Unicoin Founder Silvina Moschini on SEC Pressure, Asset-Backed Claims and Women’s Economic Power

Crypto has long struggled with credibility. For Silvina Moschini, founder of Unicoin, credibility has never been optional. It has been central to her identity as an entrepreneur.

Moschini traces that mindset back to her childhood. Her father told her that freedom and independence come from financial autonomy. That idea shaped her approach to business.

“The key thing for freedom and independence is to actually have financial independence. So it’s the power of money,” she said.

That early lesson continues to guide her through regulatory battles and public scrutiny. “When things get rough, we get stronger and we stand for what we believe and we fight,” she added.

Today, that resilience defines Unicoin’s public posture as the company faces an ongoing legal fight with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Watch the full interview here:

Building A Transparent Crypto Company In A Hostile Climate

Moschini argues that Unicoin attempted something different in an industry often criticized for opacity. Instead of launching offshore, the company chose to operate in the U.S.  as a public reporting entity with audited financials.

“We wanted to build a company that was fully transparent,” she said.

Unicoin invested heavily in compliance, legal counsel, and internal controls. The company positioned itself as asset-backed and publicly accountable. According to Moschini, that decision placed it directly in the path of regulatory hostility.

“We were a little bit naive,” she admitted.

She claims Unicoin became entangled in what she describes as the final phase of former SEC Chair Gary Gensler’s enforcement campaign against crypto. 

“We were targeted by the SEC as the last stand of Gensler war on crypto”.

​​CCN contacted the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for comment regarding Moschini’s statements. In response, an SEC spokesperson declined to comment.

Moschini believes the regulatory climate shifted after President Donald Trump signaled support for the crypto industry. 

She argues that new legislative developments, including stablecoin legislation and restructuring efforts, changed the tone of U.S. policy.

For Unicoin, the shift matters because the company now plans to decentralize into a foundation model. Investors voted to continue operations, and a new governance structure is being formed.

“We are decentralizing the company,” she said. “We are building to be bigger and stronger and more determined than ever to succeed.”

What Does “Asset-Backed” Really Mean?

One of the most debated aspects of Unicoin’s positioning centers on its “asset-backed” claims.

Moschini insists the term did not mean collateralized in the traditional sense. Instead, she describes it as referring to assets held or contracted to support the company’s growth.

“For us, it’s like we have assets that are going to be some of them were already in the company balance sheets and others were under contract,” she explained.

Unicoin allowed investors to contribute real estate and other assets, not just fiat currency. The company viewed those assets as a runway to fund expansion, marketing, and brand building.

“The SEC chose to just give a very strange interpretation that asset-backed means collateralized, which was not what we meant,” she said.

She maintains that disclosures were transparent and independently evaluated.

Trust, Regulation And A Battle With The SEC

Moschini does not soften her criticism of the SEC’s enforcement strategy.

“The SEC sued pretty much anyone who was someone in the crypto industry,” she said.

She frames the conflict as part of a broader historical pattern, comparing crypto’s current position to fintech during the dot-com era.

“I come from the first internet age,” she said, recalling her role in Patagon.com, which was later sold to Banco Santander. 

At the time, traditional banks resisted online banking. She sees parallels in crypto’s tension with established financial institutions.

According to Moschini, Unicoin refused to settle because leadership believes the allegations lack merit.

“We didn’t want it to settle because we are convinced that we didn’t do anything wrong,” she said.

She also notes that the company sold tokens only to accredited investors in the United States. Those investors must meet income or net worth thresholds.

“This is not people that don’t know what money means and what risk is,” she said.

Moschini acknowledges that the legal fight caused damage and delayed growth. Still, she expresses confidence in the outcome. “I don’t think this is even a remote possibility,” she said when asked about losing in court.

Marketing, Hype And Responsibility

Unicoin gained visibility through aggressive marketing campaigns. In an industry where hype often blurs lines, Moschini rejects claims of overpromising.

“A promise is a promise,” she said.

She emphasizes that investing carries risk and that Unicoin consistently warned investors not to allocate funds they could not afford to lose.

“They should not invest anything that they are not ready to lose,” she said.

Marketing materials referenced examples such as Bitcoin’s early price appreciation. Moschini argues that those references illustrated potential, not guarantees.

“If you said like a company of these characteristics with this business model in this environment can achieve this result, the answer is yes,” she said.

She describes communication as clear and compliant, adding that she personally oversaw much of the messaging.

“I understand that communicating properly and clearly brings opportunity to people,” she said.

Women, Power And Financial Control

Beyond regulatory battles, Moschini remains focused on women’s economic empowerment.

She rejects the idea that gender barriers apply only to Latina entrepreneurs. “I don’t think that it’s limited to Latinas,” she said.

She describes imposter syndrome and cultural conditioning as key obstacles. Women often grow up with conflicting expectations around money and authority.

“We have some challenges related to what we usually call the imposter syndrome,” she said.

Her own fundraising experience revealed bias. Investors praised her qualifications but hesitated to fund a blockchain venture led by a woman.

“They would have expected me to launch a Pilates line,” she said.

Moschini calls for more than symbolic support.

“We don’t need cheerleaders, we need investors.”

Through Unicoin and other ventures, she has launched educational initiatives and accelerators to support women founders. She frames financial independence as central to gender equality.

“Women, no longer cry, we make money,” she said.

The $80 Trillion Wealth Transfer and Women’s Growing Crypto Adoption

Moschini believes a historic wealth transfer will reshape markets. She cites estimates of $80 trillion moving from baby boomers to the next generation, much of it landing in women’s hands.

“There is a massive wealth shift,” she said.

Women already represent a growing segment of crypto holders. She points to data from Mexico showing female participation near 34% and rising.

She argues that crypto offers a relatively accessible entry point into investing.

“Women are naturally the CFO of their own households,” she said.

With greater financial control, she expects more women to explore digital assets, entrepreneurship, and decentralized finance.

Crypto As A Force For Good and Empowerment

Moschini envisions crypto as more than a financial instrument. She wants the industry to use its wealth to address social issues, from economic development to human trafficking.

“The crypto industry needs a cleanup,” she said. “Needs a better image, needs better communicators that do the right things to turn crypto into a force for good.”

She proposes matching crypto donations to causes and expanding education to underserved communities. In her view, the scale of wealth created in digital assets brings responsibility.

“You have all this wealth, you are sitting on all of this, why don’t you use it as a force for change?” 

For Moschini, the fight over Unicoin is not only about regulatory interpretation. It is about whether crypto can evolve into a transparent, inclusive financial system.

“It starts with us, always,” she said.

About the Author

Dr. Lorena Nessi

Dr. Lorena Nessi is an award-winning journalist and media technology expert with 15 years of experience in digital culture and communication. Based in Oxfordshire, UK, she combines academic insight with hands-on media practice.

She holds a PhD in Communication, Sociology, and Digital Cultures, and an MA in Globalization, Identity, and Technology.

Lorena has taught at Fairleigh Dickinson University, Nottingham Trent University, and the University of Oxford. She is a former producer for the BBC in London, with additional experience creating television content in Mexico and Japan.

Her research focuses on digital cultures, social media, technology, capitalism, and the societal impact of blockchain innovation.

She has written extensively on digital media and emerging technologies, with her work featured in both academic and media platforms. Her Web3 expertise explores how blockchain technologies shape culture, economics, and decentralized systems.

Outside of work, Lorena enjoys reading science fiction, playing strategic board games, traveling, and chasing adventures that get her heart racing. A perfect day ends with a relaxing spa and a good family meal.

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