Wall Street's top cop is determined to bring crypto to heel. He just took a big shot

Securities and Exchange Commission, Chairman Gary Gensler testifies before a Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee hearing on "Oversight of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission" on Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021, in Washington. (Bill Clark/Pool via AP)

Since Gary Gensler became Wall Street’s top cop two years ago, his message to cryptocurrency companies has been consistent: He would do all it takes to tame a world he likens to “the Wild West.”

This week, he delivered on that threat, big time.

The Securities and Exchange Commission unveiled a barrage of charges against two of the world’s largest crypto exchanges — Coinbase and Binance — kicking off a legal battle that will help define the future of cryptocurrencies.