Politics, Legal & Regulation

January 14, 2024 @ 3:52 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has initiated a significant step towards refining the regulatory framework for Non-Banking Finance Companies (NBFCs) by proposing amendments to the NBFC (Establishment & Regulations) Rules of 2003. This move, aiming to modernize and streamline the sector, invites… Read More

January 14, 2024 @ 11:12 am By JD Alois  |  

As part of New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s State of the Union address, “sweeping consumer protection” was unveiled for buy now pay later (BNPL) providers. The Governor seeks to amend New York’s consumer laws to boost protections against practices deemed to be “unfair” while establishing… Read More

January 13, 2024 @ 11:34 am By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) experienced an embarrassing breach of security when its X (formerly Twitter) account was hacked. The perpetrators took the opportunity to announce the approval of Bitcoin ETFs one day before the SEC intended to announce it publicly. In the following… Read More

January 13, 2024 @ 11:24 am By Omar Faridi  |  

New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) Superintendent Adrienne A. Harris has announced that Genesis Global Trading, Inc. will “pay an $8 million penalty to New York State for compliance failures that violated DFS’s virtual currency and cybersecurity regulations and left the company vulnerable… Read More

January 12, 2024 @ 9:00 am By JD Alois  |  

The Biden Administration has not been known for embracing Fintech innovation and, in the past couple of years, has become more hostile towards digital assets in general. One aspect the Biden Administration is pursuing that may undermine crypto is the digital asset mining energy excise… Read More

January 11, 2024 @ 6:36 pm By JD Alois  |  

Senator Elizabeth Warren has taken to X to express her displeasure with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s decision to approve eleven Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). These funds started trading today after being approved yesterday, experiencing solid trading demand. Warren, a policymaker who is no fan… Read More

January 11, 2024 @ 5:16 pm By JD Alois  |  

The House Financial Services Committee has announced the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee will hold a hearing entitled: “Oversight of the SEC’s Proposed Climate Disclosure Rule: A Future of Legal Hurdles.” The hearing is scheduled to take place on Thursday, January 18, 2024, at 10 AM… Read More

January 11, 2024 @ 5:04 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced charges against the CEO of Future Fintech Group (Nasdaq:FTFT). The Future Fintech Group is a financial and digital technology service provider that says it conducts asset management, brokerage, and investment banking services in Hong Kong, operates a… Read More

January 11, 2024 @ 11:10 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Bankrupt crypto lending platform Celsius recently filed its intent to claw back a number of pre-bankruptcy withdrawal requests. The struggling cryptocurrency lender formally submitted an intent to claw back certain funds from clients that withdrew $100,000 or more during the 3 months prior to Celsius… Read More

January 11, 2024 @ 10:13 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The European Central Bank (ECB) has published experimental statistics on Distributional Wealth Accounts (DWA) to provide quarterly and timely household distributional information that is consistent with the national accounts. The new data have been developed to “support the ECB’s 2021 monetary policy strategy, which aims… Read More

January 10, 2024 @ 5:57 pm By JD Alois  |  

Representative Patrick McHenry,  Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, has joined the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Bill Huizenga, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology and Inclusion, French Hill, and the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Capital… Read More

January 10, 2024 @ 5:33 pm By JD Alois  |  

The House Financial Services Committee, Subcommittee on National Security, Illicit Finance, and International Financial Institutions will hold a hearing on financing for nuclear energy. Nuclear energy is deemed to be one of the cleanest energies available today. In recent decades, there has been a push… Read More

January 10, 2024 @ 4:57 pm By JD Alois  |  

As was reported earlier today, after an extended deliberation, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved eleven Bitcoin ETFs. CI has received multiple comments on the approval which is a seminal event for the crypto industry. Rajeev Bamra, SVP of Digital Finance at Moody’s… Read More

January 10, 2024 @ 4:21 pm By JD Alois  |  

After a false start yesterday, the Securities and Exchange Commission has filed an Order granting approval for eleven spot Bitcoin ETFs to trade on national exchanges. According to the document: “NYSE Arca proposes to list and trade shares of (1) the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust3 and… Read More

January 10, 2024 @ 12:08 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

BitGo will reportedly offer regulated digital payment token services in Singapore. BitGo says that it views Singapore as an “important hub” for digital asset innovation. BitGo, the provider of financial services for digital assets, confirmed recently that its subsidiary in Singapore, BitGo Singapore Pte. Ltd.,… Read More

January 10, 2024 @ 11:00 am By JD Alois  |  

Many insiders expect the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to decide today whether to approve or not approve a Bitcoin Exchange Traded Fund (ETF). The possibility of a spot Bitcoin vehicle trading on the Nasdaq or the NYSE has driven the price of Bitcoin higher… Read More

January 10, 2024 @ 10:13 am By JD Alois  |  

Yesterday, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) posted a video on X discussing the recent Staff review of the definition of an Accredited Investor. The video states that the review of fhe definition is mandated to take place every four years, according to Dodd-Frank. The… Read More

January 9, 2024 @ 4:30 pm By JD Alois  |  

Minutes ago, it was reported that the  Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) had approved the first Bitcoin Exchange Traded Funds (ETF). Apparently, the SEC’s X account was “compromised,” and the statement on X by SEC Chair Gary Gensler was bogus. The X has now been… Read More

January 9, 2024 @ 1:10 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council) has issued a statement on new rules promulgated by the US Department of Labor (DOL) that may impact startups and entrepreneurs. The DOL has issued its final Independent Contractor rule today, claiming that it “helps employers and… Read More

January 8, 2024 @ 11:22 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Financial Technology Association (FTA) has posted a comment letter criticizing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and a proposed rule on digital payments. The FTA represents the interests of big Fintech firms like Stripe, Wise, Block, and others. The CFPB announced the proposed rule… Read More