Politics, Legal & Regulation

August 20, 2023 @ 10:11 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is setting out their expectations for crypto-asset businesses that need “to comply with a change in money laundering legislation legislated by government in July 2022.” From 1 September 2023, crypto-asset businesses in the UK will be “required to collect,… Read More

August 20, 2023 @ 4:37 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) has launched two consultations in the lead up “to the implementation of its new authorised push payment (APP) fraud reimbursement requirements. ” In June, the PSR set out its final position on “tackling APP fraud, which will mean the vast… Read More

August 17, 2023 @ 4:57 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Association of Online Investment Platforms (AOIP) provides feedback on FINRA’s request for input on improving capital formation. This past May, FINRA announced a request for comment on how FINRA rules may impact capital formation. The goal was to look for ways to increase efficiency… Read More

August 17, 2023 @ 8:31 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Federal Trade Commission will require Experian Consumer Services, which offers consumers access to their Experian credit information, “to pay $650,000 to settle charges it sent consumers unsolicited email without offering them a way to opt out of such messages, as required under the CAN-SPAM… Read More

August 17, 2023 @ 8:19 am By Omar Faridi  |  

PayPal (NASDAQ:PYPL) says it will be halting UK-based crypto sales until next year. Payments firm PayPal recently revealed that it will not be allowing UK clients to purchase cryptocurrencies via its platform from October 2023, as the company works on adhering to new regulatory guidelines for… Read More

August 16, 2023 @ 12:47 pm By JD Alois  |  

Yesterday, Republicans on the House Financial Services Committee revealed a letter sent to both the Chair of the SEC, Gary Gensler, and the President of FINRA, Robert Cook. The letter was addressing the relationship with Prometheum, a broker-dealer that aims to provide digital asset services…. Read More

August 16, 2023 @ 10:34 am By JD Alois  |  

Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) has secured regulatory approval from the National Futures Association (NFA) to operate a Futures Commission Merchant (FCM).  This will enable it to provide access to crypto futures trading for eligible customers. The NFA is a Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) designated self-regulatory organization…. Read More

August 16, 2023 @ 8:59 am By JD Alois  |  

BAM Trading Services Inc. and BAM Management US Holdings Inc. have filed a motion for a protective order in the ongoing legal battle with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). BAM is the corporate name for Binance.US. This past June, the SEC filed charges against… Read More

August 15, 2023 @ 2:50 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Chair of the House Financial Services Committee, Representative Patrick McHenry, along with other Committee Republicans, have sent a letter to the Chair of the SEC, Gary Gensler, as well as the FINRA President Robert Cook, questioning the relationship with Prometheum and the approval for… Read More

August 15, 2023 @ 11:14 am By JD Alois  |  

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has revealed the regulatory framework for compliant stablecoins. Singapore is the top Fintech hub in Asia. MAS is a key collaborator in enabling Fintech innovation. In 2022, MAS kicked off a public consultation on stablecoins, asset-backed digital assets typically… Read More

August 15, 2023 @ 8:43 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Crypto-asset lender Celsius Network on Monday (August 14, 2023) received a US bankruptcy judge’s permission to obtain creditor approval for its ongoing bankruptcy plan, which is presenting a proposal to exit Chapter 11 as a another business entity that would be owned by the firm’s… Read More

August 14, 2023 @ 11:44 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Following a review of fund managers’ value assessments, the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has found “that while many firms have better practices in place, some still require improvement.” In 2017, the FCA published its Asset Management Market Study, which “found evidence of weak demand-side… Read More

August 14, 2023 @ 8:49 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) licensed “Loan” to provide consumer microfinance solutions through financial technology. With Loan, there are now six authorized companies “offering consumer microfinance solutions in Saudi Arabia.” This decision reflects SAMA‘s endeavor “to support the finance sector, increase efficiency of financial transactions,… Read More

August 14, 2023 @ 3:41 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has filed charges against four individuals as well as an unincorporated entity called Fundsz. The complaint charges them with fraudulent solicitation from clients to purportedly trade in cryptocurrencies and precious metals. Filed in District Court in Florida, the following… Read More

August 13, 2023 @ 10:49 pm By Tony Zerucha  |  

While the US Federal Reserve’s recent announcement of a Novel Activities Supervision Program is a step in the right direction, the work is far from over, the leader of the American Fintech Council believes. The Novel Activities Supervision Program is designed to enhance the oversight… Read More

August 13, 2023 @ 10:09 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) revealed an enforcement action against Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) back in June. Among other allegations, the SEC claims that Coinbase is operating as an unregistered securities exchange. The SEC targeted Coinbase even though it had clearly approved the firm to become… Read More

August 13, 2023 @ 2:03 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The US Securities and Exchange Commissin (SEC) has postponed its decision regarding Cathie Wood‘s spot Bitcoin ETF application. The US SEC recently confirmed that it will be delaying its decision on whether to greenlight the Cathie Wood-backed Ark Investment Management’s (ARK) spot bitcoin Exchange-Traded Fund…. Read More

August 12, 2023 @ 4:26 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Digital investment platform Mnaara has completed a US$500,000 pre-seed round funded by investors from the UK, US, Middle East and Singapore. The investment round will enable Mnaara “to grow its team and continue developing its Shariah-compliant investment solutions catering to the globally underserved mass-affluent market.”… Read More

August 12, 2023 @ 12:01 pm By JD Alois  |  

This week the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced a settlement in its enforcement action against Bittrex as well as a foreign affiliate. Bittrex agreed to a total penalty of $24 million. As part of the settlement, Bittrex neither admitted nor denied the SEC’s allegations,… Read More

August 11, 2023 @ 3:56 pm By JD Alois  |  

Reports are indicating that Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder and former CEO of failed crypto exchange FTX, is back in jail as Judge Lewis Kaplan has revoked his bail. Bankman-Fried has been out on bail almost since his arrest. Apparently, the prosecutors involved in the case… Read More