Texas Securities Board Dismisses Case Against Apertum Blockchain and Josip Heit

The Texas State Securities Board (TSSB) has officially dismissed its lawsuit against the Apertum Foundation and its senior advisor, Josip Heit, regarding the classification of the Apertum token and the DAO1 decentralized finance (DeFi) platform as securities. The decision, announced on 31 July 2025, marks a significant legal milestone for the blockchain industry, as it confirms that the Apertum token and the DAO1 platform do not constitute investment contracts under U.S. securities law [1]. This outcome is seen as a major victory for the broader crypto ecosystem, particularly within the evolving regulatory landscape shaped during the Donald Trump era [1].

The Apertum Foundation, represented by Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP, successfully defended its position in the litigation. The dismissal of the TSSB’s case reaffirms the foundation’s commitment to providing a compliant and secure blockchain platform. Josip Heit, the senior advisor, emphasized that the Apertum Foundation has always aimed to operate within legal boundaries and has now been vindicated of the allegations [1]. Avi Perry, co-Chair of the Securities Litigation Group at Quinn Emanuel, stated that the lawsuit was "meritless" and should never have been pursued, adding that the Texas Securities Board has acknowledged its mistake [1].

Apertum, a leading layer-1 blockchain on the Avalanche ecosystem, operates the DAO1 DeFi platform and issues the native $APTM token. The legal victory is expected to facilitate the platform’s expansion and adoption, affirming the legitimacy of its technological framework. Apertum is currently ranked among the top five layer-1 blockchains globally in 2025 [1]. The platform integrates with CoinMarketCap, a site with over 340 million monthly visitors, and its token is listed on major exchanges including MEXC, BitMart, P2B, and LBank, serving more than 80 million active traders worldwide. Additionally, the Apertum ecosystem has attracted over 55,000 active users and has executed token burns worth more than $3.5 million, with a total of $25 million in $APTM tokens mined and distributed through its decentralized finance platform [1].

The dismissal of the lawsuit reflects a broader shift in the regulatory approach to blockchain and decentralized finance, where legal clarity and innovation are increasingly seen as complementary rather than conflicting. The outcome is expected to encourage further development in the space, as developers and entrepreneurs seek to build on a more predictable legal foundation.

Source: [1] The Securities Board has dismissed all claims against the Apertum Blockchain and Josip Heit. (https://blockonomi.com/the-securities-board-has-dismissed-all-claims-against-the-apertum-blockchain-and-josip-heit/)