Politics, Legal & Regulation

March 21, 2026 @ 5:15 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Kenya has opened a public consultation on draft rules to regulate virtual asset businesses, marking the clearest step yet toward bringing cryptocurrencies and other digital assets under formal state oversight after years of operating in a legal grey area. The National Treasury said the proposed… Read More

March 21, 2026 @ 12:26 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

As part of the ongoing effort to enhance regulatory clarity, the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has released a set of frequently asked questions (FAQs) addressing how registered firms and entities can engage with cryptocurrency assets and blockchain innovations within the derivatives landscape. Announced… Read More

March 20, 2026 @ 6:19 pm By JD Alois  |  

Today, President Donald Trump introduced a “National AI Legislation Framework” as it aims to gain federal oversight of the development of artificial intelligence. Multiple states have already enacted rules to guide AI use and development, with some fearing a patchwork approach in which 50 states… Read More

March 20, 2026 @ 10:48 am By JD Alois  |  

An innovation-driven economy should be the goal of policymakers everywhere. Enabling entrepreneurs to launch and build new firms generates economic activity and drives wealth creation. This is good for everyone. Yet Europe has been heading in the wrong direction for years when it comes to… Read More

March 20, 2026 @ 10:38 am By JD Alois  |  

Crypto insiders are indicating a deal on the stablecoin yield issue may be near. Currently, the CLARITY Act, or the crypto market infrastructure legislation, is largely being held up by the potential stablecoin holders earning yield on their funds. Banks do not like it because… Read More

March 20, 2026 @ 9:53 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Major high-street lenders across the United Kingdom have chosen to retain the existing £100 single-transaction ceiling for tap-and-go card payments, even after the country’s financial watchdog handed them the authority to raise or scrap it entirely. This decision, which took effect on 19 March 2026,… Read More

March 20, 2026 @ 8:35 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Blockchain analytics firm Elliptic pointed out that on March 17, 2026, the US Securities and Exchange Commission released a detailed interpretation that brings much-needed transparency to the digital asset space. Elliptic also explained that this guidance arrives in the wake of a formal agreement with… Read More

March 18, 2026 @ 3:42 pm By JD Alois  |  

The US Federal Reserve announced today that it had decided not to change benchmark rates. The Committee decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 3.5% to 3.75%. All members of the Committee voted for the decision, except for Stephen I…. Read More

March 18, 2026 @ 2:21 pm By JD Alois  |  

The CLARITY Act, or crypto market infrastructure legislation, is parked in the Senate after being approved in the House, and is largely held up by whether stablecoin holders will benefit from yield (or interest payments). As stablecoins must hold matching, low-risk assets like T-Bills, the… Read More

March 18, 2026 @ 12:03 pm By JD Alois  |  

When crypto first hit the scene, global regulators were caught like deer in the headlights, confused and uncertain how to manage digital assets. Rules were effectively drawn from laws enacted before the internet was a dream, and in the US, the touchstone, the Howey Test… Read More

March 18, 2026 @ 6:25 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is now said to be actively exploring a potential overhaul of corporate disclosure rules by potentially scrapping the long-standing requirement for mandatory quarterly earnings reports among American companies. According to an update from The Wall Street Journal, regulators… Read More

March 17, 2026 @ 4:05 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued another statement pertaining to “crypto assets” and federal securities law. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission joined in the statement. The statement is an interpretation of the definition of “security” as applied to certain types of crypto assets… Read More

March 17, 2026 @ 3:36 pm By JD Alois  |  

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has filed charges against prediction marketplace Kalshi. The battle between the new form of betting and state oversight has been simmering for some time. According to a release issued by the AG, the state alleges that Kalshi accepted bets from… Read More

March 17, 2026 @ 3:23 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In a formal submission made this month, the cryptocurrency advocacy group Coin Center has encouraged the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to refine its approach to digital asset oversight. Addressed to Chairman Paul Atkins and Commissioner Hester Peirce, the letter commends the pair for their… Read More

March 17, 2026 @ 12:26 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has extended a no-action position to Phantom Technologies Inc., the developer behind the popular Phantom wallet. Announced on March 17, 2026, this move offers important clarity for self-custodial wallet software in navigating U.S. regulatory requirements. The CFTC’s Market Participants… Read More

March 16, 2026 @ 9:18 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Institutional trading platform BlockFills has initiated restructuring proceedings under U.S. bankruptcy law. The company’s parent entity, Reliz Ltd., along with several related subsidiaries, submitted a voluntary petition for reorganization in a Delaware federal court. This step comes shortly after the firm imposed restrictions on client… Read More

March 16, 2026 @ 1:53 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

As part of a significant step toward bolstering oversight in the digital economy, an Australian Senate committee has endorsed a new legislative proposal aimed at regulating cryptocurrency operations. The measure, known as the Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Bill 2025, seeks to impose mandatory licensing… Read More

March 16, 2026 @ 10:10 am By Omar Faridi  |  

TRM Labs noted that in a move intended to effectively curb illicit funding for North Korea’s weapons programs, the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has imposed sanctions on a web of facilitators tied to Pyongyang’s government-directed IT worker operations. According to insights… Read More

March 16, 2026 @ 8:59 am By Omar Faridi  |  

KPMG Ireland has indicated that regulations are pushing institutions toward stronger operational safeguards, particularly when dealing with external partners. A key development in this area is the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), which is now moving from planning stages to active regulatory oversight in regions… Read More

March 16, 2026 @ 5:40 am By Omar Faridi  |  

In a recent decision potentially reshaping the future of digital finance, the United States Senate has approved legislation that prohibits the Federal Reserve from developing or launching any form of central bank digital currency until at least 2031. The restriction was embedded within a larger… Read More