Tether Seeks Dismissal of Class Action Case in New York

November 16, 2019 @ 4:20 pm By Cali Haan |

Tether Inc, makers of a popular cryptocurrency that mimics USD (“tether” or USDt), has asked a judge in New York for permission to file a motion to dismiss a class-action suit filed against the company last month. The suit alleges that parties at Tether Inc and… Read More

FinCEN Director Kenneth Blanco Says US Government will Strictly Enforce Rule Requiring Cryptocurrency Firms to Share User Data

November 16, 2019 @ 8:48 am By Omar Faridi |

The US government will reportedly be enforcing a rule which requires companies dealing in cryptocurrencies, including digital asset wallet providers and exchanges, to share details about their clients. This, according to Kenneth Blanco, director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). The “travel rule” for… Read More

OpenVASP Initiative: Consortium Expects to Coordinate Solution to Travel Rule with FATF

November 15, 2019 @ 9:53 am By JD Alois |

Earlier this year there was a good amount of debate and discussion regarding the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) move to apply traditional KYC/AML requirements to digital asset transactions. As one would expect, FATF got what it wanted and now “virtual asset service providers” or… Read More

Final Judgement: VERI ICO Ordered to Pay $9.5 Million Penalty for Violation of Securities Law

November 15, 2019 @ 8:09 am By JD Alois |

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced the final judgment in regards to the Veri initial coin offering (ICO) which was deemed to be sales of unregistered securities. Veritaseum, Inc. and Veritaseum, LLC along with Reginald Middleton have been ordered to pay a $9.5… Read More

Crypto Leaders Propose Protocol to Comply with FATF Requirements on VASPs

November 15, 2019 @ 1:00 am By JD Alois |

In the midst of the Blockshow Asia Conference crypto industry representatives have announced a movement create an open protocol designed to comply with FATF demands impacting VASPs or Virtual Asset Service Providers. According to a release, representatives of the Swiss-based Crypto Valley Association (CVA), International Digital… Read More

Two Young SIM-Swap Hackers Charged in Massachusetts

November 14, 2019 @ 7:00 pm By Cali Haan |

Two young men from Massachusetts have been charged in an 11-count indictment for crimes relating to the theft of over $550,000 USD in cryptocurrencies from, “at least 10 identified victims.” Eric Meiggs, 21, and Declan Harrington, 20, allegedly executed the thefts via SIM-swap attacks, a… Read More

The International Securities Services Association Publishes Paper on Crypto-Assets, Makes Recommendations Regarding Issuance & Trading

November 14, 2019 @ 4:43 pm By JD Alois |

The International Securities Services Association (ISSA), a Switzerland based association that promotes best practices in the securities sector, has added their voice to the emerging digital asset or crypto-asset sector. This includes security tokens, payment tokens (cryptocurrencies, stablecoins etc.) and utility tokens. In October 2018,… Read More

Private Equity Has Better Returns & Lower Volatility than Public Markets: Will the SEC Make it Easier for Retail Investors to Gain Access to this Asset Class?

November 14, 2019 @ 12:08 pm By JD Alois |

Earlier this week there was a meeting of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee. During the meeting, the Committee discussed the SEC’s Concept Release on regulatory harmonization and several topics specifically. First, was the subject of access to capital… Read More

Report: Some Crypto Firms that Settled with the SEC May Not be Able to Cover Mandated Settlements

November 14, 2019 @ 8:19 am By JD Alois |

Some cryptocurrency firms that were the target of the Securities and Exchange Commission Division of Enforcement may not be able to adhere to the agreed-upon settlements, according to WSJ.com. Paragon and Airfox are both mentioned in the report. The two companies were deemed to have… Read More

Executives Behind $342 Million USD Crypto Scam Jailed in Korea

November 14, 2019 @ 12:58 am By Cali Haan |

Executives who allegedly ran a fraudulent $342 million USD (400 billion won) cryptocurrency scam called Coin Up in Korea from August of last year until this past February have received significant prison sentences, Yonhap News reports. 53-year-old Coin Up executive Kang-mo, who allegedly displayed a… Read More

European Crowdfunding Association Publishes Report on Blockchain – DLT Use Cases

November 13, 2019 @ 3:10 pm By JD Alois |

The European Crowdfunding Association (ECN), the leading advocacy group for online capital formation in Europe, has published a report on blockchain – distributed ledger technology (DLT) and use cases in alternative finance. The report adds a new acronym “BDLT” thus representing the combination of the… Read More

Telegram Files Response to SEC Action Blocking US Token Sales

November 13, 2019 @ 2:07 pm By Cali Haan |

Lawyers for Telegram have responded to the SEC complaint that led a judge in October to temporarily forbid the sale of GRAM tokens to retail investors in the US. Telegram, provider of a popular encrypted messaging app (Messenger) that permits anonymous communicating, was started by… Read More

Monetary Authority of Singapore Works with Financial Sector on Framework for AI and Big Data

November 13, 2019 @ 12:14 pm By JD Alois |

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is working with financial industry partners to create a framework for financial institutions on the responsible adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Analytics (AIDA). The new framework has been given the name “Veritas.” The goal is to enable… Read More

Rearguard Action: Independent Community Bankers of America Supports Closure of Industrial Loan Charter “Loophole” to Eliminate “Shadow Banking”

November 13, 2019 @ 11:05 am By JD Alois |

The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) has issued a statement of “strong support” regarding pending legislation targeting Industrial Loan Charters (ILC). An ILC is a regulated financial services charter that may be held by non-financial institutions. ILCs may hold FDIC insured deposits – a… Read More

Dutch Court Orders Facebook to Control Fake Bitcoin-Endorsing Ads

November 12, 2019 @ 7:41 pm By Cali Haan |

A Dutch court has determined that Facebook has the means at its disposal to restrict Bitcoin and cryptocurrency ads featuring celebrities who did not consent to the use of their name or image, Dutch News reports. Judges in Amsterdam have also threatened to fine Facebook… Read More

Sara Hanks Comments on SEC Concept Release, Defends Reg A+, Advocates on Behalf of Companies in Need of Growth Capital

November 12, 2019 @ 9:53 am By JD Alois |

Last week, a meeting of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Investor Advisory Committee (IAC) held a meeting. On the agenda was the topic of the SEC’s concept release on regulatory harmonization. The concept release was initiated in recognition of the current ecosystem of private… Read More

Bank for International Settlement Opens Innovation Hub and Selects Benoît Cœuré to Lead the Charge, Expect a Deep Probe into Digital Currencies

November 11, 2019 @ 8:21 am By JD Alois |

Benoît Cœuré, the outgoing European Central Bank Executive Board Member and an individual some thought best equipped to become the President of the ECB, has been appointed to lead the newly created Bank for International Settlements (BIS) Innovation Hub. According to BIS, Cœuré will commence… Read More

Report: Head of Russia’s Central Bank Joins Chorus of Regulators Critical of Private Currencies Like Facebook’s Libra

November 9, 2019 @ 2:55 pm By Cali Haan |

Elvira Nabiullina, governor at the Bank of Russia since 2013, told the Russian parliament this week that she supports Fintech innovations but opposes private currencies like Facebook’s Libra because they pose a threat to financial stability. She also said she and the bank are monitoring… Read More

Chinese Tech Giant Tencent to Launch a Blockchain-based Virtual Bank in Hong Kong

November 9, 2019 @ 2:46 pm By Omar Faridi |

Chinese tech giant Tencent is reportedly preparing to launch a blockchain-enabled virtual bank, after the company obtained a license from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). Previously, Crowdfund Insider has reported that 8 virtual bank licenses have been issued with the most recent (4) being announced… Read More

Department of Homeland Security Funds Blockchain Trial for Tracking Oil

November 9, 2019 @ 10:11 am By Cali Haan |

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has granted Toronto-based Mavennet Systems $182,700 USD to modify its oil and gas industry blockchain so it can be used by US Customs Border Protection (CBP) to cross-border oil imports. Once adapted, the tech will be used in… Read More