent retail investors from wasting their funds on investments that do not suit their purposes or needs. It added that the order would stand for 21 days; however, they can revoke it before.
Holon Might Face Permanent Stop Order From ASIC
Reports also stated that Holon would not be able to share its PDS as long as the order stands. Meanwhile, without its PDS, the platform cannot advise on funds nor offer retail investors its funds shares.
The agency instructed Holon to make necessary changes in its funding policies for it to lift the embargo. It emphasized that if the crypto platform failed to effect timely changes, it might face permanent stop order.
However, ASIC did not provide enough information in its reports on the amendments it wants Holon to effect. Meanwhile, a Holon spokesman stated that the crypto firm is not ready to comment on the order at the moment.
The three funds involved are centralized investment schemes, namely, Holon ETH Fund, Holon BTC Fund, and Holon FIL Fund. The investment scheme allows investors to pool funds together and rewards them with relative stakes. Furthermore, the platform uses the money realized from the pool to purchase crypto assets funds from the Gemini exchange, according to reports.