FINRA Suspends Matthew Higgins for Three Months

Matthew Higgins (CRD #: 4209849), a broker registered with Barclays Capital, has been suspended by FINRA, according to his BrokerCheck record, accessed on January 10, 2025. Read on to learn more about his alleged conduct as a broker.

FINRA Suspension

On December 3, 2024, Matthew Higgins consented to the entry of findings that he allegedly participated in private securities transactions without providing written notice to his firm, Barclays Capital.

A Letter of Acceptance, Waiver & Consent (AWC) alleged that Matthew Higgins co-founded a pooled investment fund in 2017 that primarily invested in crypto assets. The fund allegedly engaged in a private offering of limited partnership interest securities in April and May 2018.

Matthew Higgins allegedly solicited investments from two of his friends, who invested a total of $150,000 in these limited partnership interests.

In June 2018, Matthew Higgins and three friends allegedly co-founded a crypto asset mining company to host, service, and repair crypto asset mining machines. In October, the company allegedly initiated a private securities offering in the form of revenue-sharing promissory notes.

Matthew Higgins allegedly sold $200,000 of these notes by soliciting sales to one of the friends previously solicited to invest in the limited partnership interests and an additional friend.

He allegedly did not receive commissions for solicitation or compensation in connection with facilitating investments in the investment fund and crypto asset mining company.

The AWC concluded that Matthew Higgins’ alleged failure to provide prior written notice of these activities to Barclays Capital violated FINRA Rules 3280 and 2010.

FINRA Rule 3280

FINRA Rule 3280 requires brokers to provide written notice to their firm before engaging in private securities transactions.

FINRA Rule 2010

FINRA Rule 2010 holds brokers to high standards of commercial honor and just and equitable principles of trade.

Sanctions

Matthew Higgins consented to the following sanctions:

• Three-month suspension from associating with FINRA members
• $5,000 fine

His suspension began on January 6, 2025, and will end on April 5, 2025. You can access the full AWC here.

Background Information

Matthew Higgins has passed the following exams:

• Securities Industry Essentials Examination – SIE
• Investment Banking Registered Representative Examination – Series 79
• General Securities Representative Examination – Series 7
• Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examination – Series 63

Matthew Higgins is a registered broker in New York.

He has also worked for the following firms:

• Goldman, Sachs & Company (CRD#:361)
• UBS Securities (CRD#:7654)
• Morgan Stanley & Company (CRD#:8209)

Kurta Law Can Help

If you worked with Matthew Higgins and you have concerns about your investments, please contact us today at 877-600-0098 or info@kurtalawfirm.com for a free consultation.

For over 20 years, Kurta Law has advocated on behalf of investors who want to recover their investment losses from brokers and brokerage firms. Kurta Law is a nationally recognized law firm that exclusively represents investors against brokers and brokerage firms on a contingency basis. This means that the firm only earns a fee if our securities attorneys recover money on your behalf.