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Following the release of the final Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) rules on Crypto Asset Service Providers (CASPs), some local crypto key opinion leaders (KOL) and influencers have made their moves in an effort to comply with regulatory directives.
Posts Moderation
Crypto lawyer Atty. Rafael Padilla warned that old social media posts promoting crypto could still violate the SEC’s new rules on CASPs if they remain publicly accessible, potentially constituting “continuing violations.”
Speaking at a BitPinas webcast, Padilla explained that even non-recent content may fall under regulatory scrutiny if it promotes unregistered platforms or assets. He also raised concerns about the broad scope of the rules, which could restrict educational content and freedom of expression, urging a narrower interpretation to avoid overreach.
As a result, several local crypto influencers are taking steps to comply; some are deleting past content, while others are now adding disclaimers to their crypto-related posts.
In response to a BitPinas inquiry, a local KOL, who requested anonymity, said Padilla’s interpretation is reasonable; if the SEC can retroactively evaluate violations, even older social media posts could pose a risk.
“Of course, cleaning up past posts isn’t ideal, and it’s the last thing we want to do. But we can’t take chances. It’s either you be cautious or you get in trouble. In our community, we’ve decided to take the safer route by removing old posts that mention specific brands, especially those that might be seen as marketing, even if they were originally meant to educate.”
Anonymous Local KOL
The KOL also noted that they are urging fellow influencers to audit their content and adopt similar safety measures as a precaution.
In one of the posts seen by BitPinas from some KOLs, the influencer stated that they have deleted post as far as those posted in 2017. In another post, a different KOL shared that they deleted posts with crypto links and content.
In 2023, legal experts stated that saying “Not Financial Advice” or “Do Your Own Research” does not protect influencers from legal liability if they promote scams or illegal crypto schemes. They noted that such disclaimers are irrelevant if the influencer’s actions contradict them.
Influencers may still face civil, criminal, or administrative penalties depending on the nature of the asset and their involvement, regardless of whether they profited or intended harm.
Education Group ZFT’s Plans
On the other hand, George Asibal, the CEO of local trading education group ZFT announced the temporary suspension of the organization’s advisory services and copy trading accounts as part of efforts to comply with regulatory directives.
In a Facebook post, Asibal said that ZFT’s Trading Republic will shift its focus back to its educational roots, delivering classic trading and investing content. He also noted that weekly content, both free and premium, will be rolled out via Discord.
“We’ll commit to provide services that comply with the new regulations and still be a win for those who are active in our community.”
George Asibal, Chief Executive Officer, ZFT
Asibal also confirmed that a major restructuring is underway within the company to strengthen internal operations. He also shared plans to make their foundations “solid and make things right if we have some services that we have overlooked and did a lousy job on.”
In addition, Asibal announced that market tips, signals, and disclosures of trading accounts or wallets will no longer be shared on his Facebook account, even for documentation purposes. He also revealed that all Market Mentorship University (MMU) content will be deleted by June 30, 2025, encouraging followers to view or download remaining materials from their YouTube channel before the deadline.
On the personal side, Asibal said he plans to continue using top global exchanges while consolidating his investment platforms. He is also preparing a major withdrawal to secure his trading gains and reduce the psychological pressure of active market participation.
While the CEO expressed short-term caution toward the crypto market, he remains optimistic for the rest of the year—unless $BTC falls below the $70,000 mark.
Additionally, Asibal weighed in on the role of the government in crypto, suggesting that authorities could benefit from partnering with global exchanges to provide deeper PHP liquidity.
He noted that consultations with legal counsel and partners are ongoing and promised to share further updates when available.
“If our [government] is smart, I suggest partner with these major exchanges, have a crypto fund running and be part of providing deep liquidity for PHP and other currencies—not necessarily volatile cryptos. Imagine 24/7 Forex run by the [government] at competitive rates. Easier said than done but if the gov wants money, this is the way to go.”
George Asibal, Chief Executive Officer, ZFT
Check out BitPinas webcasts and articles about the SEC CASP Rules:
This article is published on BitPinas: Crypto Influencers Purge Old Posts as SEC CASP Rules Take Effect
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