Politics, Legal & Regulation

Policy and regulations impacting innovations in Finance.

SEC To Examine Shift Towards 24-Hour US Stock Trading

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will hold a public roundtable in September to discuss preparations for round-the-clock trading in American equities, as exchanges and brokers move to give global investors nearly continuous access to the world’s largest stock market. The Sept. 17 roundtable… Read More

FATF Publishes Report on Decentralized Finance (DeFi), One Prominent Insider Says Report Falls Short

Following a targeted report on VASPs and digital assets, the FATF [Financial Action Task Force], a global coordinator of financial standards and illicit activity, has filed a report on decentralized finance, or DeFi. FATF standards are followed, and at times adhered to, by approximately 200… Read More

NFL Presses CFTC for Stronger Safeguards on Sports Prediction Markets

The National Football League (NFL) has formally urged the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to significantly tighten its proposed framework governing sports-related event contracts, arguing that the current draft falls well short of safeguards needed to protect game integrity and market participants. In a letter dated… Read More

Decentralized Cloud Storage Network Provider, Storj Labs, Files for Bankruptcy

Storj Labs, the company operating a decentralized cloud storage network, has initiated a voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding as part of a planned financial restructuring. The filing took place on July 26, 2026, in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of West… Read More

US Federal Judge Blocks Minnesota Prediction Market Ban in Significant Win for Polymarket and Kalshi

A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction that blocks Minnesota from enforcing its newly enacted prohibition on prediction markets, delivering a major win to platforms including Polymarket and Kalshi just days before the measure was set to take effect.U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez of… Read More

Apex Fintech Must Rehire Engineer Fired for Criticizing DEI Efforts, NLRB Judge Rules

A National Labor Relations Board administrative law judge has determined that a financial technology firm unlawfully dismissed a data engineer after he posted public criticism of the company’s diversity, equity, and inclusion programs on social media. The ruling requires the company to restore the worker… Read More

US Treasury Broadens Sanctions on Babak Zanjani Network, Hitting Wider Commercial Support Structure for Zedcex

TRM Labs has noted that on July 24, 2026, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) significantly widened its Iran-related sanctions by designating additional individuals and companies linked to Iranian businessman Babak Zanjani and the associated Dot One commercial network…. Read More

SEC Proposes Registered Offering Reform, House Representatives Voice Support for the Change

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed Registered Offering Reform this past May. The rule change has been receiving comments with a deadline of today. The goal is to make it easier for public firms, especially smaller ones, to raise money through a registered offering. A… Read More

US Senators Draft Alternative Ethics Language for the CLARITY Act After Rejecting White House backed Proposal

Ongoing efforts sharply focused on advancing more comprehensive cryptocurrency / blockchain market structure legislation in the US Senate have encountered significant new resistance over ethics rules that are intended to limit financial conflicts involving senior government officials and digital assets. Lawmakers from both parties are… Read More

The CLARITY Act Myth vs. Fact: Senate Banking Committee Counters Detractors to Crypto Market Bill

The CLARITY Act, crypto market-infrastructure legislation, is approaching a floor vote in the US Senate. While the typical negotiations continue between proponents and those seeking to undermine digital asset innovation, Senate Republicans have been working to highlight the benefits of the bill. The most recent… Read More

European Union’s Latest Russia Sanctions Package Intensifies Scrutiny on Cryptocurrency Trading Platforms

Chainalysis has pointed out that on July 23, 2026, the European Union adopted its 21st package of sanctions against Russia, representing the most extensive set of designations in four years and encompassing 218 listings overall. The measures focus heavily on disrupting Russia’s financial systems that… Read More

Senate Majority Leader Signals Challenges for the CLARITY Act Ahead of August Recess

Efforts to advance major cryptocurrency legislation in the US Senate are encountering significant timing obstacles as lawmakers approach their summer break. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has indicated limited confidence in securing full passage of the Digital Asset Market CLARITY Act, commonly referred to as… Read More

Global Fintech Wise to Resubmit US National Trust Bank Charter Application Under GENIUS Act Regulatory Framework

Global payments fintech Wise (LON:WISE) has confirmed it intends to file a new application for a US national trust bank charter following the rejection of its earlier submission by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. On July 23, 2026, the OCC informed the… Read More

BitMEX and Co-Founder Arthur Hayes Hit with New Class-Action Lawsuit Over Alleged Secret Trading Desk

The Citizens Jury Wheel Legal Court Trial Justice Judge Law

BitMEX and its co-founders are once again facing legal challenges in the United States, this time through a newly filed class-action lawsuit that accuses the crypto derivatives platform of operating a secret internal trading operation against its own customers. The complaint was submitted on July… Read More

US Judge Rules Zelle Must Confront New York Attorney General’s Fraud Lawsuit

A New York state court has refused to throw out a major lawsuit targeting the company behind the popular Zelle payment service, allowing claims of widespread consumer fraud to move forward. The ruling represents a significant setback for Early Warning Services, the operator of Zelle,… Read More

Probability of the CLARITY Act Passing Before August Recess Declines

The probability that the CLARITY Act will be voted on in the US Senate before the August recess is in decline. Kalshi currently has a 40% chance of a vote on the bill taking place before August 8th. On July 20th, the probability was over… Read More

American Fintech Council Comments on Stablecoin AML/CFT Rules

The GENIUS Act became law in 2025, but rules crafted by various regulators were due on July 18, 2026. Today, the American Fintech Council distributed a statement on the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and its AML/CFT requirements. The OCC’s proposal is viewable… Read More

The CLARITY Act: Hurdles Remain on Revised Language Raising Questions as to Whether Democrats Truly Want to Support Financial Innovation

Updated language in the CLARITY Act was revealed yesterday in an attempt to sway Democrat members of the Senate to support the legislation. New language covering ethics was added to mollify members who claimed that participation by President Trump needed to be addressed. Unfortunately, it… Read More

EU Fines Google Under Digital Markets Act (CMA), His Tech Firm with €890 Million Penalty

The European Commission has penalized global tech firm Google [Alphabet] (NASDAQ:GOOG) under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) for the transgression of allegedly preferencing its own services on search over competitors. Google has been fined €890 million (over $1 billion). The EU claims that Google obfuscated… Read More

Russia’s State Duma Advances Bill to Regulate Crypto Transactions with Full Transition by 2027 

Russia’s lower house of parliament has introduced and advanced legislation aimed at establishing a comprehensive regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies. The move reflects the country’s evolving stance on digital currencies, balancing innovation, economic utility in international trade, and strict oversight to mitigate risks for ordinary citizens…. Read More

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