SEC charges Nova Labs over crypto securities fraud and false partnership claims

The Securities and Exchange Commission has filed charges against Nova Labs for allegedly conducting unregistered securities offerings and making false statements about business partnerships to mislead investors.

According to the SEC’s complaint , Nova Labs has been selling unregistered investment contracts since April 2019 through two main products: “Hotspots” — electronic devices that mine three different Nova Labs crypto assets (HNT, MOBILE, and IOT tokens), and a “Discovery Mapping Program” that rewards users with MOBILE tokens for providing network data.

The complaint alleges that Nova Labs promised investors their Hotspots and participation in the Discovery Mapping Program would generate returns through the company’s efforts to build and expand a wireless network. Nova Labs claimed this would increase demand and value for their crypto tokens, leading to profits for investors.

Nova Labs made false statements about its wireless network

In a serious allegation of fraud, the SEC states Nova Labs falsely told investors that major companies, including Nestlé, Salesforce, and Lime, were actively using its wireless network.

The complaint reveals that when Nestlé and Lime discovered Nova Labs was publicly claiming these nonexistent relationships, they sent cease-and-desist letters to the company.

The SEC charges that these false partnership claims were material to investors’ decisions to purchase Nova Labs’ Hotspots and company stock, violating antifraud provisions of federal securities laws.

The case specifically cites violations of Sections 5(a) and 5(c) of the Securities Act of 1933 for unregistered securities offerings and alleged fraud violations under Section 17(a)(2).

The Commission is seeking several remedies, including permanent injunctions, disgorgement of illegal profits with interest, and civil monetary penalties. This enforcement action continues the SEC’s focus on cryptocurrency companies operating outside securities registration requirements while allegedly making false claims to attract investors.