Unicoin shareholders voted on December 5 to approve the transition of the cryptocurrency into a decentralized, community-driven asset, following the board's recommendation. This move positions Unicoin as a non-security under recent SEC guidelines, paving the way for listings on major crypto exchanges. The decision comes amid the company's history of regulatory challenges.
On December 5, 2025, Unicoin held a special shareholder meeting where participants decisively approved the board of directors' plan to evolve the cryptocurrency into a decentralized, community-driven asset managed by the newly formed Unicoin Foundation. This strategic change, announced from New York on December 17, ensures Unicoin avoids classification as a security under guidelines from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Paul Atkins. The SEC rules specify that cryptocurrencies qualify as securities only with an "explicit and unambiguous expectation of essential managerial efforts to be undertaken by the issuer."
By delegating managerial duties to the foundation, Unicoin can now trade as a commodity on prominent global cryptocurrency exchanges, escaping limitations to low-volume platforms for crypto securities. The company is advancing plans for listings on several major exchanges.
Unicoin Inc., founded by Alex Konanykhin and Silvina Moschini, stands as the first audited and publicly reporting cryptocurrency firm in the United States. It aims to deliver an institutional-grade, American-made cryptocurrency that surpasses Bitcoin in scalability and energy efficiency. The project has set transparency benchmarks through near-daily shareholder updates on strategies, achievements, risks, and challenges.
In pre-ICO fundraising, Unicoin reached an $18 billion valuation, outpacing peers. It serves as the official currency for Unicorn Hunters, described by Forbes as "the most iconic business series of recent times." However, Unicoin faced intense scrutiny from the SEC's "War on Crypto" after announcing intentions to list on the New York Stock Exchange. CEO Alex Konanykhin chronicles this battle in his book, "Unicoin: War on Crypto and the Future of Money," highlighting efforts to shield shareholders from regulatory actions overseen by former SEC Chairman Gary Gensler. The SEC's attempts to dismantle Unicoin are explored in the upcoming mockumentary "A Trillion-Dollar Hit Job," now in post-production.