Politics, Legal & Regulation

August 9, 2022 @ 10:03 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Crypto.com, which claims to be the world’s “fastest-growing” cryptocurrency platform, announced that it has secured Electronic Financial Transaction Act and Virtual Asset Service Provider registration by “acquiring payment service provider ‘PnLink Co., Ltd.’ and virtual asset service provider ‘OK-BIT Co., Ltd.’.” Kris Marszalek, Co-Founder and… Read More

August 9, 2022 @ 10:45 am By JD Alois  |  

Criticism from various corners of the political ring continues to lament the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act – legislation that even supporters are describing as a climate bill and not doing much to mitigate inflation. SBE Council President & CEO Karen Kerrigan has issued… Read More

August 9, 2022 @ 10:14 am By JD Alois  |  

Gregory Dwyer, a former head of business development at BitMEX, has pleaded guilty to a single charge of violating the Bank Secrecy Act, according to a report in WSJ.com. Dwyer was one of BitMEX’s first employees during a period of rapid growth for the crypto… Read More

August 8, 2022 @ 3:34 pm By JD Alois  |  

As was earlier covered, the US Department of Treasury, via the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned crypto mixer Tornado Cash.  Mixers are used to boost the privacy of crypto transacts but may also be used to obfuscate nefarious activity. Coin Center, a… Read More

August 8, 2022 @ 3:13 pm By JD Alois  |  

The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has targeted another crypto mixer by sanctioning Tornado Cash. Most recently, in May, OFAC sanctioned Blender.io, a mixer that is said to be utilized by North Korea  for its “malicious cyber activities and… Read More

August 7, 2022 @ 8:25 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Consumer Credit Oversight Board Task Force in Malaysia recently shared the Consumer Credit Act consultation document, which is the new act that aims to properly regulate and consolidate all consumer credit activities under its unit, and to also support “fair” lending and “responsible” conduct… Read More

August 7, 2022 @ 7:33 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council) has publicly posted a letter criticizing the Inflation Reduction Act that was approved by the US Senate in a party-line vote. While the name claims to reduce inflation, some analysts have stated there is nothing or very… Read More

August 5, 2022 @ 3:37 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Financial Technology Association (FTA) has issued a statement regarding potential changes to the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). The CRA is a law that seeks to encourage financial institutions to serve diverse communities, including low and moderate-income neighborhoods. Recently, several federal institutions, including the FDIC,… Read More

August 5, 2022 @ 1:16 pm By JD Alois  |  

Following the Voyager Digital (TSX: VOYG) (OTCQX: VYGVF) debacle that ended in bankruptcy after a loan from Three Arrow Capital (3AC) was not repaid, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) was compelled to make a statement on certain holdings at the Metropolitan Commercial Bank. As was… Read More

August 5, 2022 @ 12:18 pm By JD Alois  |  

Last week during the meeting of the SEC Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee (SBCFAC), members voted to support improvements to secondary trading of crowdfunded securities – more specifically, to exempt state laws when it comes to the trading of securities under Tier 2 of… Read More

August 5, 2022 @ 10:09 am By Paul H. Jossey  |  

Hot summer temperatures have done nothing for the current “crypto winter,” which has seen a $2 trillion market drop from highs last year. The downswing, including the spectacular failure of the Terra Luna ecosystem and a cascade of exchanges temporarily halting withdrawals, has livened crypto’s… Read More

August 5, 2022 @ 9:55 am By JD Alois  |  

Earlier this week, it was reported that a bipartisan group of US Senators had developed legislation aimed at providing greater regulatory clarity regarding crypto in the US. Senators from the Senate Agriculture Committee joined to craft a bill that gave the Commodity Futures Trading Commission… Read More

August 4, 2022 @ 11:23 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has granted Digital Treasures Center (DTC) the Major Payment Institution (MPI) license. Securing the full license “means DTC has exited from the exemption status and is now a fully regulated provider (MAS license number: PS20200531) of Digital Payment Token… Read More

August 4, 2022 @ 3:32 pm By JD Alois  |  

Are central bank digital currencies a solution looking for a problem? That seems to be what the Japanese believe, as it has been widely reported that the Bank of Japan has halted its potential pursuit of a digital yen. https://twitter.com/WallStreetSilv/status/1553899519359737859?s=20&t=sSopC7cJnxHkiSeg_b9oTw Sayuri Shirai, of Keio University… Read More

August 4, 2022 @ 2:57 pm By JD Alois  |  

Yesterday, a bipartisan group of US Senators announced legislation designed to give certain digital assets better regulatory clarity. Senators Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and John Boozman, Ranking Member, along with Senators Cory Booker and John Thune, have joined to craft the language of… Read More

August 4, 2022 @ 9:25 am By JD Alois  |  

An inquiry into the UK crypto industry has been announced by the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the UK Crypto and Digital Assets sector. The inquiry aims to focus on the UK’s approach to regulating crypto, the potential of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs),… Read More

August 3, 2022 @ 5:29 pm By JD Alois  |  

The first case of prosecuted insider trading in crypto took an interesting twist this week as the former Coinbase (Nasdaq:COIN) manager accused of abusing his position at the company to trade in advance of news has pleaded guilty to the charges of insider trading. According… Read More

August 3, 2022 @ 11:18 am By JD Alois  |  

Several US Senators, all members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, have introduced new bi-partisan legislation targeting the digital asset sector. U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the Senate Committee and John Boozman, Ranking Member, along with Senators Cory Booker and John Thune have introduced the Digital… Read More

August 3, 2022 @ 9:44 am By JD Alois  |  

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has issued stronger rules in regards to promoting what is deemed to be high risk investments. As anticipated, the FCA expects firms to use “clearer” and “more prominent risk warnings.” The tactic of offering a refer a friend bonus… Read More

August 3, 2022 @ 2:17 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Huobi Group, one of the “leading” digital asset service providers, has completed its registration as a digital currency exchange provider with the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC). This marks “the first step in the company’s push to offer digital currency exchange services in… Read More