Opinion

August 21, 2022 @ 9:38 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Australian government has announced that work is “underway on crypto asset reforms” as it aims to regulate digital assets better. In a statement by the Treasury, jointly delivered by the Honorable Jim Chalmers MP, Treasurer and the Honorable Dr. Andrew Leigh MP,  Assistant Minister… Read More

August 16, 2022 @ 6:21 pm By Paolo Ardoino  |  

Inflation continues to rise globally, especially across Latin America where hyperinflation afflicts many countries. Could Bitcoin and the emerging digital token economy be the answer? Across Latin America, a story of inflation and ineffective central bank policy is the order of the day. In Mexico,… Read More

August 15, 2022 @ 11:27 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

BNPL Fintech Affirm (NASDAQ: AFRM) CEO Max Levchin recently noted that the next recession could silence Fintech lender’s doubters or critics. With shares of the Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) Fintech down over 75% from November 2021, Max Levchin said the company’s innovative lending models… Read More

August 15, 2022 @ 10:22 am By JD Alois  |  

Gregory Klumov, CEO of STASIS – an issuer of a Euro stablecoin, has issued a statement criticizing Circle’s decision to freeze USDC that is parked in Tornado.Cash addresses. Circle, the issuer of the second largest stablecoin in the market, took the action following the US … Read More

August 15, 2022 @ 8:31 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Michael Nadeau, the Director of Ecosystem Strategy at Invenium and Founder of The DeFi Report, recently noted that the Ethereum merge to proof of stake is “setting up to be one of the most important moments in the history of crypto.” The investing community is “bullish… Read More

August 11, 2022 @ 4:50 pm By JD Alois  |  

While stablecoins continue to grow in usage while garnering legislative attention that may provide a regulatory regime to propel them further, some industry observers are non-believers of fiat-backed crypto. John Reed Stark, a frequent critic of crypto and former SEC official who previously ran the… Read More

August 10, 2022 @ 12:24 pm By JD Alois  |  

Mike Crosbie, Chief Business Officer of poundtoken (GBPT), an issuer of a British Pound-backed stablecoin, has distributed a comment on the Bank of England’s recent missives on crypto asset risks. Like other central government regulators, the Bank of England has been keenly observing the emerging… Read More

August 9, 2022 @ 10:45 am By JD Alois  |  

Criticism from various corners of the political ring continues to lament the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act – legislation that even supporters are describing as a climate bill and not doing much to mitigate inflation. SBE Council President & CEO Karen Kerrigan has issued… Read More

August 8, 2022 @ 7:59 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

  Last week, it was widely reported that Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) was selected by BlackRock “to provide Aladdin clients access to crypto trading and custody via Coinbase Prime.” Coinbase and BlackRock will “create new access points for institutional crypto adoption by connecting Coinbase Prime and Aladdin.”… Read More

August 8, 2022 @ 3:34 pm By JD Alois  |  

As was earlier covered, the US Department of Treasury, via the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned crypto mixer Tornado Cash.  Mixers are used to boost the privacy of crypto transacts but may also be used to obfuscate nefarious activity. Coin Center, a… Read More

August 7, 2022 @ 7:33 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council) has publicly posted a letter criticizing the Inflation Reduction Act that was approved by the US Senate in a party-line vote. While the name claims to reduce inflation, some analysts have stated there is nothing or very… Read More

August 5, 2022 @ 12:18 pm By JD Alois  |  

Last week during the meeting of the SEC Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee (SBCFAC), members voted to support improvements to secondary trading of crowdfunded securities – more specifically, to exempt state laws when it comes to the trading of securities under Tier 2 of… Read More

August 5, 2022 @ 10:09 am By Paul H. Jossey  |  

Hot summer temperatures have done nothing for the current “crypto winter,” which has seen a $2 trillion market drop from highs last year. The downswing, including the spectacular failure of the Terra Luna ecosystem and a cascade of exchanges temporarily halting withdrawals, has livened crypto’s… Read More

August 5, 2022 @ 9:55 am By JD Alois  |  

Earlier this week, it was reported that a bipartisan group of US Senators had developed legislation aimed at providing greater regulatory clarity regarding crypto in the US. Senators from the Senate Agriculture Committee joined to craft a bill that gave the Commodity Futures Trading Commission… Read More

August 2, 2022 @ 7:18 pm By JD Alois  |  

  The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee (SBCFAC) met today to discuss liquidity for certain exempt securities in the form of secondary trading. More specifically, the Committee addressed securities issued under Reg CF (Regulation Crowdfunding) and Regulation A (Reg… Read More

August 1, 2022 @ 12:35 pm By JD Alois  |  

Earlier this year, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee (SBCFAC), held a meeting to discuss proposed rules on climate risk disclosure. The meeting addressed potential rule changes initiated by the SEC and championed by SEC Chairman Gary Gensler. When… Read More

July 31, 2022 @ 4:31 pm By JD Alois  |  

This past week, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) published its 41st annual Small Business Forum report, an effort to help guide the Commission on important issues facing small businesses and access to capital in the USA. While the SEC focuses most of its attention… Read More

July 29, 2022 @ 12:17 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI), a non-profit DC think tank that advocates on behalf of free markets, has published a paper on stablecoins as well as central bank digital currencies. While CBDCs are state-managed digital currencies, perhaps utilizing blockchain technology, stablecoins are issued and managed… Read More

July 28, 2022 @ 7:09 pm By JD Alois  |  

Ratings agency Fitch is out with commentary on the buy now – pay later (BNPL) sector that is cautious on the new form of credit. According to Fitch: “BNPL is likely to face increased challenges from growing competition, higher funding costs and credit deterioration, as… Read More

July 27, 2022 @ 7:41 pm By JD Alois  |  

In the past week, CI has reported on the enforcement action initiated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), involving a former Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) manager and two partners regarding allegations of insider trading. According to the SEC’s complaint, non-public information was accessed prior to release,… Read More