Politics, Legal & Regulation

September 19, 2019 @ 1:30 am By JD Alois  |  

According to reports, the German cabinet announced its blockchain strategy today. The Economy Minister Peter Altmaier and Minister of Finance Olaf Scholz both said they see huge potential related to blockchain technology. It is believed that the energy sector can benefit from blockchain but the… Read More

September 19, 2019 @ 12:33 am By Cali Haan  |  

Citing an inability to protect consumers in the event of wrongdoing or mishap, authorities in Burundi banned the trading and possession of cryptocurrencies earlier this month. Alfred Nyobewumusi, director of the Burundi central bank’s microfinance department told Bloomberg that the decision was made after citizens who… Read More

September 18, 2019 @ 11:33 pm By Cali Haan  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed civil charges against a “long-time” Florida securities lawyer accused of aiding and abetting”  an alleged $322 million USD securities fraud. Criminal charges were laid simultaneously September 17th against Attorney Jan Douglas Atlas, 74 of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The… Read More

September 18, 2019 @ 5:21 pm By JD Alois  |  

ICO Securities Fraud The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has continued its long march of enforcement actions regarding initial coin offerings (ICO) and the platforms that supported them. According to the SEC, ICOBox and founder Nikolay Evdokimov conducted an “illegal $14 million securities offering of… Read More

September 17, 2019 @ 8:12 pm By Cali Haan  |  

Former CFTC Chair  J. Christopher Giancarlo has joined the Chamber of Digital Commerce’s Board of Advisors. The Chamber of Digital Commerce (CDC) bills itself as, “the world’s first and largest trade organization for the blockchain and digital asset community.” It is headquartered in Washington, DC…. Read More

September 16, 2019 @ 11:10 pm By JD Alois  |  

Reg CF [Regulation Crowdfunding], the smallest of the three crowdfunding exemptions created by the bi-partisan JOBS Act of 2012, became officially actionable in May of 2016. In that time, hundreds of issuers have raised money on FINRA regulated “funding portals” taking advantage of the internet… Read More

September 16, 2019 @ 8:05 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The South Korean arm of Malta-based digital asset exchange OKEx announced that it will no longer support five major cryptocurrencies due to new international financial regulations. OKEx Korea’s management noted that it would suspend trading for privacy-oriented digital currencies including Monero (XMR), Zcash (ZEC), and… Read More

September 15, 2019 @ 8:00 pm By Therese Torris  |  

On September 12, the French Minister of Economy and Finance Bruno Le Maire did not mince words. Libra should not be allowed in Europe, he said. Later, on the same day, Bertrand Perez, the newly appointed managing director and COO of the Libra Association was… Read More

September 15, 2019 @ 4:27 pm By JD Alois  |  

Last week on September 11, the Australian Senate decided to establish a “Select Committee on Financial Technology and Regulatory Technology” or a committee to research and follow Fintech and Regtech. According to the Australian Parliament, the committee will inquire and report on the following matters:… Read More

September 15, 2019 @ 12:20 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Asian Development Bank (ADB), which aims to support social and economic development in Asia, has published a working paper series in which it noted the intention to make investments in decentralized lending platforms in Malaysia is primarily driven by “trust.” The paper points out… Read More

September 15, 2019 @ 12:16 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Germany’s government has spoken against the authorization of the ongoing development of Facebook’s controversial stablecoin project Libra in Europe. Christian Democratic Union parliamentarian Thomas Heilmann, who’s responsible for creating CDU’s policies on blockchain technology, said the German government will not allow projects like Libra to… Read More

September 14, 2019 @ 9:23 am By Cali Haan  |  

Police from London’s Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) have arrested a 19-year-old man they believe stole unreleased songs from the websites and cloud-storage accounts of “world-famous artists” and then sold the music for cryptocurrency. The release does not state where the music was sold nor… Read More

September 13, 2019 @ 4:24 pm By JD Alois  |  

Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Jay Clayton tipped his hand a bit regarding the ongoing “concept release” – an SEC review of the private securities exemption ecosystem and how regulated private markets operate.  In a speech delivered at the Economic Club of New York this… Read More

September 13, 2019 @ 10:30 am By Cali Haan  |  

Coinbase UK has settled a lawsuit with the CEO of Alphabit regarding Coinbase’s alleged handling of Bitcoins worth almost $1 million USD that were allegedly stolen from Alphabit by hackers in July, Law 360 reports. Alphabit is UK-based “crypto-asset investment company” that claims to manage… Read More

September 12, 2019 @ 11:33 am By Omar Faridi  |  

France’s government is reportedly planning to block the ongoing development of Facebook’s controversial stablecoin project, Libra.  French authorities said the launch of the crypto-related Libra initiative must not be permitted in Europe because it challenges the “monetary sovereignty” of states, according to CNBC. The report… Read More

September 12, 2019 @ 11:29 am By JD Alois  |  

Yesterday, the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Investor Protection, Entrepreneurship, and Capital Markets held a hearing entitled “Examining Private Market Exemptions as a Barrier to IPOs and Retail Investment.” The hearing saw a debate on the merits of private securities exemptions, such as Reg D, Reg… Read More

September 11, 2019 @ 12:16 pm By JD Alois  |  

Following the announcement by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) has issued guidelines on the treatment of stablecoins under Swiss law, the Libra Association, a non profit based in Geneva, Switzerland, will pursue a license as a payment system with lead supervisory authority under the… Read More

September 11, 2019 @ 6:55 am By JD Alois  |  

The planned international scope of Libra requires an internationally coordinated approach. The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) has published guidelines on treatment of stablecoins under Swiss law. Stablecoins are virtual currencies or cryptocurrencies which attempt to hold a stable value by pegging itself to… Read More

September 11, 2019 @ 1:52 am By Cali Haan  |  

Police in Portugal have arrested five members of a criminal gang accused selling counterfeit euros for cryptocurrencies via websites on the Dark Net, Reuters reports. The group’s alleged “ringleader” has now been extradited from Colombia to Portugal to face charges. According to police, during the… Read More

September 10, 2019 @ 11:03 pm By Cali Haan  |  

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Jay Clayton has told a reporter at CNBC that manipulation in crypto markets remains a concern and that there is “still work to be done” before the Commission can approve Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETFs). Clayton told Bob… Read More