Politics, Legal & Regulation

December 27, 2022 @ 10:23 am By JD Alois  |  

The Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) in France has posted an update on the number of bogus websites attempting to solicit investors with sketchy offerings.  The AMF reports that since the beginning of 2021, 20 websites have been added to the list while cautioning the… Read More

December 26, 2022 @ 8:34 am By Omar Faridi  |  

A joint research effort between the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology into the technical feasibility of a potential central bank digital currency “is now complete.” The Boston Fed’s work on CBDC with MIT’s Digital Currency Initiative is known as… Read More

December 23, 2022 @ 6:12 pm By JD Alois  |  

Former CEO of Alameda Research Carolyn Ellison has apologized for her misdeeds pertaining to the collapse of FTX as well as Alameda. Gary Wang, FTX co-founder and former CTO, has also acknowledged his errors, according to multiple reports. Both Ellison and Wang have pleaded guilty… Read More

December 23, 2022 @ 10:22 am By JD Alois  |  

Yesterday, the Brazilian President signed into law a framework for regulated crypto. Law 14,478/22 determines the guidelines for regulating the provision of virtual asset services. Digital assets deemed to be securities will be regulated by the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission. Another entity will regulate… Read More

December 22, 2022 @ 11:27 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

2022 has been a “meaningful” year for Coinbase’s (NASDAQ:COIN) international expansion, and before they draw it to a close, they want to share some additional updates. Coinbase has been “granted approval by the Central Bank of Ireland to operate as a Virtual Asset Service Provider… Read More

December 22, 2022 @ 2:54 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Following the news that British lender TSB Bank was fined $48.65m ($59.07m) by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority over “a botched IT platform migration that left two million customers locked out of their accounts in 2018,” Chris Dinga, Payments Analyst at… Read More

December 22, 2022 @ 2:30 pm By JD Alois  |  

Sam Bankman-Fried, extradited to the US last night, will be released on $250 million, according to multiple reports. The former FTX CEO will be restricted to his parents’ home as part of the deal. Charges against Bankman-Fried were revealed last week. The indictment claims that… Read More

December 22, 2022 @ 10:38 am By JD Alois  |  

Retiring Senator Pat Toomey has introduced his stablecoin legislation just prior to his exit from the Senate and his ranking position on the Senate Banking Committee. Toomey is currently one of the most effective and knowledgeable policymakers engaged in financial services legislation, and his presence… Read More

December 21, 2022 @ 11:54 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has joined both the SEC and US Department of Justice in filing fraud charges against Caroline Ellison, former Alameda CEO, and Gary Wang, FTX co-founder and former CTO. The CFTC initially filed the fraud action on December 13 against… Read More

December 21, 2022 @ 11:41 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed charges against former Alameda Research CEO Caroline Ellison and FTX co-founder and former CTO Gary Wang. The enforcement action was due to the pair’s role in the failure of FTX and their roles in a “multiyear scheme to… Read More

December 21, 2022 @ 11:26 pm By JD Alois  |  

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams has announced additional charges in the ongoing criminal case against FTX. According to a Tweet, the US District Court, Southern District New York, has filed charges against former Alameda CEO Caroline Ellison and FTX co-founder Gary Wang. Williams said the charges… Read More

December 21, 2022 @ 5:53 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged Thor Technologies, Inc., David Chin, and Matthew Moravec with conducting an unregistered securities offering. Chin is a co-founder and CEO of Thor, and Moravec is a co-founder and former CTO. According to the SEC, in 2018, the… Read More

December 21, 2022 @ 12:03 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The team at Binance is pleased to announce that they have joined the Chamber of Digital Commerce, a blockchain and cryptocurrency trade association. Binance has joined the Chamber’s Executive Committee in order “to move the blockchain industry forward alongside other industry players.” Binance VP of… Read More

December 21, 2022 @ 10:12 am By JD Alois  |  

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has issued a statement on its objectives. As part of a three-year strategy, the financial regulator said it would focus on reducing and preventing harm, setting and testing higher standards while promoting competition. The FCA claims that its new… Read More

December 20, 2022 @ 5:53 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged Oi2Go Media Technologies and its CEO Anthony Michael Hernandez with conducting offering fraud. According to the SEC, Hernandez raised about $1.317 million from around 750 investors in a Reg A+ offering, which took place in 2018. Under… Read More

December 20, 2022 @ 11:59 am By JD Alois  |  

Sam Bankman-Fried is expected to be extradited to the US perhaps as early as this week, according to a report. The former CEO of bankrupt crypto exchange FTX was in court this week and is expected not to fight extradition from the Bahamas. Previously, it… Read More

December 19, 2022 @ 3:06 pm By JD Alois  |  

The incoming Chair of the House Committee on Financial Services, Patrick McHenry, has issued a statement that he plans to add Financial Services Innovation Offices (FSIOs) back on the agenda. As the Republicans will take over the House in January after gaining the majority in… Read More

December 18, 2022 @ 10:42 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The EY organization announced an alliance between TaxBit, a tax and accounting technology provider for cryptocurrency and other digital assets (e.g., non-fungible tokens (NFTs)), and Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) “to help organizations meet tax reporting requirements for digital assets.” Regulators are starting “to… Read More

December 17, 2022 @ 2:19 pm By JD Alois  |  

  The trifecta of legal action against Sam Bankman-Fried and the failure of FTX blossomed this past week as the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York filed criminal charges against Bankman-Fried. These charges were joined by civil charges filed by both the… Read More

December 16, 2022 @ 4:27 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC)  has identified 14 specific financial vulnerabilities impacting the markets in its annual report. The Council incorporates the participation of all the major US financial regulators, including the Secretary of the Treasury, who acts as the Chair of the Council…. Read More