Robinhood to pay US$45 million to settle SEC charges over record keeping, other violations

ONLINE trading firm Robinhood Markets has agreed to pay US$45 million to settle US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charges over record keeping, trade reporting and other rule violations, the regulator said on Monday (Jan 13).

Regulators found Robinhood Securities and Robinhood Financial violated numerous requirements such as accurately reporting trading activity; filing timely reports of suspicious activity; maintaining records and complying with short sale rules, said SEC acting director Sanjay Wadhwa.

Robinhood also became among the latest broker-dealers to admit to breaking rules over retaining work-related communications with employees’ use of messaging apps and other “off-channel” communication platforms.

The firm admitted to those failures as well as deficient trading data, known as blue sheets. Robinhood also failed to adequately address cybersecurity risks, regulators found. Robinhood general counsel Lucas Moskowitz said the firm is pleased to have resolved the matters.

“We are well-positioned to continue leading the industry in developing the innovative products and services our customers want and need,” he said. “We look forward to working with the SEC under a new administration.” REUTERS