Politics, Legal & Regulation

March 21, 2021 @ 11:19 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Blockchain security firm CipherTrace has provided an analysis on the proposed Financial Action Task Force (FATF) guidance for digital assets and virtual asset service providers (VASPs). On March 19, 2021, global anti-money laundering watchdog, the FATF, released a public consultation for its latest Draft Guidance… Read More

March 21, 2021 @ 2:58 pm By JD Alois  |  

This past week, the House Committee on Financial Services held part two of three anticipated hearings on the GameStop/Reddit/Robinhood saga. As most people are aware, in recent months a short-squeeze caused shares in GameStop (NYSE:GME) to jump dramatically higher compelling short sellers to purchase shares… Read More

March 20, 2021 @ 7:37 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Notabene has teamed up with blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis to bring a “scalable” Travel Rule solution to cryptocurrency-focused businesses. Crypto-related businesses are working consistently to meet updated regulatory guidelines involving counterparty risk. According to a blog post by Chainalysis, the most notable of these requirements… Read More

March 20, 2021 @ 10:22 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Peter Van Valkenburgh, the Director of Research at Coin Center, a leading non-profit entity focused on the latest policy issues facing digital currencies, notes that his organization will be using the additional time provided by FinCEN to submit another comment in “ongoing surveillance rulemaking.” Coin… Read More

March 19, 2021 @ 7:51 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Commodities Future Trading Commission (CFTC) has issued an order requiring Coinbase to pay a $6.5 million penalty for “false, misleading, or inaccurate reporting and wash trading.” Coinbase has settled the civil penalty with the CFTC. The wash trading was said to be affiliated with… Read More

March 19, 2021 @ 1:21 pm By JD Alois  |  

Crypto UK has sent a letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, advocating on behalf of Fintech innovation – specifically crypto-assets. Crypto UK is a self-regulatory trade association for the UK cryptoasset industry, created to promote higher standards of conduct. Members include high-profile… Read More

March 19, 2021 @ 9:50 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Peter Gaffney from the Security Token Group (STG), which is focused on the emerging blockchain-based security token space, notes that the significantly outsized return potential of angel investing, venture capital, and private equity are “well-known” in the finance industry. Gaffney explains that traditionally, direct access… Read More

March 18, 2021 @ 10:59 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

This World Consumer Rights Day, which took place on March 15, 2021, Fintech firm Wise (previous TransferWise) talked about what they consider to be IBAN “discrimination.” This World Consumer Rights Day, let’s talk about IBAN discrimination. IBAN discrimination is against the law – and has… Read More

March 18, 2021 @ 12:36 pm By JD Alois  |  

  Two draft documents by the European Parliament, Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, addressing distributed ledger technology (DLT or blockchain) as well as crypto-assets have emerged. The first is a draft document on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of… Read More

March 17, 2021 @ 10:54 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Texas Securities Commissioner Travis J. Iles has entered an emergency cease and desist order against DailyForex247. According to the Texas State Securities Board, the order was filed against DailyForex247 and Ghulam Wardag, its senior account manager. The order alleges that the parties operated an… Read More

March 17, 2021 @ 10:45 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Bank of Japan (BoJ) has confirmed that it is getting ready to work on a national virtual currency. Haruhiko Kuroda, governor of the 138-year-old institution, stated that the BoJ, the nation’s reserve bank, would begin “preparing thoroughly” for a future that may include a… Read More

March 17, 2021 @ 10:25 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Six New Hampshire residents are reportedly facing federal indictment because of an elaborate scheme that allowed people to exchange over $10 million for digital currencies like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH). The US District Court indictment alleges that the co-conspirators had tricked or deceived financial… Read More

March 17, 2021 @ 9:46 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

A teenager who’s responsible for taking over many high-profile Twitter accounts, as part of a huge Bitcoin scam last year, has now agreed to serve 3 years in prison in a plea deal. Graham Clark, 18, has confirmed that he’ll be pleading guilty to State… Read More

March 17, 2021 @ 8:37 am By JD Alois  |  

The French Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) has distributed its position on the European Commission’s consultation on Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD). The AIFMD seeks to create a level playing field across Europe for Alternative Investment Funds (AIF) and is part of the overal… Read More

March 17, 2021 @ 8:13 am By JD Alois  |  

Bitcoin Suisse AG has been denied by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) in its application for a banking license.  Bitcoin Suisse submitted an application for a Swiss banking license in July 2019. According to a statement by FINMA, the bank license application was… Read More

March 17, 2021 @ 7:55 am By Omar Faridi  |  

UK-headquartered digital banking challenger Revolut says it will be suspending its business operations in Canada, a move that has come just 18 months after the Fintech launched a beta version of its services in the North American country. BetaKit, which keeps track of Canadian tech… Read More

March 16, 2021 @ 8:13 pm By JD Alois  |  

It is hard not to know something about the booming Non-Fungible Token or NFT market. Following Beeple’s sale of a digital work of art “Everydays—The First 5000 Days,” auctioned by Christie’s for a whopping $69 million, NFTs officially became a “thing” with non-stop coverage on… Read More

March 15, 2021 @ 5:46 pm By JD Alois  |  

As previously reported, the House Committee on Financial Services will host part two of the hearing tackling the GameStop/Robinhood/Reddit trading phenomenon tomorrow. “Game Stopped? Who Wins and Loses When Short Sellers, Social Media, and Retail Investors Collide, Part II” will be live-streamed on the Committee’s… Read More

March 15, 2021 @ 3:00 pm By Lee Schneider  |  

Once the Coinbase registration statement becomes effective and Coinbase shares trade publicly, a sea change will have occurred in the US without most people recognizing it.  Part of that unacknowledged difference will be the broader awareness of blockchain and cryptoasset trading it brings. It is… Read More

March 15, 2021 @ 12:52 pm By JD Alois  |  

Beginning today, companies raising capital under Reg CF may file to raise up to $5 million from the previous $1.07 million. The rule change was enacted by the Securities and Exchange Commission last year and became actionable today. Crowdfund Insider has heard that some issuers… Read More