Following the decision of this summer, according to which the project "TheDAO" of the Etherium was in fact subject to SEC control, it is not surprising that this service carries out a rather active approach with regard to ICO monitoring.
The boom of the ICO was unprecedented, in 2017 the total investment was more than $ 1.5 billion. Many of these ICOs were fraudulent, or the result of some vague ideas in the heads of several potential entrepreneurs.

Since, many ICO offer "tokens" are similar to "shares", it becomes clear why the SEC is interested in regulating this area.