Opinion

April 27, 2023 @ 10:00 am By Omar Faridi  |  

As the world becomes more digitized, auction houses are turning towards decentralized technology to improve the auction process. Decentralized Finance (DeFi) technology is one such innovation that could transform the auction industry, bringing transparency, security, and accessibility to the table. With the rise of blockchain… Read More

April 25, 2023 @ 11:43 am By JD Alois  |  

Expanding Access to Capital Act of 2023 is JOBS Act Improvement Legislation Last week during a hearing of the House Subcommittee on Capital Formation, a discussion focused on improving access to capital for early-stage firms as well as boosting retail investment options. Entitled A Roadmap… Read More

April 25, 2023 @ 9:46 am By JD Alois  |  

Yesterday, Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) announced that it had filed a “limited action” against the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as it has ignored its petition for clearly defined digital asset rules. The SEC is statutorily required to respond to a petition within a reasonable amount of time. It… Read More

April 24, 2023 @ 4:33 pm By JD Alois  |  

SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce has posted here comments delivered at the beginning of the SEC’s 42nd Annual Small Business Forum taking place this week. A few years back, the Forum was an in-person event, but COVID and convenience have shifted the event to a virtual… Read More

April 24, 2023 @ 8:50 am By JD Alois  |  

As was reported last week, the European Parliament approved MiCA, or Markets in Crypto-Assets legislation, which aims to make the EU a digital asset-friendly jurisdiction. At the same time, the Transfer of Funds regulation was approved, which requires crypto operators to identify their customers as… Read More

April 23, 2023 @ 6:07 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The EU Parliament’s passing of the Markets in Crypto Act, or MiCA, on Thursday has been hailed as a “landmark moment” for cryptocurrencies that will “help drive prices” for the likes of Bitcoin. This, according to the CEO of an independent financial advisory, asset management and… Read More

April 20, 2023 @ 11:26 am By JD Alois  |  

The European Parliament has adopted MiCA or Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation. This legislative development means the European digital asset (crypto-asset) will now have a bespoke regulatory framework, allowing all EU member states to provide services under a harmonized environment. After several delays, MiCA was approved… Read More

April 18, 2023 @ 4:29 pm By JD Alois  |  

SEC Chair Gary Gensler spent most of the day on Capitol Hill testifying in front of the House Financial Services Committee. As the Committee is currently controlled by the Republicans – which tend to be more innovation-friendly and more supportive of small businesses, some of… Read More

April 18, 2023 @ 12:00 pm By Barry James  |  

As the USA House Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Fintech, and Inclusion, hold a hearing on stablecoins Wednesday, April 19, 2023, in the USA, in the UK, and around the world, attempts to shoe-horn digital money from central and private banks (CBDCs and Stablecoins) into existing… Read More

April 14, 2023 @ 8:05 am By Matthew G. White  |  

Recent headlines have highlighted significant risks associated with investments in cryptocurrency. For instance, in recent months, we have seen the price of various cryptocurrencies plummet, creating a “crypto winter” (though prices have recently been swinging back up, demonstrating the volatility risk associated with cryptocurrency). As… Read More

April 13, 2023 @ 12:32 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Bitcoin (BTC) price has increased substantially during the first three months of this year. The flagship cryptocurrency is trading at around $30,000 at the time of writing. Although most industry participants are not sure whether we’re entering a bull market, it is clear that… Read More

April 13, 2023 @ 8:46 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Jeremy Fox-Geen. Chief Financial Officer at Fintech firm Circle and Kash Razzaghi, the firm’s Chief Business Officer, have noted that digital currencies and the blockchains on which they travel can offer considerable utility “as a new, unified infrastructure for payments, commerce and capital markets built… Read More

April 12, 2023 @ 11:44 am By JD Alois  |  

It is that time of year again taxes are due in the US. The only groups that like tax season are the ones that benefit – state, local, and federal government – and tax preparers that earn their keep by navigating the byzantine process of… Read More

April 12, 2023 @ 9:18 am By JD Alois  |  

Digital asset platform Paxos is out with a white paper entitled “How the Crypto Winter May Help Save the Digital Asset Economy.”  The thesis of the document is that all of the recent fraud and failure within the crypto industry will end up flushing out… Read More

April 11, 2023 @ 7:43 pm By JD Alois  |  

The House Financial Services Committee has scheduled a hearing on the oversight of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The hearing is scheduled to take place at 10 AM on Tuesday, April 18th. The full Committee hearing will see SEC Chair Gary Gensler testify in… Read More

April 11, 2023 @ 12:20 pm By JD Alois  |  

Bitcoin is pushing above $30,000 for the first time since June 2022. When Bitcoin moves, the crypto masses speculate as to why. The recent rise in value has largely been attributed to the terrible economy, fears within the Banking sector, and BTCs apparent safe haven… Read More

April 11, 2023 @ 10:37 am By JD Alois  |  

The IMF expects global economic growth to decline by 0.1 than previously anticipated generating 2.8% before rising to 3% in 2024. In 2022, economic growth stood at 3.4% and thus reflects the declining global economy. The expectations were shared as part of the IMF’s World… Read More

April 10, 2023 @ 10:40 am By JD Alois  |  

The demise of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) left a big hole in the early-stage/private firm ecosystem. SVB was a favorite bank of VCs and hence the companies they invested in.  The failure of SVBs has exacerbated the already challenging funding environment for private firms that… Read More

April 6, 2023 @ 7:56 pm By Gabriella Kusz  |  

For more than a decade, cryptocurrency has been referred to by some as a digital “Wild West.” Those who use that terminology refer to the lack of regulation that applies to the crypto space. They are also typically implying that wandering into the realm of… Read More

April 6, 2023 @ 6:14 pm By JD Alois  |  

Earlier today, the US Department of Treasury posted a report on DeFi entitled “2023 DeFi Illicit Finance Risk Assessment.”  For the first time, Treasury addressed the concept of DeFi  – a sector of digital assets that engenders challenges for regulators. Treasury noted that DeFi is… Read More