SEC sues Mining Automatic and founder over alleged $22M crypto mining schemeThe SEC alleges Mining Automatic and its founder raised $22 million from investors by promising guaranteed crypto mining returns while spending only a fraction of the funds on mining operations.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed a lawsuit against the crypto mining investment company Mining Automatic and its founder, Zan Shaikh. The SEC alleges that the firm raised $22 million from more than 380 investors between June 2023 and May 2025, while using only about 13% of those funds actual mining operations. Instead of generating the promised guaranteed monthly returns from crypto mining, investor money was reportedly diverted to marketing, personal expenses, and unrelated ventures.

According to the SEC complaint, Mining Automatic generated approximately $1.1 million from its mining activities but paid investors around $1.8 million in returns. This shortfall led the SEC to describe the operation as exhibiting “some of the hallmarks of a Ponzi scheme,” with some investor payouts funded by money from newer investors. Around $7 million was spent on advertising to attract investors, and founder Zan Shaikh allegedly used funds for purchases including real estate, vehicles, entertainment, and transfers to his personal accounts. The company ceased investor payments by March 2025, and none of the investors have recovered their principal, with over $20 million still unpaid.

The SEC is seeking disgorgement, civil penalties, permanent injunctions, and is also aiming to bar Shaikh from selling securities or serving as an officer or director of any public company. This lawsuit arrives amid the SEC’s broader regulatory push to clarify rules for digital assets under Chair Gary Gensler’s tenure. The agency’s 2026–2030 Strategic Plan emphasizes blockchain technology oversight, market infrastructure, and investor protection. The SEC’s 2026 rulemaking agenda includes proposals for crypto broker-dealers, trading platforms, and exemptions for certain digital asset offerings.

This enforcement action is concurrent with congressional efforts to refine crypto oversight via the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, which seeks to delineate roles between the SEC and Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The bill is poised for a key Senate vote before the upcoming August recess. The SEC’s renewed focus underscores ongoing regulatory scrutiny of crypto investment schemes that may harm investors through misleading promises and misuse of funds.