Co-owner of bitcoin-linked sites settles SEC case

WASHINGTON (AP) — The co-owner of two bitcoin-related Websites is paying almost $51,000 to settle federal civil charges that he sold shares in the businesses without registering them as securities offerings.

The Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday announced the settlement with Erik Voorhees in connection with soliciting investors to buy shares in the two sites, SatoshiDICE and FeedZeBirds. The SEC said investors paid for the shares they bought with bitcoin, the online currency that allows people to buy goods and services, and exchange money across borders without involving banks or other third parties.