Politics, Legal & Regulation

January 31, 2021 @ 11:50 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Indian Parliament will reportedly be considering a government-supported bill that could place a ban on “private” cryptocurrencies during its upcoming budget session. Since the nation’s ruling party has control over both houses of Parliament, there’s a fairly good chance that the proposed bill could… Read More

January 29, 2021 @ 9:05 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has reportedly reviewed and approved the applicable guidelines for virtual asset service providers (VASP) and other entities that facilitate financial services by using VASPs (also referred to as cryptocurrencies). The new guidelines have updated the… Read More

January 29, 2021 @ 3:49 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

After facing increasing pressure from Chinese authorities, billionaire Jack Ma’s Fintech firm Ant Group is now focused on restructuring its business operations in order to serve as a financial holding company. The Ant Group has also been focused on positioning itself as an Internet-tech firm… Read More

January 29, 2021 @ 2:21 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Open Banking Implementation Entity (OBIE) has introduced its variable recurring payments and sweeping consultation phase II. The OBIE, which was created by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority, recently released its response and has made revisions to its proposals following the initial phase of… Read More

January 28, 2021 @ 10:35 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Approximately half or 50% of companies that have previously submitted their regulatory reporting on the UK Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) Gabriel systems are now using RegData, the regulator recently confirmed. According to the FCA, RegData is central or key to their overall data strategy which… Read More

January 28, 2021 @ 8:45 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Although not very many technical details of China’s plans for its central bank digital currency (CBDC) have been shared publicly, the virtual yuan is raising privacy concerns and may lead to potential national security issues and problems related to political power. The Digital Currency/Electronic Payment… Read More

January 28, 2021 @ 7:41 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) confirmed that it will be actively looking at stablecoins which are digital assets pegged 1-to-1 with major world currencies such as the US dollar, British pound, the Euro, the Singapore dollar, among many others. Nisa Amoils, a securities… Read More

January 28, 2021 @ 4:41 pm By JD Alois  |  

Robinhood is retreating a bit in its decision to curtail trading in shares of GameStop and other securities like AMC Entertainment that have been the focus of traders communicating on Reddit. The investment Fintech has just announced it will allow limited buys in these volatile… Read More

January 28, 2021 @ 3:44 pm By JD Alois  |  

  Senator Sherrod Brown, the incoming Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, will be holding a hearing on the GameStop – Reddit phenomenon, according to a tweet. Senator Brown said it was time for the SEC and Congress to make the economy work for everyone… Read More

January 27, 2021 @ 1:30 pm By JD Alois  |  

The European Crowdfunding Network (ECN) has long been the leading voice advocating on behalf of investment crowdfunding platforms across Europe. The member-driven group has been at the forefront of engaging with policymakers at the European Commission – an initiative that finally paid off when new… Read More

January 26, 2021 @ 9:02 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Blockchain security firm CipherTrace notes that during her confirmation hearing on January 19, Dr. Janet Yellen, US President Joe Biden’s pick for Secretary of the Treasury, had said that “many” virtual currencies remain “a particular concern” when it comes to terrorism and criminal financing (and… Read More

January 26, 2021 @ 8:38 pm By JD Alois  |  

The US Federal Reserve has announced that more than 110 organizations will participate in the FedNow Pilot Program. FedNow is a payments initiative to speed up payments and transfers. A consultation with a variety of stakeholders took place in 2018 with the concept of FedNow… Read More

January 26, 2021 @ 8:11 pm By JD Alois  |  

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Chairwoman of the House Committee on Financial Services announced the six Committee Members who will serve as Subcommittee Chairs for the 117th Congress. Chair Waters issued the following statement: “I am pleased to announce the very experienced, dedicated, diverse, and talented… Read More

January 26, 2021 @ 8:00 pm By JD Alois  |  

FinCEN has submitted for publication in the Federal Register an Extension Notice, which will extend the comment period on its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) regarding certain transactions involving virtual currency or digital assets. FinCEN, part of the US Department of Treasury, came under criticism… Read More

January 26, 2021 @ 7:47 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

San Francisco-based crypto exchange Coinbase has requested a rulemaking pause from the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) following the Biden White House guidance to agencies. Coinbase writes in a letter that was reportedly shared with Kenneth Blanco, Director, FinCEN on January 25, 2021, that after… Read More

January 26, 2021 @ 3:22 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has filed a federal civil enforcement action in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York charging Jeremy Spence of New York, alleging fraud for operating a Ponzi scheme involving digital assets such as Bitcoin and… Read More

January 25, 2021 @ 11:21 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Hong Kong might lead China’s financial integration efforts with other countries and could also help promote the adoption of the digital yuan, according to government officials. But regardless of what Hong Kong actually does to fulfill its role, the special administrative region of the People’s… Read More

January 25, 2021 @ 10:45 pm By JD Alois  |  

Dr. Janet Yellen was unanimously voted out of committee the Senate Finance Committee on January 22nd and approved by the Senate today in a vote of 84 for the nomination and 15 against (and one not voting). In being approved, Yellen became the first female… Read More

January 25, 2021 @ 1:53 pm By JD Alois  |  

The [William M. (Mac) Thornberry] National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (HR 6395) was signed into law at the beginning of this month. While the title of the law is pretty accurate as the bulk of the legislation addresses defense issues, buried within… Read More

January 25, 2021 @ 10:16 am By JD Alois  |  

Grayscale, the creators of multiple publicly traded crypto funds, has committed $1 million to Coin Center – the well-known crypto non-profit and advocacy group. Additionally, Grayscale said it would top up this amount with another $1 million in matching funds through February 2021. The matching… Read More