Politics, Legal & Regulation

September 21, 2022 @ 3:34 pm By JD Alois  |  

During the House Financial Services Committee hearing on Megabanks today, JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon was asked about his opinion on blockchain technology. Dimon said he was not a skeptic when it comes to blockchain, smart contracts, Defi, etc., these are real things in which… Read More

September 21, 2022 @ 12:18 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) announces the licensing of two payment financial technology companies, including: Arab Sea Financial Company and Fatoraah in order to provide Payment services for e-commerce. This brings the total number of payment companies licensed by SAMA “to 21 companies, in addition… Read More

September 20, 2022 @ 5:50 pm By JD Alois  |  

As was previously announced the House Financial Services Committee will be holding a hearing tomorrow (September 21st) entitled “Holding Megabanks Accountable: Oversight of America’s Largest Consumer Facing Banks.”  The largest banks in the US will each have CEOs participating in the hearing, including: Jamie Dimon,… Read More

September 20, 2022 @ 2:06 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Federal Reserve is meeting this week to determine interest rates and the odds on favorite is for a 75 basis point increase to the benchmark rate. While it could go higher – perhaps 100 bps – most market observers believe 75 bps is already… Read More

September 19, 2022 @ 3:43 pm By JD Alois  |  

The House Financial Services Committee, Subcommittee on National Security, International Development and Monetary Policy will convene a hybrid hearing entitled, “Under the Radar: Alternative Payment Systems and the National Security Impacts of Their Growth.” According to the hearing memo, alternative payment systems can operate independently… Read More

September 19, 2022 @ 3:31 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) says it has issued a Cease & Desist against Sparkster Ltd., and its CEO Sajjad Daya for offering unregistered digital asset securities. According to the SEC’s complaint, the SPRK token offering took place from April 2018 through July 2018,… Read More

September 19, 2022 @ 3:19 pm By JD Alois  |  

The SEC’s Investor Advisory Committee (IAC) is scheduled to hold a meeting this week, on September 21st. The agenda of the meeting has just been released. The meeting will focus on four panels including: Human capital management labor valuation and performance data; 10B-1 position reporting; 13D… Read More

September 19, 2022 @ 10:04 am By JD Alois  |  

It has been widely reported that the European Central Bank (ECB), has selected Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) alongside CaixaBank, Worldline AS, Nexi SpA, and EPI, to participate in a prototyping exercise as part of a review of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) or digital Euro. The… Read More

September 17, 2022 @ 10:41 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Bank of Russia and market participants “launched the testing of the digital ruble platform and successfully completed the first digital ruble transfers between individuals.” The creation of a prototype of the digital ruble platform was “finished in December 2021.” Twelve banks announced their readiness… Read More

September 17, 2022 @ 5:17 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

FTX Europe announced that it has received approval from the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), to operate “as a Cyprus investment firm (CIF) allowing the Company to fully own the local investment firm it previously acquired.” Patrick Gruhn, Head of FTX Europe, commented: “After… Read More

September 16, 2022 @ 7:50 pm By JD Alois  |  

Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat that sits on the Senate Banking Committee, is not convinced about the Biden Administration’s approach to digital assets. In a letter addressed to Janet Yellen, the Secretary of the US Department of Treasury, Senator Warren claims “cryptocurrency poses grave risks to… Read More

September 16, 2022 @ 6:07 pm By JD Alois  |  

Currently, the Democrats control the legislative and executive branches of government meaning they should be able to run wild with their legislative agenda. The reality is a bit different though, due to close margins in both the House and Senate and the fact that moderates… Read More

September 16, 2022 @ 4:15 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has published a report on the buy now – pay later (BNPL) industry, criticizing the sector of Fintech as having “uneven disclosure and protections” for borrowers. The CFPB noted that BNPL rocketed higher by almost 10X the amount in… Read More

September 16, 2022 @ 2:44 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed fraud charges against Gabriel Edelman, Creative Advancement LLC, and Edelman Blockchain Advisors LLC, for allegedly defrauding investors out of $4.39 million. According to the SEC, Edelman and his affiliated entities offered and sold securities using false and… Read More

September 16, 2022 @ 11:41 am By JD Alois  |  

After months of behind-the-scenes discussion, the White House revealed its “Fact Sheet” on the responsible development of digital assets or crypto-assets. The Executive Order issued by the White House last March sought to outline the administration’s approach, is now being expanded to be utilized as… Read More

September 16, 2022 @ 8:12 am By Omar Faridi  |  

On 13 September 2022, the Central Bank of Ireland reprimanded and fined Danske Bank A/S, trading in Ireland as Danske Bank, €1,820,000 pursuant to its Administrative Sanctions Procedure “for three breaches of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering & Terrorist Financing) Act 2010, as amended (the… Read More

September 15, 2022 @ 5:39 pm By JD Alois  |  

SEC Chairman Gary Gensler testified in front of the Senate Banking Committee today, reiterating his opinion that in regards to digital assets  (or crypto assets) that the vast majority are securities. The exception being Bitcoin, and perhaps Ethereum – which entail much of the crypto… Read More

September 15, 2022 @ 11:51 am By JD Alois  |  

As was reported this week, Do Kwon – the creator of TerraUSD and LUNA, has been subjected to a warrant for his arrest in South Korea. TerraUSD sought to be an algorithmic stablecoin tied to the US dollar but lost its dollar peg generating an… Read More

September 14, 2022 @ 10:22 pm By JD Alois  |  

Chair of the House Committee on Financial Services, Maxine Waters has announced the witnesses expected to testify in front of a hearing on “Holding Megabanks Accountable: Oversight of America’s Largest Consumer Facing Banks.”  The witnesses on the list contain most of the biggest names in… Read More

September 14, 2022 @ 9:41 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is continuing its pursuit of platforms that are issuing digital assets without being registered as securities. In a lawsuit filed today against Chicago Crypto Capital LLC (CCC) and several executives, the SEC alleges the defendants defrauded investors. According to… Read More