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Nexo has relaunched in the United States through SEC-registered partners and licensed domestic entities, marking the crypto lending platform’s first return to the American market since it paid $45 million to settle federal and state charges in 2023 and withdrew entirely amid a regulatory crackdown on crypto yield products.
The company announced on Feb. 16, 2026, that U.S. users will once again gain access to crypto-backed credit and yield products through partnerships with licensed domestic entities.
The relaunch follows Nexo’s 2022 withdrawal amid clashes with U.S. regulators over its interest-bearing crypto product, which authorities argued should have been registered as a security.
After paying $45 million in settlements in 2023 and restructuring its offerings, the firm is now attempting a regulated return built around compliance and institutional partnerships.
Nexo’s departure from the U.S. market in late 2022 came after prolonged disputes with both federal and state regulators, particularly over its Earn Interest Product (EIP), which allowed customers to deposit digital assets in exchange for yield payments.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) determined the product qualified as an unregistered security, arguing investors were not provided with mandatory disclosures designed to protect consumers.
In January 2023, Nexo agreed to a combined $45 million settlement with federal and state authorities without admitting or denying wrongdoing.
“We charged Nexo with failing to register its retail crypto lending product before offering it to the public, bypassing essential disclosure requirements designed to protect investors.” Gary Gensler, Chair, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Following the enforcement action, the company discontinued the disputed product for U.S. investors and phased out services entirely, describing negotiations with regulators at the time as having reached a dead end.
The exit mirrored a broader crackdown on crypto lending platforms after high-profile industry collapses raised concerns about transparency, liquidity risks, and investor protection.
Nexo’s return is structured differently from its earlier U.S. operations. Rather than offering products directly, the company is working through regulated partners .
According to company statements, the revamped platform includes:
These offerings are delivered through licensed entities and, where required, SEC-registered investment advisers, reflecting what the company calls a deliberate recalibration toward long-term regulatory alignment.
“The current U.S. offering is structured differently and is delivered through appropriately licensed U.S. partners.” Nexo spokesperson, company statement.
Industry analysts say the partnership model reflects a broader trend among crypto firms attempting to bridge decentralized finance services with traditional financial compliance frameworks.
Nexo’s comeback represents more than a single company relaunch, it may indicate a gradual reopening of the U.S. crypto lending market after years of regulatory uncertainty.
Crypto lending allows investors to unlock liquidity without selling digital assets, maintaining exposure to potential price gains while accessing capital.
However, regulators have increasingly scrutinized these products due to risks tied to asset rehypothecation and opaque yield generation models.
Nexo co-founder Antoni Trenchev framed the relaunch as a strategic reset rather than a simple return.
The company reports managing roughly $11 billion in assets globally and processing more than $371 billion in transactions since its founding.
Market observers note that the success or failure of Nexo’s compliant relaunch could influence how other crypto lenders approach U.S. expansion.
Several firms that previously scaled back American operations are now reassessing entry strategies as regulatory expectations become clearer.
Nexo’s return comes amid evolving U.S. policy debates over digital assets, with regulators attempting to balance innovation with investor safeguards.
The company insists its renewed presence is rooted in compliance improvements rather than political or market timing.
Still, the relaunch highlights a central tension facing the crypto industry: whether yield-generating digital asset products can coexist with traditional securities frameworks.
The answer may determine the next phase of market growth. If Nexo’s model proves sustainable under regulatory oversight, it could reopen access to lending and yield opportunities long restricted in the United States.
