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Headnote Application for time-limited relief from certain registrant obligations, prospectus requirement and trade reporting requirements – suitability relief to allow the Filer to distribute Crypto Contracts and operate a platform that facilitates the buying, selling and holding of crypto assets – relief granted subject to certain conditions set out in the decision, including investment limits for Crypto Contracts not based on bitcoin, ether, bitcoin cash or litecoin, account appropriateness, disclosure and reporting requirements – investment limits may be amended or removed for other crypto assets as they become more widely traded in regulated markets - relief is time-limited and will expire upon the earlier of two (2) years or the date the filer transitions the platform to its IIROC affiliate – relief granted based on the particular facts and circumstances of the application with the objective of fostering capital raising by innovative businesses in Canada – decision should not be viewed as precedent for other filers in the jurisdictions of Canada. Statute cited Securities Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. S.5, as amended, s. 1(1), 53 & 74 Instrument, Rule or Policy cited Multilateral Instrument 11-102 Passport System, s. 4.7 National Instrument 21-101 Marketplace Operation, s. 1.1 National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations, s. 12.1, 13.3 OSC Rule 91-506 Derivatives: Product Determination, s. 2 & 4 OSC Rule 91-507 Trade Repositories and Derivatives Data Reporting, Part 3 June 18, 2021 In the Matter of the Securities Legislation of Ontario (the Jurisdiction) and Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Prince Edward Island, Québec, Saskatchewan, and Yukon and In the Matter of the Process for Exemptive Relief Applications in Multiple Jurisdictions
Headnote Application for time-limited relief from certain registrant obligations, prospectus requirement and trade reporting requirements – suitability relief to allow the Filer to distribute Crypto Contracts and operate a platform that facilitates the buying, selling and holding of crypto assets – relief granted subject to certain conditions set out in the decision, including investment limits, account appropriateness, disclosure and reporting requirements – relief is time-limited and will expire upon the earlier of January 1, 2024 or the date the filer transitions the platform to its CIRO affiliate – relief granted based on the particular facts and circumstances of the application with the objective of fostering capital raising by innovative businesses in Canada – decision should not be viewed as precedent for other filers in the jurisdictions of Canada. Statute cited Securities Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. S.5, as amended, s. 1(1), 53 & 74 Instrument, Rule or Policy cited Multilateral Instrument 11-102 Passport System, s. 4.7 National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations, s. 13.3 OSC Rule 91-506 Derivatives: Product Determination, s. 2 & 4 OSC Rule 91-507 Trade Repositories and Derivatives Data Reporting, Part 3 IN THE MATTER OF THE SECURITIES LEGISLATION OF ONTARIO (the Jurisdiction) AND ALBERTA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, MANITOBA, NEW BRUNSWICK, NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR, NORTHWEST TERRITORIES, NOVA SCOTIA, NUNAVUT, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, QUÉBEC, SASKATCHEWAN AND YUKON AND IN THE MATTER OF THE PROCESS FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF APPLICATIONS IN MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS AND IN THE MATTER OF WEALTHSIMPLE DIGITAL ASSETS INC. (the Filer) 2 DECISION Background As set out in CSA Staff Notice 21-327 Guidance on the Application of Securities Legislation to Entities Facilitating the Trading of Crypto Assets (Staff Notice 21-327) and CSA Staff Notice 21-329 Guidance for Crypto-Asset Trading Platforms: Compliance with Regulatory Requirements (Staff Notice 21-329), securities legislation applies to crypto asset trading platforms (CTPs) that facilitate or propose to facilitate the trading of instruments or contracts involving crypto assets because the user’s contractual right to the crypto asset may itself constitute a security and/or a derivative (Crypto Contract). To foster innovation and respond to novel circumstances, the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) have considered an interim, time-limited registration that would allow CTPs to operate within a regulated environment, with regulatory requirements tailored to the CTPs’ operations. The overall goal of the regulatory framework is to ensure there is a balance between the need to be flexible and to facilitate innovation in the Canadian capital markets, while upholding the regulatory mandate of promoting investor protection and fair and efficient capital markets. The Filer is currently registered in the category of restricted dealer in all provinces. In connection with its registration as a restricted dealer, the Filer previously applied for and received exemptive relief in decisions dated August 7, 2020 and June 18, 2021 on terms substantially similar to this Decision. The Filer’s registration is also currently subject to additional terms and conditions in relation to the Filer’s provision of staking services. Under the terms and conditions of the decision In the Matter of Wealthsimple Digital Assets Inc. dated June 18, 2021 (the Prior Decision) and the terms and conditions imposed on its registration, the Filer has operated, and continues to operate, on an interim basis, a platform (the Platform) that permits clients resident in Canada to enter into Crypto Contracts to purchase, hold, stake, sell, deposit and withdraw crypto assets. The Filer wishes to ultimately carry on these activities through its affiliated entity, Wealthsimple Investments Inc. (WSII), which is registered as an investment dealer and a member of the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization, formerly the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (CIRO). The exemptive relief granted under the Prior Decision expired on June 18, 2023. The Filer has submitted an application to extend its existing exemptive relief in order to continue to operate the Platform on an interim basis until the activities of the Filer are transitioned to WSII, and to incorporate the terms and conditions related to the Filer’s provision of staking services into the Decision. This decision (Decision) has been tailored for the specific facts and circumstances of the Filer, and the securities regulatory authority or regulator in the Applicable Jurisdictions (as defined below) will not consider this Decision as constituting a precedent for other filers. 3 Relief Requested The securities regulatory authority or regulator in the Jurisdiction has received an application from the Filer (the Passport Application) for a decision under the securities legislation of the Jurisdiction (the Legislation) extending the time-limited exemption of the Filer from: a) the prospectus requirements under the Legislation in respect of the Filer entering into Crypto Contracts with clients to purchase, hold, sell, deposit, withdraw and stake Crypto Assets (as defined below) (the Prospectus Relief); and b) the requirement in section 13.3 of National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations (NI 31-103), before it opens an account, takes investment action for a client or makes a recommendation or exercises discretion to take investment action, to determine on a reasonable basis that the action is suitable for the client (the Suitability Relief). The securities regulatory authority or regulator in the Jurisdiction and each of the other jurisdictions referred to in Appendix A (collectively, the Coordinated Review Decision Makers) have received an application from the Filer (collectively with the Passport Application, the Application) for a decision under the securities legislation of those jurisdictions exempting the Filer from certain reporting requirements under the Local Trade Reporting Rules (as defined in Appendix A) (the Trade Reporting Relief, and together with the Prospectus Relief and the Suitability Relief, the Requested Relief). Under the Process for Exemptive Relief Applications in Multiple Jurisdictions (for a hybrid application): (a) the Ontario Securities Commission is the principal regulator for the Application (the Principal Regulator), (b) in respect of the Prospectus Relief and the Suitability Relief, the Filer has provided notice that, in the jurisdictions where required, subsection 4.7(1) of Multilateral Instrument 11-102 Passport System (MI 11-102) is intended to be relied upon in each of the other provinces and territories of Canada (the Non-Principal Jurisdictions, and, together with the Jurisdiction, the Applicable Jurisdictions), and (c) the decision in respect of the Trade Reporting Relief is the decision of the Principal Regulator and evidences the decision of each Coordinated Review Decision Maker. Interpretation Terms defined in National Instrument 14-101 Definitions, MI 11-102 and Canadian securities legislation have the same meaning if used in this Decision, unless otherwise defined. For the purposes of this Decision, the following terms have the following meaning: (a) “Act” means the Securities Act (Ontario). (b) “Acceptable Third-party Custodian” means an entity that: 4 (i) is one of the following: 1. a Canadian custodian or Canadian financial institution, as those terms are defined in NI 31-103; 2. a custodian qualified to act as a custodian or sub-custodian for assets held in Canada pursuant to section 6.2 [Entities Qualified to Act as Custodian or Sub-Custodian for Assets Held in Canada] of National Instrument 81-102 Investment Funds; 3. a custodian that meets the definition of an “acceptable securities location” in accordance with the Investment Dealer and Partially Consolidated Rules and Form 1 of CIRO; 4. a foreign custodian (as defined in NI 31-103) for which the Filer has obtained the prior written consent from the Principal Regulator and the regulator or securities regulatory authority of the Applicable Jurisdiction(s); or 5. an entity that does not meet the criteria for a qualified custodian (as defined in NI 31-103) and for which the Filer has obtained the prior written consent from the Principal Regulator and the regulator or securities regulatory authority of the Applicable Jurisdiction(s); (ii) is functionally independent of the Filer within the meaning of NI 31-103; (iii) has obtained audited financial statements within the last twelve months which 1. are audited by a person or company that is authorized to sign an auditor’s report under the laws of a jurisdiction of Canada or a foreign jurisdiction and that meets the professional standards of that jurisdiction; 2. are accompanied by an auditor’s report that expresses an unqualified opinion, and 3. unless otherwise agreed to by the Principal Regulator, discloses on their statement of financial position or in the notes of the audited financial statements the amount of liabilities that it owes to its clients for holding their assets, and the amount of assets held by the custodian to meet its obligations to those custody clients, broken down by asset; and (iv) has obtained a Systems and Organization Controls (SOC) 2 Type 1 or SOC 2 Type 2 report within the last twelve months or has obtained a comparable report recognized by a similar accreditation board satisfactory to the Principal Regulator and the regulator or securities regulatory authority of the Applicable Jurisdiction(s); (c) “Apps” means iOS and Android applications that provide access to the Platform. (d) “IOSCO” means the International Organization of Securities Commissions. (e) “Promoter” has the meaning ascribed to that term in Canadian securities legislation. (f) “Proprietary Token” means a Crypto Asset that is not a Value-Referenced Crypto Asset, and for which the Filer or an affiliate of the Filer acted as the issuer (and mints or burns the Crypto Asset) or a promoter. 5 (g) “Specified Crypto Asset” means the Crypto Assets listed in Appendix B to this Decision. (h) “Specified Foreign Jurisdiction” means any of the following: Australia, Brazil, any member country of the European Union, Hong Kong, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America. (i) “Staking” means the act of committing or locking Crypto Assets in smart contracts to permit the owner or the owner’s agent to act as a Validator for a particular proof-ofstake consensus algorithm blockchain. (j) “Validator” means, in connection with a particular proof of stake consensus algorithm blockchain, an entity that operates one or more nodes that meet protocol requirements for a Crypto Asset and participates in consensus by broadcasting votes and committing new blocks to the blockchain. (k) “Value-Referenced Crypto Asset” means a Crypto Asset that is designed to maintain a stable value over time by referencing the value of a fiat currency or other value or right, or combination thereof. (l) “Website” means the website www.wealthsimple.com or such other website as may be used to host the Platform from time to time. Representations This decision (the Decision) is based on the following facts represented by the Filer: The Filer 1. The Filer is a corporation incorporated under the federal laws of Canada with its principal office in Toronto, Ontario. 2. The Filer is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wealthsimple Financial Corp. (WFC), a holding company that owns 100% of the issued and outstanding securities of several operating companies that are registered under applicable securities legislation in each of the provinces and territories of Canada, including Wealthsimple Inc., a registered adviser in the category of portfolio manager, and WSII, formerly Canadian ShareOwner Investments Inc., a registered dealer in the category of investment dealer and member of CIRO. 3. The Filer does not have any securities listed or quoted on an exchange or marketplace in any jurisdiction inside or outside of Canada. However, a majority of the voting securities of WFC are controlled by subsidiaries and entities affiliated with Power Corporation of Canada. Power Corporation of Canada is a reporting issuer under the legislation of the Applicable Jurisdictions and its securities are listed for trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange. 6 4. The Filer is registered as a dealer in the category of restricted dealer with the Applicable Jurisdictions. 5. The Filer’s books and records, financial controls and compliance systems (including its policies and procedures) are designed to closely resemble in all material respects, except as necessary to address operational differences, those in place today at WSII. 6. The Filer is registered as a money services business under regulations made under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (Canada). 7. The Filer’s personnel consists, and will consist, of software engineers, compliance professionals and finance professionals who each have experience operating in a regulated financial services environment and expertise in blockchain technology. All of the Filer’s personnel have passed and new personnel will have passed criminal records and credit checks. The Filer does not have any dealing representatives. 8. Subject to the Decision requested prior to the expiry of the Prior Decision, the Filer is not in default of securities legislation of any jurisdictions of Canada. 9. The Filer and WSII would like the Platform to be transitioned to and operated by WSII. 10. The Filer and WSII have been actively and diligently working with CIRO to transition the operation of the Platform from the Filer to WSII, including: (a) analyzing the CIRO Rules to identify areas where exemptive relief from CIRO Rules may be required in light of the Platform and the Filer’s activities; (b) preparing multiple detailed documentary packages comprehensively describing the Platform, how WSII will comply with CIRO Rules and where exemptive relief may be required; (c) preparing responses to written requests for information received from CIRO Staff; (d) preparing and presenting on the Platform at numerous meetings with CIRO Staff; (e) preparing draft exemptive relief applications, where such relief may be required from CIRO; (f) updating policies and procedures to reflect the CIRO’s requirements; (g) planning and implementing of changes to WSII’s accounting ledger to accommodate crypto asset trading in accordance with the CIRO’s requirements; and (h) developing a structure for the legal transaction by which the Platform operated by the Filer will be transitioned to WSII. 7 11. Since June 2021, the Filer has engaged numerous additional legal, compliance, trading, anti-money laundering, operational and financial personnel to support the Platform and the transition efforts. 12. The transition efforts have also involved senior operational, legal, trading and financial personnel from WSII, and members of broader product, engineering, security, finance, operations, fraud, communications, compliance and legal teams from the Wealthsimple group of companies have supported the transition efforts, in addition to other responsibilities. 13. The Filer requires additional time to complete the transition of the Platform to WSII. The Filer anticipates the following key steps will need to be taken: (a) responding to any further requests for information from CIRO; (b) completing work necessary for WSII’s accounting ledger to consume and reflect activity in Crypto Assets; (c) completing the integration of an order management system into the Crypto Asset trading workflow; (d) submitting applications for exemptive relief to the CIRO and addressing any comments on those applications; (e) submitting an application from WSII for exemptive relief from the prospectus and trade reporting requirements; (f) receiving CIRO approval of the amalgamation of WSII and the Filer; and (g) completing the amalgamation of the Filer and WSII, including providing notice to the Filer’s key stakeholders, including clients, custodians and liquidity providers. 14. The Filer and WSII will continue to work actively and diligently with CIRO to transition the operation of the Platform from the Filer to WSII and under the oversight of CIRO. Wealthsimple Crypto 15. The Filer operates under the business name of “Wealthsimple Crypto”. The Filer was established to operate, on an interim basis, the Platform, which enables clients to buy, sell, hold, deposit, withdraw and stake crypto assets such as Bitcoin, Ether, and anything commonly considered a crypto asset, digital or virtual currency, or digital or virtual token (each a Crypto Asset, collectively the Crypto Assets) through the Filer. 16. To use the Platform, each client must open an account (Client Account) using the Website or Apps. Client Accounts are governed by a user agreement (Client Account Agreement) that is accepted by clients at the time of account opening. The Client Account Agreement governs all activities in Client Accounts, including with respect to all Crypto Assets purchased on, or transferred to, the Platform (Client Assets). While 8 clients are entitled to transfer certain Client Assets out of their Client Accounts immediately after purchase, clients may choose to leave their Client Assets in their Client Accounts. 17. The Filer’s role under the Crypto Contract is to facilitate the buying, selling, and staking of Crypto Assets and to provide custodial services for all Crypto Assets held in Client Accounts. 18. The Filer’s trading of Crypto Contracts is consistent with activities described in Staff Notice 21-327 and constitutes the trading of securities and/or derivatives. 19. The Filer may buy, sell, borrow or hold Crypto Assets in its inventory for operational purposes, such as payment of network/transaction fees required to transfer Crypto Assets and testing. Otherwise, the Filer does not and will not hold any proprietary positions in Crypto Assets for itself and it does not take a long or short position in a Crypto Asset with any party, including clients. 20. The Filer does not have any authority to act on a discretionary basis on behalf of clients and will not offer or provide discretionary investment management services relating to Crypto Assets. 21. The Filer is not a member firm of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF) and the Crypto Assets custodied do not qualify for CIPF coverage. 22. The Risk Statement (defined below) includes disclosure that there is no CIPF coverage for the Crypto Assets and clients must acknowledge that they have received, read and understood the Risk Statement before opening an account with the Filer. Crypto Assets Made Available through the Platform 23. The Filer has established and applies policies and procedures to review Crypto Assets and to determine whether to allow clients on its Platform to enter into Crypto Contracts to buy, sell, stake or hold the Crypto Assets on its Platform in accordance with the know-your-product (KYP) provisions of NI 31-103 (KYP Policy). Such review includes, but is not limited to, publicly available information concerning: (a) the creation, governance, usage and design of the Crypto Asset, including the source code, security and roadmap for growth in the developer community and, if applicable, the background of the developer(s) that created the Crypto Asset; (b) the supply, demand, maturity, utility and liquidity of the Crypto Asset; (c) material technical risks associated with the Crypto Asset, including any code defects, security breaches and other threats concerning the Crypto Asset and its supporting blockchain (such as the susceptibility to hacking and impact of forking), or the practices and protocols that apply to them; and 9 (d) legal and regulatory risks associated with the Crypto Asset, including any pending, potential, or prior civil, regulatory, criminal, or enforcement action relating to the issuance, distribution, or use of the Crypto Asset. 24. The Filer only offers and only allows clients to enter into Crypto Contracts to buy, sell, stake, and hold Crypto Assets that are not each themselves a security and/or a derivative. The Filer allows clients to enter into Crypto Contracts in respect of certain Value-Referenced Crypto Assets. In light of the guidance in CSA Staff Notice 21-332 Crypto Asset Trading Platforms: Pre-Registration Undertakings – Changes to Enhance Canadian Investor Protection, the Filer is engaged in discussions with CSA Staff about continuing to allow clients to enter into Crypto Contracts in respect of certain Value-Referenced Crypto Assets. 25. The Filer does not allow clients to enter into a Crypto Contract to buy and sell Crypto Assets unless the Filer has taken steps to (a) assess the relevant aspects of the Crypto Assets pursuant to the KYP Policy and as described in paragraph 23 to determine whether it is appropriate for its clients; (b) approve the Crypto Asset, and Crypto Contracts to buy and sell such Crypto Asset, to be made available to clients, and (c) monitor the Crypto Asset for significant changes and review its approval under (b) where a significant change occurs. 26. The Filer is not engaged, and will not engage, in trades that are part of, or designed to facilitate, the creation, issuance or distribution of Crypto Assets by the developer(s) of the Crypto Asset, its issuers or affiliates or associates of such persons. 27. As set out in the KYP Policy, the Filer determines whether a Crypto Asset available to be bought or sold through a Crypto Contract is a security and/or derivative and is being offered in compliance with securities and derivatives laws, which include but are not limited to: (a) consideration of statements made by any regulators or securities regulatory authorities of the Applicable Jurisdictions, other regulators in IOSCO-member jurisdictions, or the regulator with the most significant connection to a Crypto Asset about whether the Crypto Asset, or generally about whether the type of Crypto Asset, is a security and/or derivative; and (b) if the Filer determines it to be necessary, obtaining legal advice as to whether the Crypto Asset is a security and/or derivative under securities legislation of the Applicable Jurisdictions. 28. The Filer monitors ongoing developments related to the Crypto Assets available on its Platform that may cause a Crypto Asset’s status as a security and/or derivative or the assessment conducted by the Filer pursuant to its KYP Policy and as described in paragraphs 23 to 27 to change. 10 29. The Filer acknowledges that any determination made by the Filer as set out in paragraphs 23 to 27 of this Decision does not prejudice the ability of any of the regulators or securities regulatory authorities of any province or territory of Canada to determine that a Crypto Asset that a client may enter into a Crypto Contract to buy and sell is a security and/or derivative. 30. The Filer has established and applies policies and procedures to promptly stop the trading of any Crypto Asset available on its Platform and to allow clients to liquidate in an orderly manner their positions in Crypto Contracts with underlying Crypto Assets that the Filer ceases to make available on its Platform. Account Opening 31. The Platform is available to any individual who is resident in Canada, who has reached the age of majority in the jurisdiction in which they are resident, and who has the legal capacity to open a securities brokerage account. 32. Clients of the Filer open a Client Account using the Apps or Website, which are owned by Wealthsimple Technologies Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of WFC. Clients use their Client Accounts to trade in Crypto Contracts. The Apps and Website clearly indicate that the Platform is operated by the Filer. 33. Clients also use the Apps or Website to open accounts with WSII. Clients’ cash is held in these accounts with WSII. WSII does not take orders from clients to buy or sell Crypto Assets. WSII’s role is limited to processing debits and credits into and out of a client’s cash brokerage account, based on instructions received from a client or from the Filer acting with the client’s authorization. Clients’ cash is only sent from their account with WSII to the Filer and from the Filer to their account with WSII, unless the client wishes to withdraw their cash from WSII. 34. The Filer does not provide recommendations or advice to clients or conduct a tradeby-trade suitability det
and In the Matter of Wealthsimple Digital Assets Inc. (the Filer) Decision Background As set out in CSA Staff Notice 21-327 Guidance on the Application of Securities Legislation to Entities Facilitating the Trading of Crypto Assets (CSA SN 21-327), if crypto assets that are securities and/or derivatives are traded on a platform, such platform would be subject to securities legislation. In addition, securities and/or derivatives legislation may apply to platforms that facilitate the buying and selling of crypto assets, including crypto assets that are commodities, because the user’s contractual right to the crypto asset may itself constitute a security and/or a derivative (Crypto Contract). To foster innovation and respond to novel circumstances, the CSA has considered an interim, time-limited registration framework that would allow crypto asset platforms to operate within a regulated environment, with regulatory requirements tailored to the crypto asset platform’s operations. The overall goal of the regulatory framework is to ensure there is a balance between the need to be flexible and facilitate innovation in the Canadian capital markets, while upholding the regulatory mandate of promoting investor protection and fair and efficient capital markets. The Filer is currently registered in all provinces. The Filer previously applied for and received exemptive relief in decisions dated August 7, 2020 (the Prior Decisions) on terms substantially similar to this Decision. Under the terms of the Prior Decisions, the Filer operates, on an interim basis, a platform that permits clients resident in Canada to enter into Crypto Contracts to purchase, hold and sell Bitcoin and Ether through the Filer. The Filer wishes to ultimately carry on this activity through its affiliated entity, which is registered as an investment dealer and a member of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC). While the Filer is engaged in discussions with IIROC on a regulatory approach for its affiliated entity to carry on this activity, the Filer has commenced operations. The Filer has submitted an application to expand the types of crypto assets that clients may purchase, hold and sell through the Filer, to amend the annual deposit limit, and to change its business model to permit clients to transfer into their account with the Filer, crypto assets they have purchased outside the Filer’s platform and withdraw from their account with the Filer, crypto assets they have purchased pursuant to their Crypto Contracts with the Filer. This Decision has been tailored for the specific facts and circumstances of the Filer, and the securities regulatory authority or regulator in the Applicable Jurisdictions (as defined below) will not consider this Decision as constituting a precedent for other filers. Relief Requested
The securities regulatory authority or regulator in the Jurisdiction has received an application from the Filer (the Passport Application) for a decision under the securities legislation of the Jurisdiction (the Legislation) exempting the Filer from: a) the prospectus requirements under the Legislation in respect of the Filer entering into Crypto Contracts with clients to purchase, hold and sell Crypto Assets (as defined below) (the Prospectus Relief); and b) the requirement in subsection 12.10(2) of National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations (NI 31-103) to deliver annual audited financial statements to the regulator and the requirement in section 13.3 of NI 31-103 to take reasonable steps to ensure that, before it makes a recommendation to or accepts instructions from a client to buy or sell a security, the purchase or sale is suitable for the client (collectively, the Registrant Obligations Relief). The securities regulatory authority or regulator in the Jurisdiction and each of the other jurisdictions referred to in Appendix A (the Coordinated Review Decision Makers) have received an application from the Filer (collectively with the Passport Application, the Application) for a decision under the securities legislation of those jurisdictions exempting the Filer from certain reporting requirements under the Local Trade Reporting Rules (as defined in Appendix A) (the Trade Reporting Relief, and together with the Prospectus Relief and Registrant Obligations Relief, the Requested Relief). The Filer has applied for the revocation of the exemptive relief in a decision dated August 7, 2020 (the Prior CSA Decision) effective as of the date of this Decision (the Repeal and Replacement Relief Sought). Under the Process for Exemptive Relief Applications in Multiple Jurisdictions (for a hybrid application): a) the Ontario Securities Commission is the principal regulator for this Application (the Principal Regulator), b) in respect of the Prospectus Relief and Registrant Obligations Relief, the Filer has provided notice that, in the jurisdictions where required, subsection 4.7(1) of Multilateral Instrument 11-102 Passport System (MI 11-102) is intended to be relied upon in each of the other provinces and territories of Canada (the Non- Principal Jurisdictions, and, together with the Jurisdiction, the Applicable Jurisdictions), and c) the decision in respect of the Trade Reporting Relief is the decision of the Principal Regulator and evidences the decision of each Coordinated Review Decision Maker. Interpretation
For the purposes of this Decision, “Specified Crypto Asset” means the crypto assets, digital or virtual currencies, and digital or virtual tokens listed in Appendix B to this Decision. Terms defined in National Instrument 14-101 Definitions and MI 11-102 have the same meaning if used in this Decision, unless otherwise defined. Representations This decision (the Decision) is based on the following facts represented by the Filer: The Filer 1. The Filer is a corporation incorporated under the federal laws of Canada with its principal office in Toronto, Ontario. 2. The Filer is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wealthsimple Financial Corp. (WFC), a holding company that owns 100% of the issued and outstanding securities of several operating companies that are registered under applicable securities legislation in each of the provinces and territories of Canada, including Wealthsimple Inc., a registered adviser in the category of portfolio manager, and Canadian ShareOwner Investments Inc. (ShareOwner), a registered dealer in the category of investment dealer and member of IIROC. 3. The Filer does not have any securities listed or quoted on an exchange or marketplace in any jurisdiction inside or outside of Canada. However, a majority of the voting securities of WFC are controlled by subsidiaries and entities affiliated with Power Corporation. Power Corporation is a reporting issuer under the legislation of the Applicable Jurisdictions and its securities are listed for trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange. 4. The Filer is or will be registered as a dealer in the category of restricted dealer with the Applicable Jurisdictions. In Québec, the Filer has received exemptions from certain requirements on similar terms as the Prior CSA Decision (the Prior Québec Decision). The Filer has applied for the revocation of the Prior Québec Decision effective as of the date of this Decision. 5. The Filer’s books and records, financial controls and compliance systems (including its policies and procedures) are designed to closely resemble in all material respects, except as necessary to address operational differences, those in place today at ShareOwner. The ultimate designated person (UDP) and chief compliance officer (CCO) of the Filer are the same individuals who are also the UDP and CCO of ShareOwner. 6. The Filer’s personnel consists, and will consist, of software engineers, compliance professionals and finance professionals who each have deep experience operating in a regulated financial services environment and expertise in blockchain technology. All of the Filer’s personnel have passed and new personnel will have passed criminal records and credit checks. The Filer does not have any dealing representatives, but may add dealing representatives in the future after it has transitioned to ShareOwner.
Except as set out in representation 8 below, neither the Filer nor ShareOwner is in default of securities legislation of any of the Applicable Jurisdictions. 8. Between August 7, 2020 and the date of this Decision, the Filer permitted a number of clients to exceed the fiat deposit limit of $30,000 prescribed by condition XIX of the Prior CSA Decision and condition xviii of the Prior Québec Decision. The Filer has stopped allowing additional clients to exceed the fiat deposit limit of the Prior CSA Decision. Where in some cases, clients were able to exceed the fiat deposit limit due to systems failures, the Filer has implemented additional controls to prevent such occurrences. The Filer has made changes to its practices and systems that will prevent clients from exceeding the investor limits set out in the terms and conditions of this Decision. Wealthsimple Crypto 9. The Filer operates under the business name of “Wealthsimple Crypto”. The Filer was established to operate, on an interim basis, a proprietary and fully automated internet-based platform (the Platform) that enables clients to facilitate the buying, selling, holding, deposit and withdrawal of crypto assets such as bitcoin, ether, and anything commonly considered a crypto asset, digital or virtual currency, or digital or virtual token that are not themselves securities or derivatives (the Crypto Assets) through the Filer. 10. The Filer’s role under Crypto Contracts is to buy or sell Crypto Assets and to manage the custody of all purchased Crypto Assets. 11. The Filer’s trading of Crypto Contracts is consistent with activities described in CSA SN 21-327 and constitutes the trading of securities and/or derivatives. 12. The Filer and ShareOwner would like the Platform to be operated by ShareOwner. The Filer and ShareOwner are working with IIROC on a regulatory approach to transition the Platform to ShareOwner in the future. The Filer and ShareOwner will continue to work actively and diligently with IIROC to transition the operation of the Platform from the Filer to ShareOwner. 13. The Filer does not and will not hold any proprietary positions in Crypto Assets for itself; it will not take a long or short position in a Crypto Asset with any party, including clients. 14. The Filer does not have any authority to act on a discretionary basis on behalf of clients and will not manage any discretionary accounts. 15. The Filer is not a member firm of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF) and the Crypto Assets custodied do not qualify for CIPF coverage. The Risk Statement (defined below) includes disclosure that there is no CIPF coverage for the Crypto Assets and clients must acknowledge that they have received, read and understood the Risk Statement before opening an account with the Filer.
The preparation of audited financial statements for a registered dealer in Canada that trades Crypto Contracts and holds Crypto Assets in trust at a third-party custodian is novel. In consultation with its external auditors and external legal counsel, the Filer has worked diligently, for a sustained period of time, to establish a suitable framework for preparing audited financial statements. The Filer anticipates that it will be able to obtain audited financial statements for the Filer’s 2021 financial year end. 17. During the period of this relief: a) the Filer will work closely with its auditors to be able to file annual audited financial statements in accordance with subsection 12.10(2) of NI 31-103, and b) the financial statements of the Filer will be consolidated with the annual audited financial statements of its parent, WFC, and until such time as the Filer can deliver annual audited financial statements, the Filer will file both annual unaudited financial statements and the annual audited financial statements of WFC with the Principal Regulator. Crypto Assets Made Available through the Platform 18. The Filer has established and applies policies and procedures to review Crypto Assets and to determine whether to allow clients on its Platform to enter into Crypto Contracts to buy and sell the Crypto Asset on its Platform. Such review includes, but is not limited to, publicly-available information concerning: a) The creation, governance, usage and design of the Crypto Asset, including the source code, security and roadmap for growth in the developer community and, if applicable, the background of the developer(s) that created the Crypto Asset; b) The supply, demand, maturity, utility and liquidity of the Crypto Asset; c) Material technical risks associated with the Crypto Asset, including any code defects, security breaches and other threats concerning the Crypto Asset and its supporting blockchain (such as the susceptibility to hacking and impact of forking), or the practices and protocols that apply to them; and d) Legal and regulatory risks associated with the Crypto Asset, including any pending, potential, or prior civil, regulatory, criminal, or enforcement action relating to the issuance, distribution, or use of the Crypto Asset. 19. The Filer only offers and only allows clients to enter into Crypto Contracts to buy and sell Crypto Assets that are not each themselves a security and/or a derivative. 20. The Filer does not allow clients to enter into a Crypto Contract to buy and sell Crypto Assets unless the Filer has taken steps to
assess the relevant aspects of the Crypto Asset, including the information specified in paragraph 18, to determine whether it is appropriate for its clients, b) approve the Crypto Asset, and Crypto Contracts to buy and sell such Crypto Asset, to be made available to clients, and c) monitor the Crypto Asset for significant changes and review its approval under (b) where a significant change occurs. 21. The Filer is not engaged, and will not engage, in trades that are part of, or designed to facilitate, the creation, issuance or distribution of Crypto Assets by the developer(s) of the Crypto Asset or affiliates or associates of such persons. 22. The Filer has established and applies policies and procedures to determine whether a Crypto Asset available to be bought and sold through a Crypto Contract is a security and/or derivative and is being offered in compliance with securities and derivatives laws, which include but are not limited to: a) Consideration of statements made by any regulators or securities regulatory authorities of the Applicable Jurisdictions, other regulators in IOSCO-member jurisdictions, or the regulator with the most significant connection to a Crypto Asset about whether the Crypto Asset, or generally about whether the type of Crypto Asset, is a security and/or derivative; and b) If the Filer determines it to be necessary, obtaining legal advice as to whether the Crypto Asset is a security and/or derivative under securities legislation of the Applicable Jurisdictions. 23. The Filer monitors ongoing developments related to Crypto Assets available on its Platform that may cause a Crypto Asset’s legal status or the assessment conducted by the Filer described in paragraphs 18 and 22 above to change. 24. The Filer acknowledges that any determination made by the Filer as set out in paragraphs 18 to 22 of this Decision does not prejudice the ability of any of the regulators or securities regulatory authorities of any province or territory of Canada to determine that a Crypto Asset that a client may enter into a Crypto Contract to buy and sell is a security and/or derivative. 25. The Filer has established and applies policies and procedures to promptly stop the trading of any Crypto Asset available on its Platform and to allow clients to liquidate their positions in Crypto Contracts with underlying Crypto Assets that the Filer ceases to make available on its Platform. Account Opening 26. The Platform is available to any individual who is resident in Canada, who has reached the age of majority in the jurisdiction in which they are resident, and who has the legal capacity to open a securities brokerage account.
Clients of the Filer open a Wealthsimple Crypto account using the Wealthsimple Trade mobile app (the App) or website, which is owned by Wealthsimple Technologies Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of WFC. Clients use their Wealthsimple Crypto accounts to trade in Crypto Contracts. 28. Clients also use the App or website to open accounts with ShareOwner. Clients’ cash is held in these accounts with ShareOwner. ShareOwner does not take orders from clients to buy or sell Crypto Assets. ShareOwner’s role is limited to processing debits and credits into and out of a client’s cash brokerage account, based on instructions received from a client or from the Filer acting with the client’s authorization. Clients’ cash is only sent from their account with ShareOwner to the Filer and from the Filer to their account with ShareOwner, unless the client wishes to withdraw their cash from ShareOwner. 29. The Filer complies with the applicable “know your client” account opening requirements under applicable legislation and the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act and its regulations. 30. In order for a prospective client to open and operate a Wealthsimple Crypto account, the Filer determines, prior to opening the account, whether it would be appropriate for the prospective client to use the Platform to enter into a Crypto Contract in order to buy and sell Crypto Assets. 31. As part of the account opening process: a) the Filer collects know-your-client information to verify the identity of the client; b) the Filer will provide a prospective client with a separate statement of risks (the Risk Statement) that clearly explains the following in plain language: (i) the Crypto Contracts; (ii) the risks associated with the Crypto Contracts; (iii) a prominent statement that no securities regulatory authority has expressed an opinion about the Crypto Contracts or any of the Crypto Assets made available through the Platform, including an opinion that the Crypto Assets are not themselves securities and/or derivatives; (iv) the due diligence performed by the Filer before making a Crypto Asset available through the Platform, including the due diligence taken by the Filer to assess whether the Crypto Asset is a security and/or derivative under the securities legislation of each of the jurisdictions of Canada and the securities and derivatives laws of the foreign jurisdiction with which the Crypto Asset has the most significant connection, and the risks if the Filer has incorrectly determined that the Crypto Asset is not a security and/or derivative; (v) that the Filer has prepared a plain language description of each Crypto Asset made available through the Platform, with instructions as to where on the Platform the client may obtain the descriptions (each, a Crypto Asset
Statement); (vi) the Filer’s policies for halting, suspending and withdrawing a Crypto Asset from trading on the Platform, including criteria that would be considered by the Filer, options available to clients holding such a Crypto Asset, any notification periods and any risks to clients; (vii) the location and manner in which Crypto Assets are held for the client, the risks and benefits to the client of the Crypto Assets being held in that manner, (viii) the manner in which the Crypto Assets are accessible by the Filer, and the risks and benefits to the client arising from the Filer having access to the Crypto Assets in that manner; (ix) the Filer is not a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF) and the Crypto Assets held by the Filer (directly or indirectly through third parties) will not qualify for CIPF protection; and (x) a statement that the statutory rights in section 130.1 of the Securities Act (Ontario) (the Act), and, if applicable, similar statutory rights under securities legislation of other Applicable Jurisdictions, do not apply in respect of the Risk Statement or a Crypto Asset Statement to the extent a Crypto Contract is distributed under the Prospectus Relief in this Decision. 32. In order for a prospective client to open and operate an account with the Filer, the Filer will obtain an electronic acknowledgement from the prospective client confirming that the prospective client has received, read and understood the Risk Statement. Such acknowledgement will be prominent and separate from other acknowledgements provided by the prospective client as part of the account opening process. 33. A copy of the Risk Statement acknowledged by a client will be made available to the client in the same place as the client’s other statements on the Platform. 34. The Filer has policies and procedures for updating the Risk Statement and each Crypto Asset Statement to reflect any material changes to the disclosure or include any material risks that may develop with respect to the Crypto Contracts, Crypto Assets generally, or a specific Crypto Asset, as the case may be. In the event the Risk Statement is updated, existing clients of the Filer will be promptly notified and provided with a copy of the updated Risk Statement. In the event a Crypto Asset Statement is updated, existing clients of the Filer will be notified through in-App and website disclosures, with links provided to the updated Crypto Asset Statement. 35. For clients with pre-existing accounts with the Filer at the time of this Decision, the Filer will deliver to the client a revised Risk Statement from the version the client acknowledged having received, read and understood under the Prior Decisions and will require the client to provide electronic acknowledgement of having received, read and understood the revised Risk Statement at the earlier of (i) before placing their next trade or deposit of Crypto Assets and (ii) the next time they log in to their account with the Filer. The Risk Statement must be prominent and separate from other disclosures given to the client at that time, and the acknowledgement must be separate from other acknowledgements by the client at that time.
Before a client enters an order to buy a Crypto Asset, the Filer will provide instructions for the client to read the Crypto Asset Statement for the Crypto Asset, which will include a link to the Crypto Asset Statement on the Filer’s website or App. 37. Each Crypto Asset Statement will include: a) a prominent statement that no securities regulatory authority in Canada has expressed an opinion about the Crypto Contracts or any of the Crypto Assets made available through the Platform, including an opinion that the Crypto Assets are not themselves securities and/or derivatives, b) a description of the Crypto Asset, in