Politics, Legal & Regulation

March 28, 2023 @ 9:09 am By JD Alois  |  

Today, the US Senate Banking Committee will meet to discuss the recent calamitous events in the banking sector. Multiple banks have experienced bank runs, and several have been taken over as these firms fell prey to poor management in regard to interest rate risk, and… Read More

March 27, 2023 @ 3:23 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Crypto appears to have chosen an unlikely supporter in its ongoing struggle against oversight by the US Securities and Exchange Commission: an ex- Coinbase worker who was convicted of allegedly engaging in insider trading. This, according to a recent report by the WSJ. Ishan Wahi,… Read More

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

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has filed charges against Binance, founder and CEO Changpeng Zhao (known as CZ), and former Chief Compliance Officer Samuel Lim with “numerous violations” of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) and other regulations. Filed in the U.S. District Court for… Read More

March 26, 2023 @ 10:18 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act was introduced last week as a bipartisan act of legislation. The bill seeks to clarify and affirm that blockchain developers and service providers do not custody consumer funds, a realm that is currently opaque. This is the 4th time that… Read More

March 26, 2023 @ 3:51 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

After months of litigation, Celsius recently revealed it has reached an agreement with the Custody Ad Hoc Group and the UCC on a Settlement that reportedly “returns most digital assets in the Custody Program to account holders who opt in to the Settlement.” Custody users… Read More

March 24, 2023 @ 8:09 am By Omar Faridi  |  

  After trying to evade law enforcement for around six months, Terraform Labs CEO Do Kwon has now been taken into police custody in Montenegro. Kwon and Terraform Labs were responsible for TerraUSD, an aspiring algorithmic stablecoin, and sister crypto Luna, which collapsed last year… Read More

March 23, 2023 @ 7:13 pm By JD Alois  |  

As part of the deal to reanimate Credit Suisse, Swiss regulators cut a deal with UBS that included writing down the AT1 bonds to zero. Holders are not pleased. In light of the “numerous inquiries,” Swiss regulator FINMA has issued a statement on wiping out… Read More

March 23, 2023 @ 10:14 am By JD Alois  |  

Yesterday, the only publicly traded digital asset exchange, Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN), announced that it has received a Wells Notice from the SEC indicating there is a high possibility of an enforcement action. Coinbase criticized the move by the SEC, stating that it has attempted to engage with the… Read More

March 23, 2023 @ 10:03 am By JD Alois  |  

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee has increased its Bank Rate by 25 basis points, echoing the move by the US Federal Reserve, which did the same yesterday. Unlike the Fed, the vote was not unanimous in a 7-2 majority decision. The MPC said… Read More

March 22, 2023 @ 5:51 pm By JD Alois  |  

Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) has posted a statement indicating it has received a Wells Notice from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A Wells Notice is effectively a heads-up that the SEC is conducting an investigation for any potential infractions. While not a definitive indicator of a looming… Read More

March 22, 2023 @ 4:52 pm By JD Alois  |  

Eight Influencers Charged for Promotion of Digital Assets: Lindsey Lohan, Jake Paul, DeAndrew Cortez Way (Soulja Boy), Austin Mahone, Michele Mason (Kendra Lust), Miles Parks McCollum (Lil Yachty) Shaffer Smith (Ne-Yo), Aliaune Thiam (Akon).   The Securities and Exchange Commission has posted another digital asset… Read More

March 22, 2023 @ 4:19 pm By JD Alois  |  

As widely predicted by market followers, the US Federal Reserve increased benchmark rates by 25 basis points. Not too long ago, prognosticators were vacillating on whether the March meeting would increase rates by 50 bps or 25 bps. The recent bank crises caused the financial… Read More

March 22, 2023 @ 9:26 am By JD Alois  |  

As the US stumbles in crafting bespoke regulation for digital assets, Circle, the issuer of dollar-based stablecoin USDC, has applied to be regulated in France. France crafted digital asset regulation some years ago in an attempt to provide clarity for firms looking to offer crypto…. Read More

March 21, 2023 @ 10:05 pm By JD Alois  |  

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, widely expected to enter the presidential race in the coming months, is aiming to put a stop to central bank digital currency (CBDC) being utilized in his state, and all of the United States for that matter. “Central Bank Digital Currency… Read More

March 21, 2023 @ 9:13 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

There’s new regulation requiring individuals using digital payment apps to report their earnings – over $600 – directly to the IRS. This change significantly impacts business owners, side hustlers, and gig economy workers. These individuals must file Form 1099-K, creating an extra step during tax… Read More

March 21, 2023 @ 2:32 pm By JD Alois  |  

The House Financial Services Committee has scheduled its “first” hearing on the failure of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank. The hearing will be held at 10:00 AM ET on March 29, 2023, and is said to be the first of multiple hearings the Committee… Read More

March 21, 2023 @ 11:03 am By JD Alois  |  

US Secretary of the Treasury, Janet Yellen, addressed the American Bankers Association today, tackling the topic on everyone’s mind. The precarious financial services industry and the possibility for contagion. The collapse of multiple banks in the US has now spread to Europe. This past week,… Read More

March 20, 2023 @ 10:07 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) recently said that Singapore’s banking system “remains sound and resilient amid heightened volatility in global financial markets following the recent closure of banks in the US.” The Singapore Dollar money market and foreign exchange market “continue to function well.”… Read More

March 20, 2023 @ 8:17 pm By JD Alois  |  

President Joe Biden executed the first veto of his administration, axing a bill that garnered bipartisan support in making its way to the President’s desk. Biden tweeted out his action while blaming “Maga House Republicans.” Peter Schiff, a well-known investor and advisor summarized the President’s… Read More

March 20, 2023 @ 7:03 pm By JD Alois  |  

The House Financial Services Committee is demanding answers on how regulators failed in their oversight of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank. Chair of the Committee, Patrick McHenry, has been joined by the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Tim Scott, are requesting… Read More