Politics, Legal & Regulation

February 13, 2019 @ 1:08 am By Cali Haan  |  

The Financial Stability Board‘s (FSB) Randal K. Quarles has touched on the need for a global regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies in a speech delivered in Hong Kong February 10th at the Bank for International Settlements Special Governors Meeting. Quarles is the Vice Chairman for Supervision on… Read More

February 12, 2019 @ 10:37 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Hong Kong Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, James Lau, is visiting Ireland to foster closer financial co-operation between the two countries. According to a release, Lau met with the Minister of State at the Department of Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform of… Read More

February 12, 2019 @ 10:40 am By Cali Haan  |  

The Ontario Securities Commission has stated that it is “looking in” problems at Quadriga CX after it was revealed last week that the Canadian cryptocurrency exchange has been put into credit protection following the December death of its founder, Gerald Cotten. Matters have been further… Read More

February 12, 2019 @ 1:38 am By JD Alois  |  

The Australia Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) has issued a statement regarding payment of a fine by Byte Power Group Limited. Byte Power, a company that is engaged in diverse businesses such as food and wine and power management, paid ASIC $33,000 after the regulator issued an… Read More

February 11, 2019 @ 10:36 pm By JD Alois  |  

The House Subcommittee on Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions, part of the Financial Services Committee, has scheduled a hearing for Wednesday, February 13th to discuss the Cannabis industry and access to financial services. The Hearing, entitled Challenges and Solutions: Access to Banking Services for Cannabis-Related… Read More

February 11, 2019 @ 9:00 pm By Michael B. Saryan and Charles S. Kaufman  |  

2017 saw a roaring ICO market, with billions of dollars raised by blockchain-based digital asset issuers selling “utility tokens” in initial coin offerings. As the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) began cracking down on token issuers for failing to follow securities laws, in late… Read More

February 11, 2019 @ 8:58 am By Karsten Wenzlaff  |  

The European Parliament Elections are looming in May – and so far, there is no progress in sight regarding the European Crowdfunding Service Provider Regime. It remains unclear whether the Romanian Finance Minister TEODOROVICI will make the conclusion of the negotiation process a priority. The… Read More

February 10, 2019 @ 1:25 pm By JD Alois  |  

In a presentation last Friday (along with a Q&A session), SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce discussed innovation, entrepreneurship, and the SEC’s impact on these important aspects of the economy. Delivered remotely to the University of Missouri School of Law, Peirce talked about balancing investor protection while fostering… Read More

February 9, 2019 @ 12:11 pm By Cali Haan  |  

Five men and one woman have been arrested in Klingenthal, Germany and are charged with stealing 220 000 Euros ($249 843 USD) worth of electricity to run a cryptocurrency mine consisting of 49 computers housed in an industrial facility, Freie Presse reports. Officials reportedly detected… Read More

February 9, 2019 @ 8:52 am By Cali Haan  |  

The latest enforcement report from the Texas State Securities Board states that the regulator issued cease and desist orders against 16 unlicensed crypto ventures soliciting investors in Texas in 2018. The most noteworthy of those ventures is Bitconnect, a massive global crypto Ponzi scheme that accumulated… Read More

February 8, 2019 @ 5:27 pm By Onki Kwan  |  

As I discussed in a previous article, in November 2018, the SEC staff  (the “Staff”) notified Kik Interactive Inc. and the Kin Foundation (collectively, “Kik”) that they would recommend that the SEC file an enforcement action against Kik for violating registration requirements of the securities… Read More

February 8, 2019 @ 1:43 pm By Cali Haan  |  

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC’s) Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) announced its 2019 examination priorities this week. The 14-page document discusses inspections of investment markets and briefly describes the office’s commitment to inspecting the integrity of digital currency/token investment products offered… Read More

February 8, 2019 @ 11:28 am By JD Alois  |  

Today, via a free live-streamed event, SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce will address an audience at the University of Missouri School of Law. Commissioner Peirce is well-known for her innovation/competition friendly stance when it comes to Fintech and related technology. The discussion entitled, “Protecting the Public While Fostering Innovation… Read More

February 8, 2019 @ 10:35 am By JD Alois  |  

Earlier this week, SEC Commissioner Robert Jackson spoke to Roll Call about the potential for Bitcoin or crypto-based Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). Jackson said he is of the opinion that someone will eventually satisfy the standards the SEC have established. But he also added the caveat… Read More

February 8, 2019 @ 8:23 am By JD Alois  |  

Securities Fraud 101 Yesterday, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Enforcement Division filed a complaint against online gaming firm Kizzang and founder Robert Alexander. The SEC alleges that from February 2013 to mid 2017, Alexander raised approximately $9 million from 53 different investors. Unfortunately for… Read More

February 7, 2019 @ 12:26 pm By JD Alois  |  

The House Financial Services Committee is one of the most powerful Congressional committees on the Hill. The Committee oversees not only the entire financial services industry but its policy portfolio also includes other overlapping responsibilities such as Housing, entrepreneurship and international financial organizations. Last election… Read More

February 6, 2019 @ 8:36 pm By JD Alois  |  

Is QuadrigaCX Safe? “QuadrigaCX has been developed by some of the foremost leaders in the crypto currency community, and employs some of the most stringent security protocols that currently exist. Furthermore, Bitcoins that are funded in QuadrigaCX are stored in cold storage, using some of… Read More

February 6, 2019 @ 7:00 pm By Cali Haan  |  

Like elsewhere, Indian officials have been contemplating how to properly regulate cryptocurrencies for some time. Now a report from Quartz India says Indian regulators are currently “obsessed” with how cryptocurrencies might destabilize standard currencies, specifically the rupee. Inflation and counterfeiting have been issues in India,… Read More

February 6, 2019 @ 2:52 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has proposed changes to the 2017 final rule governing “Payday, Vehicle Title, and Certain High-Cost Installment Loans.” In brief, the CFPB is proposing to “rescind the rule’s requirements that lenders make certain underwriting determinations before issuing payday, single-payment vehicle title,… Read More

February 6, 2019 @ 11:40 am By JD Alois  |  

The House Financial Services Committee, Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions, has scheduled a hearing for later next week to discuss the topic Cannabis and banking in a hearing entitled “Challenges and Solutions: Access to Banking Services for Cannabis-Related Businesses.” The Subcommittee is Chaired by New… Read More