Politics, Legal & Regulation

Policy and regulations impacting innovations in Finance.

Police Bust Crime Syndicate Selling Counterfeit Euros for Crypto

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

SEC Chair Clayton on Bitcoin ETFs: Market Manipulation and Custody Still a Concern

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

Must See Live Stream: House Financial Services Subcommittee to Hold Hearing on Private Market Securities Exemptions & IPOs

Tomorrow (September 11), the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Investor Protection, Entrepreneurship, and Capital Markets, will hold a must-see hearing on “Examining Private Market Exemptions as a Barrier to IPOs and Retail Investment.”  The Subcommittee is Chaired by Representative Carolyn Maloney. The Hearing incorporates multiple pending… Read More

Observations and Thoughts on the SEC’s Harmonization Concept Release

The securities regulatory regime in the United States is one based on the principle of disclosure, disclosure, and more disclosure; only those who can fend for themselves may invest without the benefits of statutorily prescribed disclosure. Therefore in the United States, there are only three… Read More

The US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Launches American Consumer Financial Innovation Network with State Regulators

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has announced a new initiative, the American Consumer Financial Innovation Network (ACFIN). The network is being created in partnership with state regulators and is designed to “facilitate financial innovation.” The CFPB states that initial members of ACFIN are the… Read More

Australia Report Shows How Banks Gouge, and Fintechs May Provide a Better Service, When it Comes to International Money Transfers

Australia is a smaller market by population but it is also a country that has embraced Fintech innovation. The emerging Fintech sector is assisted by a supportive government that has recognized its important role in fostering change that is beneficial to both consumers and business…. Read More

Fintech: Monetary Authority of Singapore Announces Regulatory Evaluation Program for the Payments Industry

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), the nation’s central bank, revealed that a new regulatory evaluation program is being developed to connect payment companies with legal service providers.  The program is part of a joint initiative launched by the MAS and the Singapore Academy of… Read More

Fintech is Driving Financial Inclusion

While much of the discourse revolving around innovation in financial services tackles specific sectors of the industry, such as lending, payments,  or online capital formation, the reality is that the biggest beneficiaries of Fintech may be the underbanked: the millions of people who have never… Read More

China: WeiyangX Fintech Review

China to Include P2P lending Industry into Credit System On September 2nd, the special working group for Fintech risk ratification and special working group for online lending administration jointly issued a notice, requiring all p2p lending institutions to be connected to the credit system established… Read More

New York Regtech Trade Mission: UK Department of International Trade Seeks Applicants to Participate in Regtech Focused Trip to US

The Department for International Trade (DIT) is seeking applications from the UK Regtech sector to participate in a Regtech Mission to New York. The DIT Mission is scheduled to take place from November 13 to 15th. DIT states that the Mission offers UK firms the… Read More

Interim Overstock CEO: tZERO Investigation by SEC “Almost Dormant”

An investigation by the SEC into a $134 million STO (security token offering) by Overstock (NASDAQ:OSTK) subsidiary tZERO seems “almost dormant,” Overstock interim CEO Jonathan Johnson told Fox Business this week. Johnson, stepped to helm Overstock, after long-time CEO and founder Patrick Byrne resigned August 22nd…. Read More

Thai Police Arrest “Cryptocurrency Wizard” Involved in Alleged $16 Million USD Crypto Fraud

More crypto action in Thailand this week as a man alleged to have worked as part of a Thai-Vietnamese gang that defrauded investors “in at least 10 Asian nations” via cryptocurrencies was arrested while recreating on a Bangkok soccer field Wednesday, The Bangkok Post reports…. Read More

New York State Department of Financial Services Superintendent Authorizes Paxos to Offer First Gold-Backed Virtual Currency in New York State

Superintendent of Financial Services Linda A. Lacewell announced on Thursday the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) has authorized Paxos Trust Company LLC to offer a gold-backed virtual currency. Lacewell reported that this is the first gold-backed virtual currency that is being offered… Read More

Strategic Consultant to US Senate: Crypto Miners and Issuers Should Abide by Bank Secrecy Act

The vice-president of the Financial Integrity Network, a strategic advisory firm to governments, global and regional banks and other institutions, has advised that all entities in the cryptocurrency production and distribution chain be brought under the auspices of the Bank Secrecy Act. According to Search… Read More

Lagarde Calls for Careful Regulating of Fintech, Crypto Sectors in ECB Campaign Speech

Outgoing IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde has called for the careful regulation of cryptocurrencies and the Fintech sector in a campaign speech she made before the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee of the European Parliament this week. Lagarde has been nominated to lead the European Central Bank… Read More

Conference of State Bank Supervisors Denied Again as DC Federal Court Shoots Down Attempt to Challenge OCC Fintech Charter

The Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS) has been rebuffed once again in its attempt to stymie looming Fintech banking competition. In a decision issued yesterday (September 3, 2019), the US District Court for the District of Columbia ordered that the CSBS pursuit of a… Read More

Dutch Central Bank Tells Crypto Firms to “Prepare for Supervision”

The Netherlands’ central bank has advised the country’s cryptocurrency sector to prepare to come under the regulator’s “integrity supervision” scheme by the 10th of January 2020. De Nederlandsche Bank says it is, “required to start supervising these businesses under the fifth European anti-money laundering directive (AMLD5)… Read More

CCAF Benchmarking Report: Global Regtech Tops $5 Billion in 2018 as Startup Activity Surges

The Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) has published its first “Global RegTech Benchmarking Report,” sponsored by EY Japan. According to the research, the Regtech industry has topped $5 billion in revenue in 2018 following a five-year surge in startup activity. CCAF reports that, while… Read More

Man Facing 20 Years in Connecticut for Alleged Theft of Mobile Phone and Cryptocurrency

A man named Darren Carter has been charged with Identity Theft 1st Degree in Connecticut for stealing a man’s phone in California and then using it to access that victim’s Coinbase cryptocurrency account to steal $15,472.31 USD. The Westport Police Department alleges that Carter stole… Read More

European Central Bank Official Calls Facebook’s Libra “Treacherous” and “Cartel-Like”

Private money on the scale of Facebook’s Libra is dangerous and likely contrary to the public good, Yves Mersch, Executive Board Member of the ECB told the ESCB Legal Conference in Frankfurt September 2nd: “In the field of money, history bears testament to two basic truths…. Read More

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