On February 20, 2025, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced the creation of the Cyber and Emerging Technologies Unit (“CETU”) to protect retail investors from cyber-related misconduct by bad actors who seek to misuse innovation, which ultimately diminishes confidence in emerging technologies. The CETU, which replaces the Crypto Assets and Cyber Unit, complements the work of the Crypto Task Force. The new unit will be led by Laura D’Allaird and will utilize the fintech and cyber-related skills of approximately 30 fraud specialists and attorneys in multiple SEC offices. The Unit will focus on combatting misconduct involving securities transactions in several areas of priority, including acts of fraud involving emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning; scams that utilize social media, the dark web, or fake websites; and fraud involving blockchain technology and crypto assets.