The SECs policy on cryptocurrencies

-Source-CNBC- The Securities and Exchange Commission may be getting set to clear up confusion around whether and under what conditions initial coin offerings and possibly alt-coins like ether and ripple constitute securities. William Hinman a key SEC official for formulating policy on bitcoin and blockchain is speaking Thursday at Yahoos All Markets Summit: Crypto in San Francisco. Hinman head of the Division of Corporate Finance will likely attempt to clear up two of the biggest hurdles cryptocurrencies are facing: Are ICOs securities and required to register with the SEC and are alt-coins like ripple and ether securities? These issues along with the SECs refusal to approve a bitcoin ETF have been a significant cloud over the development of cryptocurrencies and the blockchain buildout. No one is quite sure what the rules are JJ Kinahan chief market strategist for TD Ameritrade told CNBC. Getting clarity about whats allowed and whats not is always helpful to the markets. But SEC Chairman Jay Clayton says the agency has been pretty clear on what a security is. He spoke at the Sandler ONeill Global Exchange conference last week. In an interview Clayton told CNBC that the classic definition of a security would be used to evaluate crypto assets and ICOs. If you are raising money from a centralized source for a project that people are investing in with the expectation of a return that is an investment and a security.