SEC clears Hinman of ethics breach in Ethereum speech

The SEC’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) has released its report on William Hinman, finding no criminal or ethics violations related to his 2018 speech stating Ethereum (ETH) was not a security. The OIG concluded the speech had no direct impact on Hinman's financial interests, and there’s no evidence he was involved in SEC matters linked to his former firm, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett (STB). The speech was collaboratively drafted by multiple SEC divisions and did not solely reflect Hinman's views. Empower Oversight, which obtained the report, criticized its narrow scope, focusing only on potential criminal conflicts, U.Today reported.