Politics, Legal & Regulation

Policy and regulations impacting innovations in Finance.

Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) Warns of Generative AI Fueling Networks of Deceptive Deepfake Investment Sites

Australia’s corporate regulator has issued a strong alert about the growing misuse of generative artificial intelligence to construct elaborate webs of fake online content designed to lure people into fraudulent investment schemes. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) reports a sharp increase in scams… Read More

Regulation Crypto Assets: SEC Proposes New Rules for Crypto

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) delivered a bit of a surprise today by proposing new rules for crypto offerings. Regulation Crypto Assets would clarify how securities laws apply to certain digital asset offerings, preempt state authority, and support secondary trading. The Commission had scheduled… Read More

Crypto Exchange Binance Reportedly Shared User Information with Russian Officials After Market Exit

Binance reportedly provided personal and transaction details belonging to one of its clients to Russian law enforcement agencies. The information later formed part of the evidence in a terrorism-financing case linked to donations supporting Ukrainian causes. This occurred well after the exchange publicly declared it… Read More

SEC Files Fraud Charges Against Individual, Three Entities, for Selling Pre-IPO Shares to Retail Investors at Undisclosed Marked Up Prices

The Securities and Exchange Commission has charged an individual and three entities they controlled for selling pre-IPO shares at significant markups that were not disclosed. According to an SEC release, Andrew Spaventa and The Spaventa Group LLC, TSG Capital Advisors LLC, and TSG Alpha Partners… Read More

European Union Rules Enable Regulatory Authorities to Block Third-Country Crypto Exchanges

The full implementation of the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets framework has strengthened the ability of national regulators to restrict access by non-EU crypto trading platforms. Under the rules that reached complete application across the bloc, any entity offering crypto-asset services to customers based in… Read More

Austria’s Financial Market Authority (FMA) Issues First Binding MiCA Penalty Against Bitpanda

Austria’s Financial Market Authority (FMA) has imposed a €70,000 fine on Bitpanda GmbH for multiple breaches of the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA). Announced on August 14, 2026, this marks the first legally binding enforcement action under the EU-wide framework, signaling that MiCA has moved… Read More

Western Union Obtains New York Approval for Intermex Acquisition but Faces California Hurdle

Western Union (NYSE: WU) has secured a key regulatory green light from New York authorities for its planned purchase of International Money Express, commonly known as Intermex, yet the transaction now confronts fresh obstacles in California that could postpone its completion. The roughly $500 million… Read More

Blockchain Firm Fireblocks Enlists the Support of Former SEC Commissioner

Fireblocks, a blockchain infrastructure firm that safeguards digital assets, has enlisted the assistance of former US SEC Commissioner Elad Roisman. Over the years, Fireblocks has expanded its digital asset services beyond custody to include wallets, stablecoins, trading, tokenization, payments, and more. The company works with… Read More

Crowdfunding Professional Association (CfPA) Outlines Best Practices for Online Capital Formation

The Crowdfunding Professional Association (CfPA) has posted an annual report on best practices for online capital formation under Regulation CF (Reg CF), specifically addressing Form C-AR. Reg CF is a securities exemption that allows issuers to raise up to $5 million in an online solicitation… Read More

Galaxy Digital Pegs Probability of the CLARITY Act Becoming Law at Just 10%: Now much more about politics than policy

Galaxy Digital head of research Alex Thorn is taking a dim view of the CLARITY Act becoming law. He says there is only a 10% chance the bill will become law. As it stands today, the Senate is scheduled to vote on or around September… Read More

World Liberty Trust Company Secures Preliminary Conditional Approval for National Trust Bank Charter from OCC

On August 14, 2026, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued preliminary conditional approval for a national trust bank charter application submitted by World Liberty Trust Company, National Association. The entity is linked to World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency platform in which… Read More

Chainalysis Challenges US Government Sole-Source Award of Blockchain Analytics Contract to TRM Labs

Chainalysis Government Solutions has initiated legal action against the United States government. The company is contesting a sole-source procurement contract awarded by the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to competitor TRM Labs. The dispute centers on federal contracting practices for tools… Read More

PwC Flags Compliance Uncertainties in Nigeria’s New Virtual Asset Tax Rules

PwC Nigeria has said Nigeria’s new tax guidelines for virtual assets provide welcome clarity but leave practical and legal uncertainties that could complicate compliance for taxpayers and service providers. In a tax alert titled “Taxing the intangible: A critical analysis of the NRS guidelines on… Read More

Ireland Launches National AML Strategy with Key Focus on Crypto Assets

Ireland has unveiled its inaugural national strategy to combat money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing, with a particular emphasis on tightening controls within the cryptocurrency sector. Announced on 13 August 2026 by Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris, the National Anti-Money Laundering, Countering… Read More

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