Politics, Legal & Regulation

April 15, 2022 @ 12:07 pm By JD Alois  |  

SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce is looking for an attorney to assist and advise on issues including crypto along with affiliated enforcement actions. Commissioner Peirce promoted the new position in a Tweet. As is well known, the Commissioner has been very supportive of Fintech innovation, along… Read More

April 14, 2022 @ 10:36 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Fasset, an international digital asset gateway, has announced its entrance into the European Union after it secured a cryptocurrency authorization. With the authorization, Fasset will strengthen its global operations “to serve the growing digital asset sector in the EU market and beyond.” Fasset previously “secured… Read More

April 12, 2022 @ 10:00 pm By JD Alois  |  

As has been previously reported, the European Union has approved pan-European securities crowdfunding or European Crowdfunding Service Providers Regulation (ECSPR). This means that issuers may solicit investors across all 28 EU member states. The new regulation enables early-stage firms to raise up to €5 million. Previously,… Read More

April 12, 2022 @ 4:11 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

All FDIC-supervised institutions that plan to engage in, or that are presently engaged in, any activities involving or related to crypto-assets are now required to inform the FDIC. FDIC-supervised institutions are “requested to provide information described in this letter.” The FDIC confirmed that it would… Read More

April 11, 2022 @ 11:17 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

CYTRIO, a data privacy compliance company, has added support for the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to its all-in-one, cloud-native data privacy rights management automation solution. GDPR impacts any company, “regardless of location, that collects, uses, shares, or stores personal information from European… Read More

April 11, 2022 @ 4:47 pm By JD Alois  |  

  Last week, on the anniversary of the JOBS Act of 2012, Republican members of the Senate Banking Committee pitched a new legislative initiative to support entrepreneurship, access to capital, and helping retail investors. The JOBS Act of 2012 legalized online capital formation. The JOBS… Read More

April 11, 2022 @ 10:33 am By JD Alois  |  

The Financial Technology Association (FTA) submitted a comment regarding the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)’s request for feedback on “junk fees” that drive up the cost of goods and services, including financial services. The FTA letter states that many of their members launched to target… Read More

April 11, 2022 @ 9:35 am By JD Alois  |  

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has posted a letter indicating it was OK with Amigo Loans’ (AMGO.L) plans to compensate customers that has been apparently harmed while transgressing lending rules. A previous attempt to mollify regulators failed.  Amigo is a subprime lender that offers… Read More

April 8, 2022 @ 11:35 am By JD Alois  |  

Acting Comptroller of the Currency, Michael J. Hsu, has shared his thoughts on stablecoins and how they should be regulated. As the Biden Administration has messaged its intent to review digital assets as well as central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and stablecoins, the most pressing… Read More

April 7, 2022 @ 7:00 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Republican Staff of the House Financial Services Committee has produced a report revisiting the JOBS Act of 2012 and the decade since the legislation became law.  Perhaps the best-known outcome of the legislation was to legalize online capital formation – or crowdfunding – but… Read More

April 7, 2022 @ 3:16 pm By JD Alois  |  

Speaking at American University today, Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen addressed the emerging sector of digital assets as well as stablecoins and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). Secretary Yellen reflected on the growth of digital assets, rising from just $14 billion to around $3… Read More

April 7, 2022 @ 10:15 am By JD Alois  |  

The White House has finally selected two individuals to become Commissioners at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). President Joe Biden has selected: Jaime Lizárraga Mark Uyeda According to the White House, Jaime Lizárraga is currently a Senior Advisor to Speaker of the House Nancy… Read More

April 7, 2022 @ 8:23 am By JD Alois  |  

Stablecoin TRUST Act of 2022 Senator Pat Toomey has proposed legislation to regulate stablecoins. Toomey is the ranking Republican on the Senate Banking Committee. The Senator’s legislation incorporates the key components: Authorizes three different options to issue payment stablecoins: Establishes a new federal license designed… Read More

April 6, 2022 @ 6:45 pm By JD Alois  |  

BlockFi will pay each US state $943,396.22 as part of a settlement alleging the offer and sales of unregistered securities. This is according to a note from the Ohio Division of Securities, that posted a consent order this week regarding the matter. In February, it… Read More

April 6, 2022 @ 5:48 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Republicans on the Senate Banking Committee have submitted draft legislation on the 10th Anniversary of the JOBS Act, called JOBS Act 4.0. The JOBS Act of 2012 was the law that created online capital formation or investment crowdfunding. Three exemptions were legalized that enabled… Read More

April 6, 2022 @ 11:57 am By JD Alois  |  

Yesterday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned dark web marketplace Hydra Market, labeling it a pernicious site for malicious cybercrime services, dangerous drugs, ransomware, and other illicit activity. Hydra Market is said to be based in Russia. Also sanctioned, Garantex is a crypto exchange… Read More

April 6, 2022 @ 11:01 am By JD Alois  |  

Last week, there was a vote at the European Parliament on crypto-assets that may have a dramatic impact on the digital asset industry. Members of European Parliament (MEPs) voted that, effectively, all crypto transfers must be tracked with buyer and seller information and made available… Read More

April 6, 2022 @ 9:01 am By JD Alois  |  

In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Block (NYSE:SQ), formerly Square, has acknowledged a breach of information that involved users which took place in December of last year. The company states that it is contacting around 8.2 million current and former customers… Read More

April 6, 2022 @ 8:11 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Alpian SA, an innovative digital private bank, has announced the granting by FINMA of a banking license and “a successful CHF19 million Series B+ closing, enabling Alpian to shortly launch to the public in Q3 2022, becoming Switzerland’s first digital private bank.” Alpian, majority-owned by… Read More

April 5, 2022 @ 10:07 pm By JD Alois  |  

The UK government commenced a consultation on crypto-assets in early 2021. This past week, the UK government indicated its intent to acknowledge stablecoins as valid forms of payment while aiming to emerge as the world’s top crypto hub. This stands in stark contrast to the… Read More