TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis released the following statement regarding the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) appointment of Valerie Szczepanik as the first cryptocurrency adviser. As Associate Director of the Division of Corporation Finance and Senior Adviser for Digital Assets and Innovation, Szczepanik will oversee how securities laws apply to emerging digital asset technologies, including Initial Coin Offerings and cryptocurrencies.

 

CFO Jimmy Patronis said, “The SEC’s appointment of a cryptocurrency chief is a forward-thinking and bold move. My office has been closely following cryptocurrency, and as with all emerging technology, there comes a new risk for consumers to be defrauded. With the Seminole County Tax Collector now accepting bitcoin as a form of payment and Tampa/St. Petersburg and Miami/Ft. Lauderdale ranking seventh and eighth in the top 10 bitcoin-friendly cities, it’s important we stay ahead of the game when it comes to consumer protection.

 

“Just last week my office issued a consumer alert on cryptocurrency investment scams. Today, I’ve directed my staff to set up a call with Associate Director Szczepanik to discuss how we can continue to protect consumers in our state.”