Politics, Legal & Regulation

November 22, 2023 @ 5:33 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee (SBCFAC), is scheduled to meet next week, and it has just posted its agenda. Probably the most interesting subject on the list of topics is the segment on the definition of an Accredited… Read More

November 21, 2023 @ 5:14 pm By JD Alois  |  

In a press event this afternoon, US Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen called the settlement with Binance a historic action by the agency. In total, Binance is expected to pay $4.3 billion in penalties for its past actions. At the same time, Binance will… Read More

November 21, 2023 @ 5:09 pm By JD Alois  |  

As was reported earlier today, Binance has settled charges in a comprehensive manner, paying total penalties of $4.3 billion, described as the largest settlement of its kind ever. Binance is noted as the largest crypto exchange in the world, handling approximately 60% of centralized digital… Read More

November 21, 2023 @ 3:41 pm By JD Alois  |  

Binance, the largest crypto exchange in the world, has cut a deal with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) that appears to allow Binance to stay in operation. According to multiple reports, Binance will pay a hefty $4.3 billion penalty and plead guilty to charges,… Read More

November 21, 2023 @ 9:04 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Tether, the largest company in the cryptocurrency ecosystem, and leading global crypto exchange and Web3 technology company OKX, announced that they have assisted the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) in an investigation that “led to Tether proactively and voluntarily freezing approximately 225 million in… Read More

November 21, 2023 @ 8:46 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a complaint alleging that Kraken operates as “an unregistered securities exchange, broker, and clearing house.” Kraken says they disagree and intend “to vigorously defend their position in court.” The news has no impact “on the products they… Read More

November 20, 2023 @ 10:51 pm By JD Alois  |  

The  Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged Kraken with operating an unregistered securities exchange as the agency continues its pursuit of crypto firms deemed to be transgressing securities laws. The SEC charged Payward Inc. and Payward Ventures, Inc., which do business as Kraken. Kraken… Read More

November 20, 2023 @ 3:34 pm By JD Alois  |  

In a rarity, Democrat and Republican Senators have joined in sponsoring the Expanding American Entrepreneurship Act, which aims to improve access to capital for early-stage firms. US Senators Jerry Moran, Tim Scott, and Mark Warner have joined to introduce the legislation into the Senate, which… Read More

November 19, 2023 @ 2:58 pm By Michael Wong  |  

India has trained over 3,000 personnel from various cybercrime and police departments to bolster their capabilities in tackling cryptocurrency-related crimes. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)’s annual report, India provided specialized training in cryptocurrency forensics and investigations during the financial year 2022-2023. A… Read More

November 18, 2023 @ 5:52 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) have jointly introduced a real-time payment systems linkage connecting Singapore’s PayNow and Malaysia’s DuitNow. This initiative builds upon the earlier QR payment linkage announced on March 31, 2023, facilitating cross-border QR payments to merchants…. Read More

November 17, 2023 @ 4:58 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) unveiled three initiatives to ensure the safe and innovative use of digital money in Singapore, namely: a blueprint outlining the infrastructure required for a digital Singapore dollar; expanding digital money trials; and a plan to issue a “live” central… Read More

November 17, 2023 @ 11:36 am By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission, Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee (SBCFAC), has scheduled a meeting for the end of this month on November 20, 2023. The meeting will begin at 10:00 ET and will be open to the public via a live stream on… Read More

November 16, 2023 @ 5:12 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) Superintendent Adrienne A. Harris issued guidance which adopts enhanced requirements for coin-listing and delisting policies of DFS-regulated virtual currency entities, “updating the prior framework issued by the Department in 2020.” Superintendent Harris stated: “This guidance continues the… Read More

November 16, 2023 @ 12:15 pm By JD Alois  |  

Last week, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) proposed rules to regulate Big Tech and their Fintech services. The CFPB is targeting firms like Facebook, Google, Amazon, Apple, and others. According to the statement issued by the CFPB, the agency seeks to regulated digital wallets… Read More

November 15, 2023 @ 5:14 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

European Union rules and guidelines for protecting the financial system from risks due to cryptocurrency transactions reportedly come with a loophole that enables banking institutions to circumvent certain safeguards, and these must be addressed immediately, according to the European Central Bank‘s chief supervisor Andrea Enria…. Read More

November 14, 2023 @ 8:36 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Crypto.com announced that its Dubai entity, CRO DAX Middle East FZE, has been granted a Virtual Assets Service Provider (VASP) License “for specified virtual asset service activities by Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA).” Crypto.com’s VASP License is “subject to the Company fully satisfying select… Read More

November 14, 2023 @ 7:30 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has published a report on enforcement actions during fiscal year 2023. In total, the agency pursued 784 enforcement actions, including administrative proceedings, which compares to 760 enforcement actions during fiscal year 2022. The SEC issued the following statement on… Read More

November 13, 2023 @ 9:13 am By JD Alois  |  

This Wednesday (November 15, 2023), the House Subcommittee on Digital Assets and Financial Technology, part of the House Committee on Financial Servies, will hold a hearing on “Breaking Down the Illicit Activity in Digital Assets” – addressing the use of crypto to commit crimes, including… Read More

November 13, 2023 @ 8:22 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) says it is working with payment service providers to do more “to protect consumers from fraud, including authorized push payment (APP) fraud.” While FCA‘s review of firms’ fraud controls and complaint handling found examples of good practice, they were… Read More

November 13, 2023 @ 6:33 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The ACPR and AMF encourage financial institutions to continue their efforts to take account of the vulnerability of ageing clients The joint unit of the Autorité de contrôle prudentiel et de résolution (ACPR) and the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) has published a summary of… Read More