Politics, Legal & Regulation

January 22, 2023 @ 3:59 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged Avraham Eisenberg, a 27-year-old U.S. citizen who was arrested and detained at MDC Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, with attempting to manipulate MNGO tokens – the native token of Mango Markets. Eisenberg is expected to appear before the Southern… Read More

January 20, 2023 @ 9:45 am By Cecilia Tamez  |  

Emerging markets have contributed almost two-thirds of global GDP growth over the past 15 years. So, it’s not surprising that businesses in established markets like the U.S. and U.K. are looking to expand their operations in these up-and-coming regions — whether it means working with… Read More

January 20, 2023 @ 7:35 am By JD Alois  |  

Late last night, Genesis, part of the Digital Currency Group (DCG), filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as it looks to restructure in light of a challenging environment in the crypto sector which has impacted multiple firms. Genesis is a digital asset prime brokerage that… Read More

January 19, 2023 @ 5:27 pm By JD Alois  |  

Beleaguered crypto firm Nexo has had to pony up a $45 million penalty following charges filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Without admitting or denying the SEC’s findings, Nexo agreed to a cease-and-desist order. Nexo had previously announced its exit from the United… Read More

January 19, 2023 @ 12:39 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged Caroline Ellison, the former CEO of Alameda Research, and Zixiao (Gary) Wang, the former Chief Technology Officer of FTX Trading Ltd. (FTX), for their part in the “multi-year scheme” to commit fraud in regards to FTX, once… Read More

January 19, 2023 @ 12:18 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed a litigation release regarding allegations that Sam Bankman-Fried defrauded equity investors in FTX. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) have also announced charges against Bankman-Fried…. Read More

January 18, 2023 @ 4:42 pm By JD Alois  |  

“Fueled a high-tech axis of cryptocrime.” The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced the arrest of Anatoly Legkodymov, 40, a Russian national who resides in Shenzhen, China, as the founder and operator of Bitzlato, a crypto exchange the feds have alleged to have processed… Read More

January 18, 2023 @ 11:24 am By JD Alois  |  

Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder and former CEO of FTX who is now under indictment for allegations of fraud, has returned to his substack, declaring that FTX US was and is solvent. Bankman-Fried previously provided an FTX “post-mortem” following his release on bail. He disputes a… Read More

January 17, 2023 @ 5:25 pm By JD Alois  |  

Unikrn, a token issuer that attempted to remain compliant while issuing digital assets but ended up being the target of a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) enforcement action, settled with the Commission in 2020. As was reported at that time, Unikrn was assessed a $6.1 million… Read More

January 16, 2023 @ 7:22 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF), Cambridge SupTech Lab, has published a report on the emerging arena of supervisory technology (Suptech) that aims to improve the regulation of financial services firms.  While some view Regtech and Suptech as two sides of the same coin,… Read More

January 16, 2023 @ 10:47 am By JD Alois  |  

This past weekend, Zilch, a buy now pay later (BNPL) provider, was a target of a story entitled Buy now pay later to impact credit scores of millions. The article in the Sunday Telegraph stated that changes at Zilch would see data shared with agencies which… Read More

January 14, 2023 @ 9:40 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The European Banking Authority (EBA) published its peer review on authorization of payment institutions and e-money institutions under the revised Payment Services Directive (PSD2). The review generally found “increased transparency and consistency of the information required in the authorization process.” However, it also “identified significant… Read More

January 13, 2023 @ 4:37 pm By JD Alois  |  

It has not been that long since Nexo decided to exit the US market, but in recent days the offices of Nexo have been raided in Bulgaria according to multiple reports. While based in London, Nexo is affiliated with a former member of the Bulgarian… Read More

January 12, 2023 @ 6:03 pm By JD Alois  |  

The ongoing virtual fisticuffs between Gemini and Genesis – a subsidiary of Digital Currency Group (DCG), just took a dramatic twist as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed charges against both Gemini and Genesis pertaining to the Gemini Earn program and the sale… Read More

January 12, 2023 @ 4:46 pm By JD Alois  |  

Congressman Patrick McHenry, the new  Chair of the House Financial Services Committee, has named the Chairs of the Subcommittees. Yesterday, McHenry revealed the Republican members of the Committee as he moves to take over the influential Committee as the Republican-controlled 118th Congress commences. A new… Read More

January 12, 2023 @ 8:47 am By JD Alois  |  

Sam Bankman-Fried, founder and former CEO of FTX – once one of the largest crypto exchanges in the world and now in the midst of bankruptcy, has taken to Substack to pleed his case. Bankman-Fried, now effectively under house arrest, claims that if he had… Read More

January 11, 2023 @ 9:30 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has proposed a rule to establish a public registry of nonbank financial firms’ terms and conditions. The CFPB states that, in some cases, consumer rights are limited or waived, or terms are misleading. The CFPB states that non-banks would… Read More

January 11, 2023 @ 3:55 pm By JD Alois  |  

Congressman Patrick McHenry, the incoming Chair of the powerful House Financial Services Committee, has announced the Republican members of the Committee for the 118th Congress. McHenry issued the following statement on the Committee members: “I’m proud to welcome all of our new and returning members… Read More

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

A filing submitted yesterday to the bankruptcy court handling FTX has questioned the involvement of Sullivan & Cromwell as the bankruptcy counsel. The document claims that: “Sullivan & Cromwell is not only an inappropriate candidate for appointment as the FTX Group’s bankruptcy counsel—it is a… Read More

January 11, 2023 @ 10:57 am By JD Alois  |  

The sale of Voyager Digital has received preliminary approval by the courts thus clearing the way for Binance.US to acquire the assets of the bankrupt firm. Revealed last month, Binance.US announced the agreement for it to acquire Voyagers assets for approximately $1 billion. Binance.US’ bid… Read More