Politics, Legal & Regulation

May 30, 2022 @ 12:28 pm By JD Alois  |  

Speaking recently at the DC Blockchain Summit, acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael Hsu took the crypto industry to task in light of the spectacular collapse of TerraUSD (UST) – an aspiring algorithmic stablecoin that failed in its mission. Hsu lambasted the sector of Fintech… Read More

May 29, 2022 @ 3:45 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Organismo degli Agenti e Mediatori finanziari (OAM) only began accepting registrations for digital currency and digital wallet providers beginning on May 18th but in the ensuing days, 14 firms have registered including Binance, Bitpanda and more. The OAM is the exclusive authority in Italy… Read More

May 29, 2022 @ 2:31 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has released the findings and recommendations of a review by Kirstin Baker, which is one of its independent non-executive Directors, “to identify lessons from Open Banking for the CMA’s approach to designing, implementing and monitoring remedies in its market… Read More

May 27, 2022 @ 4:33 pm By JD Alois  |  

SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce and CFTC Commissioner Caroline Pham have partnered on an Op-Ed published this week in the Hill calling for progress on the regulation of decentralization. Alluding to possible friction between the two agencies as regulators jostle as to which sector of crypto… Read More

May 27, 2022 @ 10:36 am By JD Alois  |  

A group of Republican US Senators has introduced legislation designed to knee-cap the digital yuan – a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) that is already in use – albeit on a limited basis. Senators Tom Cotton, Marco Rubio, and Mike Braun have revealed the “Defending… Read More

May 26, 2022 @ 7:34 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council) has issued a statement criticizing the legislation that is making its way through the Senate that takes aim at big tech. Led by Senator Amy Klobuchar, the bill entitled the “American Innovation and Choice Online Act” appears… Read More

May 26, 2022 @ 7:50 am By JD Alois  |  

Below is the prepared statement issued by Fed Vice Chair Lael Brainard published in advance of the House Committee on Financial Services hearing scheduled for later today. As was previously reported, Brainard will review the topic of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) and the potential… Read More

May 26, 2022 @ 7:36 am By JD Alois  |  

Lael Brainard, the Vice-Chair of the Board of Governors at the US Federal Reserve, will testify today at the House Committee on Financial Services on the hot topic of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). The Fed is currently researching the viability of a digital dollar… Read More

May 25, 2022 @ 10:43 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Bitfrost, the fintech ecosystem that supports financial institutions in their adoption and management of digital assets, announced its successful registration “as a Virtual Assets Service Provider (VASP) with the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission (GFSC).” Now, Bitfrost can “provide clients with access to fiat-to-crypto, crypto-to-fiat and… Read More

May 25, 2022 @ 6:17 am By JD Alois  |  

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has revealed the creation of a new office designed to promote competition in financial services. The Office of Competition and Innovation is on a mission to identify stumbling blocks for new market entrants. The office will replace the prior… Read More

May 24, 2022 @ 8:43 am By JD Alois  |  

Contagion is a scary term. Systemic risk is its friendlier sibling but both raise eyebrows. Today, the European Central Bank (ECB) is bringing attention to the possibility of crypto contagion as interest grows in digital assets and recent events highlight the ability for a rapid… Read More

May 23, 2022 @ 1:00 pm By JD Alois  |  

  Earlier this month, Crowdfund Insider held a webinar to discuss the trading of private securities. Crowdfunded securities fall in this category because any security issued online via a platform or directly must be an exempt offering. This means securities issued under Reg CF, Reg… Read More

May 23, 2022 @ 10:34 am By JD Alois  |  

Calvin Cheng, a former Singapore member of Parliament, investor, and entrepreneur, has gained a provisional Virtual Asset License in Dubai, according to a statement from the company. Cheng has reportedly formed the first regulated non-fungible token (NFT) and fan token investment holding company in Dubai…. Read More

May 22, 2022 @ 6:48 pm By JD Alois  |  

This past week, Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Chairman Charles Randell reviewed the challenges of securities regulation in a speech delivered at the Centre for Commercial Law Studies, Queen Mary University of London.  The FCA has played a key and vital role in enabling Fintech innovation… Read More

May 22, 2022 @ 2:08 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Nayms recently revealed that it became one of the world’s “first” crypto-native insurance marketplaces to become “fully-regulated” in Bermuda. They now hold both the full Digital Asset Business Act license and Innovative General Business Insurance license, “allowing their insurance partners to conduct regulated insurance business… Read More

May 22, 2022 @ 2:05 pm By JD Alois  |  

European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde hammered cryptocurrencies this past week during an interview with a Dutch broadcaster according to a report in Bloomberg. Lagarde, an EU official who has long expressed her interest in digital assets, is quoted stating: “My very humble assessment… Read More

May 21, 2022 @ 7:57 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

YAP, a Fintech streamlining the virtual banking experience in the MENA and South Asia region, has announced that it has been granted an In-Principle Approval (IPA) from the State Bank of Pakistan for an Electronic Money Institute (EMI) License. The approval provides “a tremendous opportunity… Read More

May 21, 2022 @ 3:32 am By JD Alois  |  

The Bundesverband Crowdfunding e.V. (the German Crowdfunding Association) and Financement Participatif France (the French Crowdfunding Association) have issued a statement reaffirming their desire that the transition period for European Crowdfunding Service Provider Regulation (ECSPR) be extended.  The announcement follows a statement by the European Securities… Read More

May 20, 2022 @ 9:43 am By JD Alois  |  

  Following a meeting this week being held in Petersberg, Germany, G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors have issued a statement on the outcome of the meeting. While a good portion of the statement revolves around the war in Ukraine and the need for… Read More

May 20, 2022 @ 2:07 am By JD Alois  |  

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has posted a statement encouraging crowdfunding providers to speed things up in migrating to the new pan-European rules. At the end of 2021, the European Union approved a new regulatory regime that enables issuers to raise capital online… Read More