Politics, Legal & Regulation

June 12, 2023 @ 12:15 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Last week, IOG (which stands for Input Output Global – one of the organizations supporting Cardano (ADA) development) noted that they are aware of the recent complaints by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) against Binance & Coinbase, which “contain references to the organization, the… Read More

June 11, 2023 @ 12:11 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The attention of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) in Nigeria has been drawn to the website operated by Binance Nigeria Limited, “soliciting the Nigerian public to trade crypto assets on its various web and mobile-enabled platforms.” Binance Nigeria Limited is “neither registered nor… Read More

June 10, 2023 @ 5:54 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is claiming a significant legal victory in the litigation of Ooki DAO. According to the CFTC, the decentralized autonomous organization has received a default judgment in which the court held that Ooki DAO is a “person” under the Commodity… Read More

June 10, 2023 @ 4:56 pm By JD Alois  |  

The US Department of Justice has charged two Russians, Alexey Bilyuchenko, 43, and Aleksandr Verner, 29, with the hacking of Mt. Gox. The crypto exchange was plundered in 2011 and ultimately collapsed. At the same time, the Russians have been charged with operating the BTC-e… Read More

June 9, 2023 @ 3:44 pm By JD Alois  |  

DF Growth REIT II, LLC, managed by DiversyFund, has been hit with a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) administrative action. According to the SEC, DF Growth REIT II failed to adhere to certain requirements for securities issued under Reg A+, a JOBS Act exemption that… Read More

June 9, 2023 @ 9:12 am By JD Alois  |  

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CommBank) has decided to block certain payments to some crypto exchanges beginning this week. CommBank is the largest bank in Australia. In a FAQ, CommBank said they are making these changes due to the risk of fraud: “Interest in cryptocurrencies… Read More

June 9, 2023 @ 8:57 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Binance.US revealed on Thursday (June 8, 2023) that it will be suspending US dollar deposits and that its banking partners are getting ready to suspend fiat US dollar withdrawal options as early as June 13, 2023. This update has come a few days after US… Read More

June 8, 2023 @ 11:46 am By JD Alois  |  

As was previously covered, the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has proposed new marketing rules for crypto offerings. The rules aim to largely align with current financial product requirements while also incorporating a “cooling off period.” In brief, digital asset investors must acknowledge they can… Read More

June 8, 2023 @ 9:50 am By JD Alois  |  

Senator Cynthia Lummis, one of the most crypto-supportive members of the US Senate, has issued a statement regarding the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) decision to file an enforcement action against Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) – a company the SEC approved to go public. Lummis said the… Read More

June 8, 2023 @ 6:11 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The team at Gemini is pleased to announce that Gemini will soon “begin the process of acquiring a crypto license to serve customers based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).” As a “forward-thinking,” global financial hub, the UAE is “continuing its tradition of leadership by… Read More

June 7, 2023 @ 8:30 pm By JD Alois  |  

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has issued new rules for crypto promotions. The rules are said to align with other financial services offerings. CryptoUK, an association representing the UK’s digital asset industry, has issued a statement on the marketing rules. Su Carpenter, Director of… Read More

June 7, 2023 @ 7:01 pm By JD Alois  |  

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has introduced new rules for the digital asset or crypto asset industry. The FCA describes the new rules as “tough,” incorporating a “cooling off period” for new investors – commencing on October 8, 2023. The marketing rules are part… Read More

June 7, 2023 @ 4:41 pm By JD Alois  |  

  SEC Commissioners Hester Peirce and Mark Uyeda have issued a public dissent of the Commission’s decision to deny CryptoFed DAO’s request to withdraw its registration statement and the motion to dismiss the case by the Division of Enforcement. In brief, in November 2021, the… Read More

June 7, 2023 @ 9:35 am By Barry James  |  

Reservations, Threats & Benefits In a recent conversation with Danny Kruger, a member of the Treasury Select Committee, we delved into the Bank of England’s Digital Pound Project and the broader implications of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). This discussion is particularly timely, given that… Read More

June 7, 2023 @ 9:20 am By JD Alois  |  

The House Subcommittee on National Security, Illicit Finance, and International Financial Institutions, part of the Financial Services Committee, is holding a hearing today on the dominance of the dollar around the world as a reserve currency. The hearing is entitled Dollar Dominance: Preserving the U.S…. Read More

June 7, 2023 @ 8:56 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Joint Regulatory Oversight Committee (JROC) has recently set out an ambitious program of work “to take forward recommendations for the next phase of open banking in the UK.” This involves “setting up dedicated workstreams to action the six key themes and priorities outlined in… Read More

June 6, 2023 @ 9:50 pm By JD Alois  |  

Last week, CI reported that the US House of Representatives passed several bills that aim to improve access to capital and to level the playing field for retail investors – including an update to the definition of an accredited investor. This week, the House has… Read More

June 6, 2023 @ 9:28 pm By JD Alois  |  

Following the hearing today on digital assets held by the House Committee on Agriculture, the House Financial Services Committee has scheduled its own hearing on digital assets. The Ag Committee oversees commodities and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the main regulator of Bitcoin. Some… Read More

June 6, 2023 @ 9:04 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed an emergency action seeking a temporary restraining order to freeze the assets of Binance while requiring defendants to repatriate assets held for the benefit of customers of Binance.US. The SEC says the action is designed to protect… Read More

June 6, 2023 @ 6:49 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI), Director of Finance Policy, John Berlau, has shared a comment on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s enforcement action targeting Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN). Earlier today, the SEC filed charges against Coinbase, alleging that the crypto platform is operating as an unregistered securities… Read More