The Watchdog of Wall Street: From the New Deal to the Crypto Crackdown
Episode 1252
In this episode, we dive deep into the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the independent agency created in the aftermath of the 1929 Wall Street crash to restore investor confidence. We explore the agency's evolution from its first chairman, Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., to its modern role as the enforcer of federal securities laws.
Tune in to learn:
- How It Works: We break down the agency's structure, including the five presidentially appointed commissioners and the powerful Division of Enforcement, which investigates market manipulation and fraud.
- Key Tools: Discover how the SEC uses the EDGAR database to ensure public companies reveal financial truths to investors and how its whistleblower program has paid out over $1 billion to informants.
- Regulatory Failures: We examine the agency’s most controversial moments, including the destruction of investigative documents and the failure to stop the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme despite repeated warnings.
- The Crypto Battle: We discuss the SEC's recent aggressive enforcement actions against cryptocurrency platforms like Binance and Coinbase and the debate over classifying digital assets as securities.
Whether you are an investor or just curious about financial history, this episode reveals how the SEC attempts to maintain fair, orderly, and efficient markets in an ever-changing economy.
Published on 1 day, 12 hours ago