SEC sues Mining Automatic and founder for $22 million crypto investment scheme

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed a lawsuit against crypto mining investment company Mining Automatic and its founder, Zan Shaikh, accusing them of raising $22 million from over 380 investors while allocating only a small portion of those funds to actual mining activities.

Allegations of Misuse of Investor Funds

According to the SEC’s complaint, Mining Automatic, operated through Massachusetts-based Bright Vision Distribution LLC, collected investor funds between June 2023 and May 2025. The company reportedly offered promises of guaranteed monthly returns from crypto asset mining operations. However, the SEC claimed that the firm’s business model was not capable of producing the high returns that it advertised.

The SEC further alleged that only about 13% of the funds collected were used for crypto mining, totaling roughly $1.1 million. Meanwhile, investor payouts amounted to approximately $1.8 million—exceeding the revenue generated from mining. Regulators stated that the remaining funds were diverted to marketing expenses, personal use, and ventures unrelated to crypto mining.

SEC officials described the operation as having “some of the hallmarks of a Ponzi scheme,” noting that investor payouts depended largely on money from new contributors rather than genuine mining profits.

Payments to investors reportedly halted by March 2025, with the SEC stating that none of the original investors had recovered their principal. According to the lawsuit, over $20 million remains unpaid to investors.

SEC Enforcement Actions and Proposed Penalties

The SEC is seeking a range of penalties in federal court, including the recovery of ill-gotten gains, civil penalties, and permanent injunctions. The agency is also requesting an order that permanently bars Zan Shaikh from selling securities or serving as an officer or director of any public company.

Mining Automatic joins a list of recent enforcement targets as the SEC intensifies its efforts to regulate digital asset markets and protect investors from fraudulent activities.

SEC Strategic Shift and Regulatory Context

This lawsuit aligns with the SEC’s broader strategy under Chair Paul Atkins to establish clearer regulatory guidelines for digital assets. In June, the agency unveiled its 2026–2030 Strategic Plan, which identified areas such as blockchain technology, tokenization, and digital asset market infrastructure as long-term focus points. The plan reaffirmed the SEC’s core mandate of investor protection.

The agency outlined further initiatives in its July 2026 rulemaking agenda, introducing proposed regulations for crypto broker-dealers, digital assets traded on national securities exchanges, and alternative trading systems. The agenda also includes possible exemptions and safe harbors for certain digital asset offerings.

At the same time, Congress is considering the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, a legislative effort to clarify the roles and responsibilities of the SEC and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in regulating crypto markets. The bill is expected to reach a Senate vote before the August congressional recess.

Mini dictionary: Bright Vision Distribution LLC is a Massachusetts-based limited liability company that operated Mining Automatic, raising funds from investors across the United States.