Politics, Legal & Regulation

January 3, 2024 @ 1:35 pm By JD Alois  |  

Commissioner Mark Uyeda has been sworn in for a second term at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). His previous term expired in 2023, and now Uyeda may remain at the SEC until 2028. Uyeda is one of two Republican Commissioners – the other being… Read More

January 2, 2024 @ 11:32 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced that the New York State Department of Financial Services adopted guidance for New York State-regulated banking and mortgage institutions in order “to help them manage their material financial and operational risks associated with climate change.” Governor Hochul said: “Climate change… Read More

January 2, 2024 @ 9:57 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Justice Department sued Colony Ridge, a Texas-based developer and lender, for allegedly “operating an illegal land sales scheme and targeting tens of thousands of Hispanic borrowers with false statements and predatory loans.” The lawsuit filed in federal… Read More

January 1, 2024 @ 8:53 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) seeks public consultation on draft amendments to the “Key Principles of Governance in Financial Institutions under the control and supervision of the Saudi Central Bank.” In this context, SAMA invites stakeholders to “provide suggestions and observations on the draft by… Read More

December 31, 2023 @ 6:31 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has imposed a civil penalty of $3.9 million on Credit Suisse AG, for its alleged failure “to prevent or detect misconduct by its relationship managers (RMs) in the Singapore branch.” The RMs had allegedly provided clients “with inaccurate or… Read More

December 29, 2023 @ 5:55 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Gavin Wood, an Ethereum co-founder who has focused on Polkadot noted that we are seeing a global return to normalcy and resurgence of (in-person) events with it (even though various of COVID still seem to be affecting a significant number of people despite vaccinations being… Read More

December 29, 2023 @ 1:20 pm By JD Alois  |  

Online capital formation became legal following the approval of the JOBS Act of 2012. Signed into law by President Obama, the bipartisan legislation sought to make it easier for firms to raise money from both accredited and non-accredited investors. While the bill was signed into… Read More

December 29, 2023 @ 10:44 am By JD Alois  |  

The Digital Asset Anti Money Laundering Act (S. 2669) is pending legislation that aims to stymie bad actors’ use of crypto to cover their tracks. The bill was introduced by Senator Elizabeth Warren, a well-known digital asset skeptic. Warren sits on the Senate Banking Committee,… Read More

December 29, 2023 @ 10:22 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The AMF is warning the public against several companies proposing atypical investments without being authorised to do so. The Autorité des Marchés Financiers regularly “updates its black lists of new websites and entities proposing atypical investments to investors in France without being authorized to do… Read More

December 28, 2023 @ 9:53 am By JD Alois  |  

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Chief Executive Nikhil Rathi has issued a statement on the agency’s key achievements in the past couple of years. The update is part of a three-year strategy by the FCA to support financial services development while providing ample protection…. Read More

December 27, 2023 @ 10:24 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The European Central Bank (ECB) and the European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB) published a joint report on the impact of climate change on the European Union (EU) financial system. The report sets out detailed frameworks for “addressing risk to the financial system by (i) gathering… Read More

December 27, 2023 @ 7:23 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) has announced revisions to its Anti-Money Laundering and Sanctions Rules and Guidance (the AML Rulebook). The FSRA has made revisions that “clarify the requirements that previously appeared in the AML Rulebook, reflecting the federal regulatory framework the UAE has… Read More

December 27, 2023 @ 9:51 am By JD Alois  |  

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has kicked off a public consultation on the issuance of stablecoins. Stablecoins are digital assets that are referenced to other assets. Typically affiliated with fiat currency, stablecoins may also be paired with other assets such as gold. Today, most… Read More

December 27, 2023 @ 9:02 am By Tony Zerucha  |  

The American Fintech Council (AFC) this week announced its support for The Fair Audits and Inspections for Regulators’ (FAIR) Exams Act. The organization said bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS) and co-sponsored by U.S. Sens Joe Manchin (D-WV), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), and Thom… Read More

December 27, 2023 @ 8:58 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) is launching a new framework for Notified Professional Investor Funds (NPIFs). The framework provides for “an additional fund structure in Malta that benefits from an appropriately streamlined onboarding process and complements other existing fund frameworks.” The MFSA is launching… Read More

December 26, 2023 @ 11:15 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Bakkt (NYSE:BKKT) recently had the opportunity to submit a statement for the “Connecting Communities: Building Innovation Ecosystems Across America” hearing, held by the House of Financial Services Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology and Inclusion. At Bakkt, they believe that “a regulated and transparent crypto… Read More

December 24, 2023 @ 11:49 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Crime has long been a “top-of-mind” concern for households across Latin America and the Caribbean, according to an update shared by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The IMF noted in a blog post that the LatAm region accounts “for nearly half of the world’s intentional… Read More

December 23, 2023 @ 9:26 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Fintech Alliance PH has commended the Philippine government for the enactment of the Internet Transactions Act (ITA), which aims to enhance and secure e-commerce transactions in the country. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act 11967, known as the ITA, marking a critical step… Read More

December 23, 2023 @ 11:18 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Following consultations over the last few months, the UK’s Payment Systems Regulator regulator confirms its new reimbursement requirement which will “prompt a step-change in fraud prevention and see the vast majority of money lost to APP frauds reimbursed to victims.” The policy statement confirms “that… Read More

December 23, 2023 @ 3:26 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) in Hong Kong warned the public to beware of entities operating under the names of “LonShiX” and “Bitbank (Global) Financial Holding Group,” suspected of “engaging in fraudulent activities purporting to be related to virtual assets.” The SFC notes that… Read More