Decoding SEC actions: enforcement trends through analyzing blockchain litigation using LLM-based thematic factor mapping
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Luo, Junliang
Xiong, xihan
Knottenbelt, William
lui, xue
Type
Conference Paper
Abstract
Blockchain’s potential for both financial and societal benefits is affected by regulatory ambiguities and enforcement actions against blockchain entities. Evolving regulatory frameworks emphasize the need for insights to protect users, small investors, and ensure equitable participation. Currently, the lack of systematic analysis creates barriers to understanding trends and making informed decisions
about participation. This study proposes methods to analyze litigation drivers by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), to facilitate regular users’ understanding of regulatory trends to make informed decisions about blockchain participation. Utilizing pretrained language models and large language models, we systematically map all SEC complaints against blockchain companies from
2012 to 2024 to thematic factors conceptualized to delineate the factors that drive SEC actions. We quantify the thematic factors and assess their influence on the legal Acts cited within the complaints on an annual basis, allowing us to discern the regulatory emphasis, patterns and conduct trend analysis.
about participation. This study proposes methods to analyze litigation drivers by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), to facilitate regular users’ understanding of regulatory trends to make informed decisions about blockchain participation. Utilizing pretrained language models and large language models, we systematically map all SEC complaints against blockchain companies from
2012 to 2024 to thematic factors conceptualized to delineate the factors that drive SEC actions. We quantify the thematic factors and assess their influence on the legal Acts cited within the complaints on an annual basis, allowing us to discern the regulatory emphasis, patterns and conduct trend analysis.
Date Acceptance
2025-04-24
Publisher
ACM
Copyright Statement
Subject to copyright. This paper is embargoed until publication. Once published the author’s accepted manuscript will be made available under a CC-BY License in accordance with Imperial’s Research Publications Open Access policy (www.imperial.ac.uk/oa-policy).
Source
20th International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Law (ICAIL 2025)
Publication Status
Accepted
Start Date
2025-06-16
Finish Date
2025-06-20
Coverage Spatial
Chicago, ILL, USA