America's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) gave notice on December 19th that stock trading for The Crypto Company, a publicly-listed cryptocurrency firm, was being suspended until January 3rd, 2018. The Crypto Company's website states that the company is based in Malibu, California, and that its business provides consulting and associated investment services centred around blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies. 

The SEC are apparently concerned about "the accuracy and adequacy" of some of the firm’s published information, as well as statements made in their public Commission filings concerning the sale of its shares by so-called "insiders." Some doubts have also been expressed regarding potentially manipulative stock transactions in November 2017.

The company is numbered among several publicly-traded firms whose stock prices have risen along with the surging bitcoin and cryptocurrency markets, when total market capitalisation reached $600bn on December 19th. This relatively obscure company has seen soaring stock prices, increasing by more than 1,800% in November alone, and a market capitalisation of over $11bn.

The SEC also expressed concerns about compensation being paid to promote the company, which may reflect allegations of celebrity sponsorship cited in connection with some recent class action lawsuits.