Politics, Legal & Regulation

September 4, 2024 @ 12:17 pm By JD Alois  |  

The UK Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) has updated the status of APP scam protections. APP scams incorporate digital fraud, where users of financial or transactional Apps send money to bogus sites or fraudsters.  The PSR says that in 2023, there were over 250,000 cases of… Read More

September 4, 2024 @ 10:01 am By JD Alois  |  

The House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, part of the House Financial Services Committee, has  scheduled a hearing entitled ” The Fall of ESG: Scrutinizing the Failed Use of Environmental, Social, & Governance Standards and the Influence of Proxy Advisors.” The hearing was initially scheduled for this past July… Read More

September 3, 2024 @ 4:22 pm By JD Alois  |  

The House Financial Services Committee, Subcommittees on Digital Assets, Financial Technology, and Inclusion & Oversight and Investigations, has scheduled a meeting on DeFi. Entitled “Decoding DeFi: Breaking Down the Future of Decentralized Finance, the hearing was previously scheduled for July and then postponed. The hearing… Read More

September 3, 2024 @ 1:49 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission has settled charges with Galois Capital Management LLC pertiainging to allegations for shortcomings in crypto custody. Without admitting or denying the SEC’s findings, Galois Capital consented to the entry of an order requiring it to cease and desist from further violations… Read More

September 3, 2024 @ 12:19 pm By JD Alois  |  

OpenSea, a leading NFT [non-fungible token] platform, has received a Wells Notice from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A Wells Notice indicates that the SEC is recommending that the Commission pursue enforcement action against the target firm. While not conclusive, it is highly likely… Read More

September 2, 2024 @ 9:52 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Chainalysis has release the report entitled, 2024 Crypto Crime Mid-year Update Part 2: China-based CSAM and Cybercrime Networks On The Rise, Pig Butchering Scams Remain Lucrative. Key findings of the Chainalysis update: CSAM networks Reportings of China-based CSAM sites have increased since late 2023. A… Read More

September 2, 2024 @ 1:51 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In line with the Third Financial Sector Strategy issued by Qatar Central Bank, the Qatar Financial Centre Authority (QFCA) and Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority (QFCRA) have announced the launch of the QFC Digital Assets Framework, a comprehensive and innovative regime for the creation and… Read More

August 31, 2024 @ 6:09 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced the conclusion of an investigation and subsequent disciplinary proceedings against WeChat Pay Hong Kong Limited (WPHK), resulting in a fine of HK$875,000 ($112,000). The penalty is imposed for violations under the Payment Systems and Stored Value Facilities Ordinance… Read More

August 31, 2024 @ 6:07 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The World Federation of Exchanges (WFE), the global industry association for exchanges and central clearing counterparties, has released recommendations that establish good practice for crypto-asset custody providers, drawing lessons from traditional financial markets to guide the emerging digital asset space. The ruling against FTX and… Read More

August 31, 2024 @ 3:09 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission issued an order filing and settling charges against Nasdaq Futures, Inc., formerly a designated contract market (DCM). The order finds Nasdaq Futures, Inc. reportedly failed “to properly establish, monitor, or enforce rules related to an incentive program Nasdaq Futures, Inc. offered… Read More

August 30, 2024 @ 2:13 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Biden administration’s regulatory approach towards crypto-assets has led to considerable restructuring at a relatively small, yet somewhat prominent digital assets bank. FOX Business has revealed that Custodia Bank, a Wyoming based financial institution that provides various banking services to crypto firms, said  Thursday that… Read More

August 29, 2024 @ 10:24 am By JD Alois  |  

In a working paper posted yesterday, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) posted a treatise on Novel risks, mitigants and uncertainties with permissionless distributed ledger technologies (DLT). The executive summary of the paper is brief, explaining: “Banks that transact on permissionless blockchains or similar distributed… Read More

August 28, 2024 @ 9:44 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

OakNorth – the digital bank for entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs – announces that it has secured authorization from the Federal Reserve and the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) for a Representative Office in New York. The authorization will enable OakNorth to “proactively market… Read More

August 27, 2024 @ 11:02 am By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed fraud charges and received an emergency asset freeze regarding a $60 million Ponzi scam. The SEC alleges that brothers Tanner Adam and Jonathan Adam, along with their firms GCZ Global LLC and Triten Financial Group LLC, told… Read More

August 26, 2024 @ 10:28 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) has released the Consultation Paper No. 7 of 2024 containing proposals to enhance its regulatory framework to “allow the issuance of Fiat-Referenced Tokens (FRTs) from the ADGM and invites public feedback and comments on the… Read More

August 26, 2024 @ 10:27 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) has shared insights addressing the following question: Why the presidential election could be decided by young crypto voters? As noted in a blog post by Coinbase, young voters made “the difference in the 2020 U.S. elections and are expected to be a deciding… Read More

August 26, 2024 @ 7:09 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Tether, which claims to be among the largest companies in the digital asset industry, reaffirms its commitment to combat illicit activities, “stop illegal use of stablecoin technology, and provide support to victims through its assistance to, and support of, law enforcement agencies globally.” As the… Read More

August 26, 2024 @ 6:48 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

On August 23, 2024, the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced further sanctions against nearly 400 entities as a part of ongoing multilateral efforts “to weaken Russia’s military supply chain and procurement networks.” Chainalysis noted in a blog… Read More

August 26, 2024 @ 5:27 pm By JD Alois  |  

Global crypto exchange and digital asset innovator Binance has received a letter of appreciation from the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau (OCTB) of the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF). The letter was in recognition of their assistance in a kidnapping case. According to the letter signed… Read More

August 26, 2024 @ 4:23 pm By JD Alois  |  

Plutus Lending LLC, DBA Abra, has been charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) with offering and selling a retail crypto asset lending product. Abra has settled the charges without admitting or denying them. Abra has consented to an injunction prohibiting it from violating the… Read More