Politics, Legal & Regulation

May 16, 2024 @ 9:38 am By JD Alois  |  

The Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) in France is telling investors to “exercise the utmost vigilance with regard to proposal investments made to the public residing in France by the digital asset trading platform BYBIT.” BYBIT operates elsewhere, including in Dubai where it received a… Read More

May 15, 2024 @ 1:10 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Blockdaemon officially announces expansion into the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with a new office and corporate entity established in Abu Dhabi under the Registration Authority of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). With this expansion, Blockdaemon will now “offer institutional-grade node and validator infrastructure solutions, and… Read More

May 15, 2024 @ 8:04 am By Omar Faridi  |  

On May 13, 2024, President Biden issued an order prohibiting the purchase and requiring the divestment of certain real estate operating as a cryptocurrency mining facility located within one mile of Francis E. Warren Air Force Base (F.E. Warren AFB). The order also requires the… Read More

May 13, 2024 @ 10:39 am By JD Alois  |  

FAT (Fresh. Authentic. Tasty.) Brands Inc. (NASDQ:FAT) has been hit with allegations of fraud. This past Friday, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed fraud charges against FAT, its former CEO and current Chairman, Andrew Wiederhorn, and its former CFOs, Ron Roe and Rebecca Hershinger,… Read More

May 13, 2024 @ 9:39 am By Omar Faridi  |  

SoFi’s (NASDAQ: SOFI) brokerage division will be required to pay a $1.1 million penalty to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for alleged fraud detection shortcomings which reportedly enabled fraudsters to create SoFi Money accounts by using fake or stolen identities online. SoFi Securities allegedly… Read More

May 13, 2024 @ 7:42 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Upstart has reportedly received a subpoena from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) pertaining to the Fintech company’s disclosures as they relate to use of its AI algorithms/models and loans. This, according to Upstart’s quarterly filing released this past Tuesday. The California-headquartered alternative lender… Read More

May 10, 2024 @ 5:47 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century (FIT21) Act is taking another step forward in a process to provide new rules to oversee the emerging digital asset ecosystem. The House Rules Committee has agreed to a floor vote, which is expected to take place… Read More

May 10, 2024 @ 2:30 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

FINTRAC announced that it has imposed an administrative monetary penalty on Binance Holdings Limited, also operating as Binance Holdings (IE) Ltd., Binance.com, Binance Global and Binance. This foreign money services business was “imposed an administrative monetary penalty of $6,002,000 on May 7, 2024 for non-compliance… Read More

May 10, 2024 @ 9:17 am By JD Alois  |  

Call it fate or luck, but most FTX customers and creditors will receive their money back after the firm filed for bankruptcy protection. FTX, under the management of liquidators, said that 98% of FTX creditors would receive at least 118% of allowed claims. Other creditors… Read More

May 9, 2024 @ 10:38 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) is proposing to direct banks and other payment firms participating in CHAPS to reimburse their customers who have been victims of authorised push payment (APP) scams. The PSR’s direction will underpin the Bank of England’s new CHAPS reimbursement rules. In… Read More

May 9, 2024 @ 9:44 am By JD Alois  |  

European crowdfunding leaders will meet this month to discuss the implementation of European Crowdfunding Service Provider regulation (ECSPR) and the Key Investment Information Sheet (KIIS) – a requirement for issuers raising money under the rules. The European Working Group will be meeting for the 2nd… Read More

May 9, 2024 @ 9:15 am By Omar Faridi  |  

As Wisconsin becomes the latest state to regulate Earned Wage Access (EWA) services, we connected with Nico Simko, founder and CEO of on-demand pay app Clair, to discuss the ever-changing EWA landscape, the impact of local state government’s efforts to protect consumers, and more. Nico… Read More

May 8, 2024 @ 11:21 am By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Investor Advisory Committee (IAC), has scheduled a meeting for June 6th. Topics include artificial intelligence (AI) and the ongoing discussion of investment advice. Regarding investment advice, the Committee worries that younger investors are receiving guidance from “non-traditional ways,” including… Read More

May 8, 2024 @ 10:24 am By JD Alois  |  

Singapore and the United Kingdom have enhanced their existing relationship in regard to Fintech development and utilization. The UK is the top western Fintech hub and Singapore represents the most robust Fintech center in Asia. The initiative was led by HM Treasury and the Monetary… Read More

May 8, 2024 @ 9:16 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) took action against Chime Financial for allegedly “failing to give consumers timely refunds when their accounts were closed.” Thousands of consumers waited for weeks or even months “for balance refunds after closing their accounts – a failure that inflicted… Read More

May 7, 2024 @ 7:07 pm By JD Alois  |  

Following the release of an independent review of activity at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) which sites misconduct and a toxic workplace, Congressman Patrick McHenry is calling on FDIC Chairman Martin Gruenberg to resign. McHenry is the Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee,… Read More

May 7, 2024 @ 3:27 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed charges against Curt Kramer and his wholly-owned businesses Power Up Lending Ltd., Geneva Roth Remark Holdings, Inc., and 1800 Diagonal Lending, LLC (formerly known as Sixth Street Lending LLC), for operating as unregistered securities dealers. According to… Read More

May 7, 2024 @ 12:35 pm By JD Alois  |  

Coinbase co-founder and CEO Brian Armstrong welcomed Robinhood (NASDAQ:HOOD) to the Wells Notice club. This past week, it was reported that Robinhood has received a Wells Notice from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A Wells Notice indicates that SEC staff is recommending an enforcement action by… Read More

May 7, 2024 @ 8:49 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Robinhood Markets, Inc. (NASDAQ:HOOD) announced that it had received a Wells Notice from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) staff. As reported on May 6, 2024, Robinhood Crypto (RHC) received a Wells Noticer “indicating [staff] will recommend that the Commission file an enforcement action.”… Read More

May 6, 2024 @ 8:57 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the central bank of the Philippines, has issued new regulations mandating that banks and other financial institutions report significant incidents related to money laundering, terrorism financing, and proliferation financing within 24 hours. The directive, outlined in a circular signed… Read More