Politics, Legal & Regulation

March 8, 2021 @ 2:24 pm By JD Alois  |  

Last week the Senate Banking Committee held a confirmation hearing for Gary Gensler, the individual selected by President Biden to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Gensler is well known to Washington, DC having previously been Chairman of the Commodities Futures Trading Commission during… Read More

March 8, 2021 @ 8:12 am By Omar Faridi  |  

A new United Kingdom Visa to attract Fintech experts might lead to undesirable results unless the government figures out how to effectively deal with some of the potential issues, according to analysts. Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, noted in Wednesday’s (March 3, 2021)… Read More

March 7, 2021 @ 6:10 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

There are no extensive regulations yet on Open Banking in Thailand, however, the government’s digital transformation strategy (and the Thailand 4.0 strategy) along with the introduction of the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) in 2020 indicate that the country may soon offer an Open Banking… Read More

March 6, 2021 @ 7:10 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

China’s regulatory authorities have reportedly been telling local banking institutions to “trim” their loan books during 2021 to guard against potential risks resulting from bubbles in domestic capital markets. This, according to an update from Reuters which cited sources familiar with the matter (on March… Read More

March 6, 2021 @ 11:02 am By Xu Gao  |  

Chinese Fintech Companies Need to Meet Capital Adequacy Requirements with a Maximum of Two Years On March 2nd, Guo Shuqing, Chairman of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) said at a press conference of the Information Office of the State Council that Chinese… Read More

March 5, 2021 @ 9:07 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in Thailand is reportedly backing off its initial draft plan that would have required a 1-million-baht (appr. $32,800) minimum annual income and various other requirements for local crypto investors. The Thai SEC clarified that the draft bill was meant… Read More

March 5, 2021 @ 12:44 pm By JD Alois  |  

John David McAfee, a well-known crypto proponent and founder of the McAfee antivirus firm, has been indicted in Federal court for fraud and money laundering. According to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, McAfee and Jimmy Gale Watson, Jr,… Read More

March 5, 2021 @ 12:23 pm By JD Alois  |  

Roger Nils-Jonas Karlsson, 47, has pleaded guilty to securities fraud and money laundering pertaining to a scam that defrauded more than 3,500 victims of more than $16 million, according to the US Department of Justice. Karlsson apparently directed his victims to make investments using virtual… Read More

March 4, 2021 @ 11:05 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Philippines’ Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has introduced its online payment system for firms so they can easily pay their registration fees. The new SEC Payment Portal is a web-based system that can accept payment for registrations, transaction fees, and penalties by simply using… Read More

March 4, 2021 @ 10:07 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

MyMy, which aims to become the world’s first Shariah-compliant digital bank, and digital loan platform Sukaniaga Sdn Bhd recently confirmed their partnership which focuses on establishing a virtual banking consortium. They’re also planning to apply for one of the five digital banking licenses that will… Read More

March 4, 2021 @ 8:52 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In 2020, Fairmint had introduced the Continuous Agreement for Future Equity (CAFE). The company recently announced that Fairmint’s own CAFE offering had gone live on Thursday, February 18, 2021. Fairmint explains that making stakeholder capitalism “a reality” is quite bold objective and the firm plans… Read More

March 4, 2021 @ 11:11 am By JD Alois  |  

Ripple is preparing to file a motion to dismiss in its ongoing legal battle with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Last December, it was reported that the SEC had filed a complaint charging Ripple with the sale of an unregistered security. Included in the… Read More

March 4, 2021 @ 8:38 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Arthur Hayes, the former CEO of digital currency derivatives exchange BitMEX, is reportedly holding discussions which would involve his surrender to US authorities as early as next month (April 2021). As reported in October of last year, Hayes and several other senior managers at the… Read More

March 3, 2021 @ 11:26 pm By JD Alois  |  

The British Business Bank has distributed a response following the Budget presentation by the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunik. The Bank has been a key factor in supporting UK businesses as it has managed a series of programs designed to backstop the economy. Within… Read More

March 3, 2021 @ 11:02 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Iran’s Presidential Center for Strategic Studies, which is a thinktank that is attached with President Rouhani’s office, has released an extensive report which emphasizes the need for the so-called rogue State to use decentralized cryptocurrencies to generate additional revenue. Extracting these virtual currencies, the report… Read More

March 3, 2021 @ 2:43 pm By JD Alois  |  

Earlier today, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak presented the budget for 2021. Obviously, the government policy on spending comes at a difficult time as COVID-19 is still very much with us yet glimmers of relief are showing as the vaccine takes hold. The Chancellor… Read More

March 3, 2021 @ 10:29 am By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Division of Examinations, has posted the examination priorities for 2021. The Division publishes its examination priorities annually to provide insights into its mission. According to the Division, they will add greater focus on climate-related risks as well as on… Read More

March 2, 2021 @ 11:32 pm By JD Alois  |  

UK Finance has published a proposal for a “new service company” that will support the UK’s open banking infrastructure, according to a public statement. UK Finance is described as the collective voice for the banking and finance industry representing over 250 firms in the UK…. Read More

March 2, 2021 @ 12:07 pm By JD Alois  |  

New York Attorney General Letitia James has issued several alerts pertaining to investors purchasing cryptocurrencies. The AG said that investors should exercise “extreme caution when investing in virtual currencies.” Attorney General James also issued an alert to industry members, reminding brokers, dealers, salespersons, and investment… Read More

March 2, 2021 @ 8:16 am By JD Alois  |  

Gary Gensler, selected by President Joe Biden to become the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), is having his nomination hearing today in the Senate Banking Committee. If approved, Gensler will take the helm of the Commission and perhaps see it through a… Read More