A Ponzi scheme indeed. I passed the CPA exam and know that if you are to crowd fund something or offer securities as an investment then you are bound to the rules of the SEC and local securities laws.
Cryptocurrency is not regulated by governments yet. But government regulation is on the horizon given the currencies' popularity and appeal as an investment. In the mean time the cryptocurrency is considered a currency like the U.S. dollar or Euro where there is self-regulation.
I believe that this could be the beginning of the government's interest in determining whether or not there should be a regulatory body, like the SEC, that oversees the cryptocurrency. This case and future cases will be interesting to watch since there could be landmark legislation.
Either way, I find it appalling that someone would "hard sell" cryptocurrency to the public especially in Texas. Cryptocurrency should be an investment that does not require a store shop with a "snake oil salesman." What in the hell are these people at Bitconnect doing? They are making cryptocurrency look bad.
RE: Texas state securities serves Bitconnect an emergency cease & desist order