Politics, Legal & Regulation

July 15, 2023 @ 7:56 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

On June 6, 2023, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a lawsuit against Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) primarily about a small number of assets listed on their platform, but also their retail staking services. The same day, state securities agencies in ten states – Alabama,… Read More

July 14, 2023 @ 6:34 pm By JD Alois  |  

Representative Patrick McHenry, Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, and Representative GT Thompson, Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, have jointly issued a statement on the court ruling this week regarding the SEC’s lawsuit against Ripple and its issuance of XRP. McHenry and Thompson… Read More

July 14, 2023 @ 12:23 pm By JD Alois  |  

The court ruling on the SEC v. Ripple – XRP case has generated renewed hope that the SEC will have to back away from its current regulation-by-enforcement approach when it comes to digital assets. CI has received multiple comments from industry insiders and digital asset… Read More

July 13, 2023 @ 11:38 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

VARA is issuing a market alert regarding ongoing supervisory controls, and enforcement actions initiated against BitOasis. VARA in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) confirmed that it is issuing this market alert regarding ongoing supervisory controls, and enforcement actions initiated against digital currency trading platform BitOasis. Investors… Read More

July 13, 2023 @ 9:35 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Fir Tree Partners, a meaningful shareholder of the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC), announced it has reached an agreement with Grayscale Investments (together with GBTC, Grayscale) and has issued the below statements regarding Grayscale’s “continued refusal to conduct a tender offer that would unlock value for… Read More

July 13, 2023 @ 6:47 pm By JD Alois  |  

As was reported earlier today, the courts have issued a ruling on the Ripple-XRP lawsuit filed by the US Securities and Exchange Commission. In brief, the courts have filed an order that was a partial victor for Ripple and its executives. CI has received multiple… Read More

July 13, 2023 @ 6:02 pm By JD Alois  |  

Ripple is claiming victory in a court order issued today that determined the company did not violate securities laws when it initially offered XRP to investors – at least in part. At the same time, the order did indicate that the manner of sale did… Read More

July 13, 2023 @ 3:37 pm By JD Alois  |  

Ripple scored a victory today as the courts have now ruled that the sale of XRP on crypto exchanges did not violate US securities law in a partial win for the digital asset firm. The ruling helped to drive the value of XRP higher –… Read More

July 13, 2023 @ 12:27 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed charges against Celsius Network and its founder and former CEO, Alex Mashinsky. At the same time, the US Department of Justice has filed criminal charges against Celsius, Mashinsky and former Chief Revenue Officer Roni Cohen-Pavon. The SEC… Read More

July 13, 2023 @ 12:07 pm By JD Alois  |  

Alex Mashinsky Arrested Today. The founder and former CEO of Celsius Network, Alex Mashinsky, and the former Chief Revenue Officer of Celsius, Roni Cohen-Pavon have been charged by the US Department of Justice with defrauding customers and manipulating the market for the Celsius token. Celsius… Read More

July 13, 2023 @ 10:39 am By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed additional charges in regard to the Frank case and its sale to JP Morgan for $175 million in 2021. According to a statement by the SEC, former Chief Growth Officer of Frank, Olivier Amar, has been charged… Read More

July 12, 2023 @ 4:58 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The LBRY case judge has recently made a ruling on whether secondary cryptocurrency sales are considered to be securities. Back in January 2023, attorney John Deaton had reportedly convinced the Judge in the US Securities and Exchange (SEC) vs. LBRY court case that secondary LBC… Read More

July 12, 2023 @ 12:55 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Chief Executive of the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Nikhil Rathi, addressed in a speech the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the role of Big Tech in financial services. The speech was delivered today at the Economist Impact Finance Transformed event. Rathi said… Read More

July 12, 2023 @ 11:44 am By JD Alois  |  

Senators Cynthia Lummis and Kirsten Gillibrand are reintroducing their comprehensive legislation addressing regulatory gaps in the digital asset sector. Both Senators are members of the key Senate Banking Committee that will need to approve any legislation if it will move forward in Congress. A previous… Read More

July 12, 2023 @ 10:45 am By JD Alois  |  

The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council) has issued a statement on the court’s decision to rule against the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) attempt to block the merger of Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision-Blizzard. In brief, the Judge, Jacqueline Scott Corley, found that the FTC… Read More

July 11, 2023 @ 11:07 pm By Barry James  |  

Some environments can induce a kind of dream-like state in people overcome by their grandeur. You’d think that Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey, the ‘Banker’s Banker’ would be over this by now — but no! In this year’s Mansion House speech, we were treated to his vision of… Read More

July 11, 2023 @ 4:52 pm By JD Alois  |  

The House Financial Services Committee has announced several new hearings for next week. The Capital Markets Subcommittee is holding a hearing Entitled: “Oversight of the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance” Time: 10:00 AM ET Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 Place: 2128 Rayburn House Office Building… Read More

July 11, 2023 @ 11:49 am By JD Alois  |  

The City of  London, working with HM Treasury, has published a review of UK financial services declaring there is an opportunity to become more efficient and competitive. While Brexit has thrown a wrench in the works, the UK continues to be a top global financial… Read More

July 11, 2023 @ 7:57 am By JD Alois  |  

As was anticipated, Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt outlined his vision for pension reform that will enable these funds to invest in private firms. Hunt said he wanted to increase returns for pensioners while unlocking capital for early-stage firms. We’ve grown faster than France,… Read More

July 10, 2023 @ 10:25 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is reportedly working on a new regulatory framework that should be more “developmental” and conducive for financial technology or Fintech firms. This, according to a deputy governor of the reserve bank (as first reported by Reuters this past Friday)…. Read More