Politics, Legal & Regulation

November 9, 2019 @ 2:46 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Chinese tech giant Tencent is reportedly preparing to launch a blockchain-enabled virtual bank, after the company obtained a license from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). Previously, Crowdfund Insider has reported that 8 virtual bank licenses have been issued with the most recent (4) being announced… Read More

November 9, 2019 @ 10:11 am By Cali Haan  |  

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has granted Toronto-based Mavennet Systems $182,700 USD to modify its oil and gas industry blockchain so it can be used by US Customs Border Protection (CBP) to cross-border oil imports. Once adapted, the tech will be used in… Read More

November 8, 2019 @ 4:01 pm By JD Alois  |  

SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce delivered a speech, entitled Broken Windows, addressing SEC enforcement actions earlier this week. Peirce reviewed the topic in advance of the annual report on such actions. The SEC Division of Enforcement is the largest Division within the Commission. According to the… Read More

November 8, 2019 @ 9:58 am By JD Alois  |  

The Council of the European Union has posted a memo, or “draft joint statement,” regarding stablecoins – a hot policy topic these days due to Facebook’s attempt to launch a global, non-sovereign, cryptocurrency. When Facebook revealed the creation of Libra, and the executive body the… Read More

November 7, 2019 @ 9:32 pm By Cali Haan  |  

Micree Ketuan Zhan, co-founder of Bitmain, the world’s largest manufacturer of cryptocurrency mining hardware, has promised in an open letter to take legal action against colleagues who “dismissed” him suddenly at the end of October. According to a translation of the letter obtained by The… Read More

November 7, 2019 @ 10:23 am By JD Alois  |  

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Jay Clayton has re-affirmed his belief that retail investors should have a compliant path to access more private securities offerings. While initial public offerings (IPOs) have morphed into an exit opportunity for big money where retail investors end up… Read More

November 7, 2019 @ 1:07 am By Cali Haan  |  

Daniel Daianu, president of Romania’s Fiscal Council, told members of the Romanian Academy Tuesday that Facebook’s Libra cryptocurrency could destroy the current global monetary balance and so disrupt the work of central banks that they become ineffective at managing money supplies, Agerpres reports. Facebook hopes… Read More

November 7, 2019 @ 12:16 am By Cali Haan  |  

Another Vancouver-based cryptocurrency exchange, ezBTC, is being investigated by the BC Securities Commission (BCSC) after the regulator received complaints from customers claiming they cannot access funds stored on the platform, The Tyee reports. The investigation was confirmed in an exclusive statement from the BCSC to… Read More

November 6, 2019 @ 9:40 pm By Cali Haan  |  

As part of an inquiry into foreign interference into US elections convened November 5th by the US Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Senator Mitt Romney asked the FBI Director Christopher Wray about the national security implications of cryptocurrencies. Also testifying at the session titled ‘Threats to… Read More

November 6, 2019 @ 9:21 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Australian Senate Select Committee on Financial Technology (Fintech) and Regulatory Technology (Regtech) has published an “Issues Paper outlining what it intends to review and report back to the Senate. The Committee was established in September 2019 and consists of six senators. The Fintech and… Read More

November 6, 2019 @ 4:19 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee has posted its agenda for its upcoming meeting this month. Included on the list of topics, is the effort by the SEC to harmonize the exempt offering ecosystem. The SEC officially closed comments… Read More

November 6, 2019 @ 12:17 pm By JD Alois  |  

Good news for investment crowdfunding platforms in France. Last week, it became official that the effective crowdfunding cap was increased from €2.5 million to €8 million (~$8.9  million). The change came with the finalization of Decree No. 2019-1097.     The Decree was part of the Loi… Read More

November 6, 2019 @ 8:44 am By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Division of Enforcement, has published its annual report on enforcement. The Division of Enforcement is the largest division at the SEC. The report states that, during the fiscal year, the SEC brought “a diverse mix of 862 enforcement actions,… Read More

November 5, 2019 @ 9:28 pm By Cali Haan  |  

Another Canadian cryptocurrency exchange has folded with customer money outstanding. According to an affidavit filed at the BC Supreme Court by Sammy Wu, Lead Investigator (Enforcement) at the British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC), the Einstein Exchange in Vancouver has gone offline, its offices are locked and its… Read More

November 5, 2019 @ 1:00 pm By JD Alois  |  

Last month, Crowdfund Insider reported on comments by EC Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis, a Commissioner whose portfolio includes Financial Stability, Financial Services, and the Capital Markets Union, indicating harmonized crowdfunding rules may be forthcoming before the end of the year. In a tweet, Dombrovskis stated… Read More

November 5, 2019 @ 11:19 am By JD Alois  |  

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) rules regarding cryptocurrency platforms or virtual asset service providers (VASPs) have been out in the wild for some time now. Initially, there was much industry concern that required KYC/AML rules will undermine VASPs and harm the industry but, over… Read More

November 5, 2019 @ 2:47 am By JD Alois  |  

Last month, the Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME), issued a report on the Capital Markets Union and progress in achieving the European Union’s goal. The AFME report, the second of its kind, post various KPIs or Key Performance Indicators. One of the areas… Read More

November 4, 2019 @ 10:06 pm By Cali Haan  |  

A plaintiff called “Bitcoin Manipulation Abatement LLC” has launched a class-action suit against cryptocurrency derivatives exchange FTX, partner firm Alameda Research and several associated individuals alleging they are, “well known among cryptocurrency traders for being principal manipulators of the Bitcoin spot and Bitcoin derivatives markets.”… Read More

November 4, 2019 @ 11:15 am By JD Alois  |  

The International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) has issued a statement on stablecoins. The concept of stablecoins has endured increasing regulatory scrutiny following the announcement by Facebook that it intends to issue Libra – a stablecoin expected to be backed by fiat currency and other… Read More

November 4, 2019 @ 7:05 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the UK’s tax, payments, and customs agency, has made changes to its crypto-asset taxation framework for local firms and individuals. HMRC, which creates tax guidelines and various other financial policies, published tax guidance updates that aim to clarify the… Read More