Federal · Title 15 — Commerce and Trade

15 U.S.C. § 78e: Transactions on unregistered exchanges

Misdemeanor

What this law says, in plain English

It is unlawful for brokers, dealers, or exchanges to use mail or interstate commerce to conduct securities transactions on unregistered exchanges unless registered or exempted by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Read the full statutory text
It shall be unlawful for any broker, dealer, or exchange, directly or indirectly, to make use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce for the purpose of using any facility of an exchange within or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to effect any transaction in a security, or to report any such transaction, unless such exchange (1) is registered as national securities exchange under section 78f of this title , or (2) is exempted from such registration upon application by the exchange because, in the opinion of the Commission, by reason of the limited volume of transactions effected on such exchange, it is not practicable and not necessary or appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of investors to require such registration.

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.