Politics, Legal & Regulation

September 28, 2023 @ 11:42 am By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged Pedram Abraham Mehrian and two companies he controlled with allegations of conducting a multi-year Ponzi-like scheme. The SEC claims that Mehrian misled investors who purchased $17.5 million in promissory notes. The SEC claims that Mehrian and two… Read More

September 27, 2023 @ 3:36 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has published a long list of rule changes it intends to pursue. The complete agenda established by the Commission, under the leadership of SEC Chair Gary Gensler, is available here. One of the rule changes near the top is… Read More

September 27, 2023 @ 2:10 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Kraken, one of the “longest-standing” crypto platforms, announced it has received authorization from the Central Bank of Ireland as an E-Money Institution (EMI). In addition, Kraken has also “registered with the Bank of Spain as a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP).” These authorizations highlight Kraken’s… Read More

September 27, 2023 @ 10:14 am By JD Alois  |  

In the minutes before the testimony by SEC Gary Gensler in front of the House Financial Services Committee, the leadership has distributed a letter pounding Chair Gensler on the “cumulative impact” of the SEC’s rulemakings during his tenure. The Republican leadership demands that Gensler “ahalt… Read More

September 27, 2023 @ 9:55 am By JD Alois  |  

  Today, commencing shortly, SEC Chair Gary Gensler will testify in front of the House Financial Services Committee. You can expect a good grilling of Chair Gensler as the Republic-controlled Committee has pushed against his aggressive rule-making agenda that has propelled the SEC into the… Read More

September 27, 2023 @ 9:24 am By Omar Faridi  |  

JPMorgan‘s (NYSE: JPM) UK-based retail bank Chase has reportedly decided to ban crypto-related transactions that are made by its clients, starting from October 16, 2023. This bank says it made the decision because of a significant rise in fraudulent activities and scams. A bank representative… Read More

September 26, 2023 @ 8:59 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) has penalized Bobbob Pty for its representations about a crypto-asset-linked investment product. Bobbob has settled the claims by paying $53,280 to comply with ASIC’s “infringement notices.” In a statement, ASIC explained that it was concerned that Bobbob made… Read More

September 26, 2023 @ 3:41 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council) has issued a statement hammering the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and its legal assault on Amazon. Earlier today, the FTC sued Amazon for “illegally maintaining monopoly power.” The FTC claims that  Amazon has pursued a “pattern of… Read More

September 25, 2023 @ 5:44 pm By JD Alois  |  

Speaking at the beginning of last week’s meeting of the Investor Advisory Committee (IAC), SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce went to bat for smaller firms and private securities issuers – once again. The SEC is currently considering making the definition of an Accredited Investor more rigorous…. Read More

September 25, 2023 @ 4:07 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission has charged Matthew Motil with allegations he operated a Ponzi like scam that pilfered $11 million from 50 investors. Motil, based in North Olmstead, Ohio, ran a podcast called “The Cash Flow King.” According to the SEC’s complaint, Motil promoted… Read More

September 25, 2023 @ 12:05 pm By JD Alois  |  

Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler will traverse up to Capitol Hill this week to testify in front of the House Financial Services Committee in what could be a fairly robust hearing. The hearing memo includes a litany of issues that Chair Gensler is… Read More

September 24, 2023 @ 10:19 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Mastercard (NYSE: MA) wrote to several members of the U.S. Congress to highlight the harms the Credit Card Competition Act would “bring to consumers, businesses of all sizes and financial institutions. Today’s payments ecosystem enables consumers “to make purchases safely and securely while gaining access… Read More

September 24, 2023 @ 8:11 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In order to support innovation, financial inclusion as well as the emerging digital financial services ecosystem, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has reportedly issued In-Principle Approvals for launching five digital retail-focused banking platforms. Pakistan’s newly approved online banks reportedly include HugoBank, KT Bank Pakistan… Read More

September 24, 2023 @ 3:51 pm By Michael Wong  |  

In what is being touted as Singapore‘s most significant money laundering operation, authorities reported a staggering increase in the total value of assets confiscated, now amounting to S$2.4 billion ($1.76 billion), according to a police announcement. The huge inventory of seized assets now encompasses over… Read More

September 23, 2023 @ 6:14 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

UK Finance recently commented on the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA)’s account access and closure report. According to UK Finance: “Freedom of expression is vitally important and today’s report from the FCA makes clear that accounts are not being closed because of political beliefs or other… Read More

September 23, 2023 @ 10:42 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Roger M. Brown,  the Global Head of Tax Strategy at Chainalysis, notes that on August 25, 2023, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service released proposed regulations that would require domestic and foreign exchanges and other types of “brokers” who “effect sales” of digital assets to (1) collect… Read More

September 22, 2023 @ 10:24 am By JD Alois  |  

During the Securities and Exchange Commission’s meeting of the Investor Advisory Committee (IAC) yesterday (September 21, 2023), a representative from the Angel Capital Association (ACA) gave a compelling presentation advocating on behalf of his industry and why we need more Accredited Investors and NOT fewer…. Read More

September 22, 2023 @ 8:46 am By JD Alois  |  

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has sued Bit Trade Pty, a partner of Kraken that services clients in Australia. According to a statement issued by the regulator, Bit Trade has “failed to comply with the design and distribution obligations for the margin trading… Read More

September 22, 2023 @ 6:05 am By Omar Faridi  |  

eToro, the trading and investing platform, has announced that its application for registration under the CySEC CASP (Crypto Asset Service Provider) Register in Cyprus has been approved. The registration will enable eToro to “offer regulated crypto services to all EU countries on a cross-border basis… Read More

September 22, 2023 @ 1:11 am By Michael Wong  |  

Starting next year, four top insurance companies headquartered in Singapore – AIA Singapore, Income Insurance, Prudential Assurance Company Singapore, and The Great Eastern Life Assurance Company – will undergo heightened capital requirements, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has announced. Specifically, the four insurers will… Read More