Politics, Legal & Regulation

September 9, 2018 @ 9:30 pm By Steven McClurg and Katie Talati  |  

As the second largest world economy, China is important to examine when considering the crypto market. For most of us, the world revolves around markets, news, and innovation within the United States. However, many may be missing moves made by the Chinese government as it… Read More

September 9, 2018 @ 5:15 pm By JD Alois  |  

According to IBENA, a news agency in banking and economy area, which is affiliated with the Central Bank of Iran, the country has “[accepted] cryptocurrency mining as [an] industry.” Spokesperson Abolhassan Firouzabadi said the Iranian National Cyberspace Center will be leading the crypto initiative with the Central Bank, which… Read More

September 8, 2018 @ 12:12 pm By JD Alois  |  

Dan M. Berkovitz was sworn in as a Commissioner for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) this past week. Berkovitz was nominated by President Trump to serve as a Commissioner in April 201.  He was unanimously confirmed by the Senate on August 28, 2018. Berkovitz… Read More

September 8, 2018 @ 12:02 pm By JD Alois  |  

Anthony Zeoli, a partner at Freeborn & Peters LLP and long time CI Senior Contributor, has been named to the National Law Journal’s (NLJ’s) list of Cryptocurrency, Blockchain and Fintech Trailblazers. NLJ says the attorneys on their list are individuals who truly have “moved the needle” in… Read More

September 7, 2018 @ 8:53 pm By Cali Haan  |  

A judge in Vancouver, BC has ordered Jason Bradley Arnold, a former COO at the Shair.com marketing firm, to hand over his purportedly “dead” laptop as well as access to his digital currency wallets. Judge Ronald Skoolrod, however, refused to order “a Mareva injunction” in… Read More

September 7, 2018 @ 8:42 pm By Cali Haan  |  

China’s Supreme People’s Court has stated that it will recognize evidence submitted for cases tried in the country’s new online court system if that evidence has been provably and securely logged on some type of secure distributed database (blockchain or DLT). The Chinese legal system… Read More

September 6, 2018 @ 10:09 pm By Cali Haan  |  

The Financial Services and Markets Authority of Belgium (FSMA) says it has been continuing to receive complaints from investors swindled by fake cryptocurrency platforms and is therefore reiterating its warnings to consumers: “Cryptocurrencies are the hype of the year. Fraudsters are well aware of that,… Read More

September 6, 2018 @ 7:00 pm By Alexander Dunaev  |  

Wonga enjoyed a meteoric rise to fame. The company achieved £300 million of revenue in 2012, just six years after it was founded. Managing growth of this nature is enormously challenging and one doesn’t need to look far to spot similar issues at other warp… Read More

September 6, 2018 @ 2:30 pm By JD Alois  |  

Smart Valor has gained regulatory approval to operate as a financial intermediary in Switzerland from theSwiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA). According to multiple reports, Smart Valor will add an investment platform to its current services of operating as an incubator in Zug, Switzerland.  As… Read More

September 5, 2018 @ 10:04 pm By Cali Haan  |  

The Central Bank of Samoa (CBS) has issued a press release warning the public that cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin have no legal status as currencies in that country and should be considered, “very risky and speculative in nature.” According to the CBS: “People who invest in… Read More

September 5, 2018 @ 6:04 pm By JD Alois  |  

A recent draft of legislation by the European Parliament pertaining to European Crowdfunding Service Providers (ECSP) indicates an interest in rolling in initial coin offerings (ICOs) along with more traditional securities. While still just a draft, the document shows a clear interest in empowering online… Read More

September 5, 2018 @ 4:25 pm By JD Alois  |  

In a Senate vote today, the nomination of Elad L. Roisman as a member of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) was confirmed. Roisman received bipartisan support as 85 Senators voted to approve Roisman and only 14 Democrats voted against his nomination. Selected by President… Read More

September 5, 2018 @ 1:29 pm By JD Alois  |  

This past spring, Arizona became the first US state to create its very own bespoke Fintech Sandbox thus replicating a successful program initially launched in the UK. Since the UK regulatory authorities launched their Sandbox, many countries have done the same. Arizona House Bill  2343 allows… Read More

September 5, 2018 @ 12:12 pm By JD Alois  |  

Speaking at the very first OECD Blockchain Policy Forum taking place in Paris this week, OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria opened the conference calling blockchain (or distributed ledger technology) an “unprecedented technological revolution.” The Forum saw the participation of multiple public officials including the Premier… Read More

September 5, 2018 @ 11:32 am By Cali Haan  |  

Philippine SEC Commissioner Ephyro Luis Amatong has stated that regulators expect to release draft rules governing cryptocurrency exchanges by the end of this week, Manila Times reports. “We see the need to regulate them as trading platforms,” he said. As part of the rule-determination process,… Read More

September 5, 2018 @ 9:35 am By Cali Haan  |  

Officials from The   (BOL) have urged Laotians to  “think carefully” before investing in cryptocurrencies in Laos’s unregulated markets, Vientiane Times (VT) reports. BOT officials were reportedly moved to issue the notice after seeing local advertisements soliciting citizens to buy, sell and use cryptocurrencies.. An official who spoke… Read More

September 5, 2018 @ 7:49 am By JD Alois  |  

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has selected Sheldon Mills as its new director of Competition. Currently, Mills is Senior Director, mergers and state aid at the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The FCA explains that Mills will be a key figure in delivering on the entity’s… Read More

September 4, 2018 @ 7:54 am By JD Alois  |  

As in most parts of the world, smaller businesses drive the bulk of job growth in the UK. Over 99% of all UK businesses are SMEs employing 0-249 people and 96% (approximately 5.5 million) are micro-businesses employing up to 9 people, accounting for 33% of… Read More

September 4, 2018 @ 1:12 am By Cali Haan  |  

The Secretary of Thailand’s Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO), Witthaya Neetitham told attendees at a cryptocurrency and crime seminar this week, “We have discussed launching our own ‘AMLO Wallet’ to hold or confiscate digital currency from illegal sources,” Thai news agency The Nation reports. Thailand presently lacks… Read More

September 3, 2018 @ 9:32 pm By Cali Haan  |  

Police in Russia have seized all 22 Bitcoin ATMs belonging to the company BBFpro without warning, Russian media outlet RBC reports. Police are said to be acting on orders from the Prosecutor General’s Office, orders induced by a letter from the Central Bank of Russia… Read More