Politics, Legal & Regulation

July 3, 2020 @ 8:07 am By Omar Faridi  |  

A criminal court in Russia has reportedly rejected a motion to offer restitution to a victim after they lost around 100 Bitcoin (BTC), an amount currently valued at around $910,000. In 2018, two Russian men impersonating the country’s Federal Security Service (FSB) agents had allegedly… Read More

July 2, 2020 @ 9:22 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Bank Negara Malaysia, the nation’s central bank, released a policy document on July 1, 2020, that covers electronic or digital know-your-customer (e-KYC) requirements. The document is an update to the reserve bank’s earlier exposure draft from December 2019. The new policy went into effect immediately… Read More

July 2, 2020 @ 9:13 am By JD Alois  |  

Wirecard AG (WPI:DE)  has emerged as one of the most embarrassing financial debacles in years in Germany. The implosion of the Fintech has demolished the reputation of the former CEO Markus Braun who was subsequently arrested following the revelation of €1.9 billion in missing funds…. Read More

July 2, 2020 @ 7:48 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The central bank of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Abu Dhabi Global Market, an international financial center and free zone based on the Al Maryah Island in the nation’s capital, Abu Dhabi, noted on July 1, 2020, that they’re inviting Fintech firms to… Read More

July 2, 2020 @ 7:41 am By Olivia Halsall  |  

On July 1st, Nausicaa Delfas, Executive Director of International and member of the Executive Committee at the FCA, delivered a speech for a series of webinars offered by City & Financial Professional Virtual Roundtables. The focus of the speech homed in on Brexit, Covid-19 and a suitable… Read More

July 1, 2020 @ 10:57 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Dr. Joshua Ellul, the Chairman of Malta Digital Innovation Authority and Director of Centre for DLTs, University of Malta, has noted that he has published a paper (with Jonathan Galea, Max Ganado, Stephen McCarthy and Gordon Pace) titled “Regulating Blockchain, DLT and Smart Contracts: a… Read More

July 1, 2020 @ 5:10 pm By JD Alois  |  

The German Financial Reporting Enforcement Panel or Deutsche Prüfstelle für Rechnungslegung (DPR) has issued a statement defending its actions in the ongoing Wirecard (WPI:DE) scandal. It was recently reported that the German government had terminated its contract with the DRP, private entity contracted by the… Read More

July 1, 2020 @ 12:13 pm By JD Alois  |  

The British Business Bank has announced six newly approved lenders for accreditation under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), three new lenders for accreditation under the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS) and two new lenders for accreditation to the Bounce Back Loan… Read More

July 1, 2020 @ 12:02 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Israel is reportedly getting ready to launch a Fintech regulatory sandbox, in order to make it easier for local financial technology startups to test out new products and services. The Arrangements Law that the nation’s Treasury will be presenting to the cabinet will include rules… Read More

July 1, 2020 @ 10:41 am By JD Alois  |  

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) completed a meeting this week calling on members to “tackle new threats and vulnerabilities posed by criminals during the COVID-19 crisis.” The FATF is an international policy-making and standard-setting body, headquartered in Paris, dedicated to combating money laundering and… Read More

June 30, 2020 @ 8:13 am By JD Alois  |  

The Greater London Investment Fund (GLIF) has become an accredited lender under the British Business Bank Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS). This approval means that GLIF funds managed by The FSE Group will repurpose £4.3 million in funding to provide “Coronavirus Resilience Loans” (CRLs)…. Read More

June 30, 2020 @ 7:53 am By JD Alois  |  

The Chancellor of the Exchequer has adjusted the Future Fund to enable businesses that contribute significantly to the UK economy but do not have their parent company based in the UK because they participated in a non-UK based accelerator program to qualify for the Fund…. Read More

June 30, 2020 @ 7:32 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Russia’s blockchain or distributed ledger technology (DLT)-enabled voting system for the constitutional amendments recently suffered an attack through an election observer’s node. State-owned news outlet TASS reported that the attack took place on June 27, 2020, at about 8 PM CET. A spokesperson from government… Read More

June 29, 2020 @ 9:50 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

UK-based Railsbank, an Open Banking and Regtech solution provider, revealed on June 29, 2020, that it has gained Hong Kong Fintech Statrys as a new client. Statrys offers digital business accounts, advanced payment options, and forex solutions for SMEs based in Asia. It provides convenient… Read More

June 29, 2020 @ 3:09 pm By JD Alois  |  

  On June 26, the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) imposed several “requirements” on Wirecard‘s (WDI:DE) activities in the UK. The move was in response to Wirecard’s missing €1.9 billion in funds along with allegations of fraud and other nefarious activities. After an audit uncovered… Read More

June 28, 2020 @ 3:18 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Paxful, a leading and fast-growing peer to peer (P2P) Bitcoin marketplace, recently overtook  LocalBitcoins in weekly global BTC trading volume. Paxful users reportedly traded almost $39.8 million worth of Bitcoin (globally) during the week that ended June 6, 2020. Meanwhile, LocalBitcoins reported around $39.5 million… Read More

June 27, 2020 @ 7:22 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Fintech firm Lanistar, an alternative financial services provider, has reportedly chosen Jumio’s biometric ID verification technology to complete its customer onboarding process. Lanistar is planning to use Jumio’s software when it launches a polymorphic debit card later this year. The digital ID verification solution will… Read More

June 27, 2020 @ 6:22 pm By JD Alois  |  

  The Wirecard AG (WDI:DE) saga has gone from bad to worse as allegations of profound fraud cratered the company when its auditor, EY, uncovered a misplaced €1.9 billion in funds. Since the clear operational failure, the former CEO, Markus Braun, has been arrested and… Read More

June 27, 2020 @ 11:22 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Chinese firm Ebang, a leading developer of cryptocurrency mining hardware, confirmed on June 26, 2020, that it had been listed on the Nasdaq Global Market (under the EBON ticker). Notably, Ebang is only the second Bitcoin mining equipment manufacturer to go public on a US… Read More

June 26, 2020 @ 7:57 pm By JD Alois  |  

Telegram, the fast-growing social network that attempted to raise funds via a digital asset offering, has decided to settle an enforcement action initiated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). According to a release, the SEC has obtained court approval of a settlement with the… Read More