Politics, Legal & Regulation

September 3, 2018 @ 6:23 am By Aubrey Hansen  |  

One of the most significant impediments to mass cryptocurrency adoption is the lack of trust and security in the industry. Users have witnessed or experienced themselves a plethora of malicious attacks and illegitimate business practices on trading exchanges which leave them less prone to being… Read More

September 1, 2018 @ 1:28 pm By Cali Haan  |  

A Russian lawmaker, Vladimir Gutenev, told Russian news agency TASS  last week that Russia should consider ‘an asymmetric response’ to US pressure and sanctions, including deployment of nuclear weapons to Syria, suspension of missile non-proliferation treaties and development of a gold-backed cryptocurrency to help Russian… Read More

August 31, 2018 @ 10:26 am By JD Alois  |  

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) published its annual report this week and buried within the massive tome are many indications as to the banks perspective on Fintech. One item of note is the fact the RBI is currently studying the possibility of issuing a… Read More

August 31, 2018 @ 9:36 am By JD Alois  |  

The current definition of an accredited investor is profoundly flawed and a travesty of rule making. Everyone knows it. As it stands today, an accredited investors must earn at least $200,000 (jointly $300,000) or have a net worth of $1 million beyond a primary residence…. Read More

August 30, 2018 @ 7:44 pm By Cali Haan  |  

For the past two weeks, the Brazilian government has been sending questionnaires to the country’s crypto exchanges soliciting information about their operations, Portal do Bitcoin reports. The requests for info have been being sent through the exchanges’ online contact forms, and the notices are signed by a… Read More

August 30, 2018 @ 6:00 pm By JD Alois  |  

Here is an interesting thread I was following recently on Twitter. As we all know, Ethereum is planning to change from Proof of Work (PoW) to Proof of Stake (PoS). There is no need to dive into the pros/cons .. shoulda coulda debate now, but… Read More

August 30, 2018 @ 4:39 pm By Cali Haan  |  

The agency responsible for combatting money laundering and terrorist financing in Russia is developing a software tool to help it monitor crypto transactions, particularly those done in Bitcoin, Russian BBC reports. Publicly available contract information shows that a crypto-tracking analytical software package has been ordered by the Federal… Read More

August 30, 2018 @ 2:37 pm By Cali Haan  |  

The Polish government has published proposed legislation seeking to define how cryptocurrencies will be taxed in the country, Kryptowaluty reports. The bill reportedly defines cryptocurrencies as, “a digital mapping of value,” and includes rules governing both the use of cryptos in retail purchases and their use as… Read More

August 30, 2018 @ 12:52 pm By Cali Haan  |  

An Iranian politician has once again taken to state-owned media to promise the release of a government cryptocurrency to help Iran sidestep sanctions and participate freely in the global economy, Press TV reports via ISNA. The latest comments were made by the Deputy for Management and… Read More

August 29, 2018 @ 7:45 pm By Cali Haan  |  

Following a ban on crypto promotional events in Beijing’s central business district last week, the Financial Development Bureau of Guangzhou (FDBG) has required that, “all relevant units in the district (of Guangzhou) may not undertake any form of virtual currency promotion and publicity activities,” National Business Daily… Read More

August 29, 2018 @ 5:43 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has two new Commissioners following the Senate confirmation of Dawn Stump and Dan Berkovitz. The addition of Stump and Berkovitz means the Commission is fully staffed joining Brian Quintenz, Rostin Behnam and Chair J. Christopher Giancarlo. Until recently, Berkovitz was a… Read More

August 29, 2018 @ 5:10 pm By JD Alois  |  

Speaking at the 36|86 Entrepreneurship Festival in Nashville today, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Jay Clayton addressed the all important topic of entrepreneurship and access to capital. During his tenure at the SEC, Clayton has consistently expressed his intent to improve the ability of smaller… Read More

August 29, 2018 @ 1:56 pm By JD Alois  |  

As the entire world knows, the UK and continental Europe are in the midst of a nasty divorce. This pending separation has engendered massive, ongoing negotiations between London and Brussels. But what happens if there is a “no-deal Brexit?” And how would this impact financial… Read More

August 29, 2018 @ 12:32 pm By Cali Haan  |  

The Venezuelan state’s push to legitimate its new El Petro cryptocurrency now involves an order to the region’s banks that they must adopt El Petro as a unit of account. According to France 24, a resolution from the Venezuelan Sudeban banking regulator now requires, “Public and… Read More

August 29, 2018 @ 10:30 am By Cali Haan  |  

Three companies ordered by the Colorado Securities Commissioner Gerald Rome to justify their ICOs (initial coin offerings) in a live hearing before commissioners August 24th failed to appear, according to notice by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies. Expectations are there likely won’t be another hearing…. Read More

August 28, 2018 @ 9:15 pm By JD Alois  |  

Last week, the Virtual Commodity Association (VCA) officially launched and quickly scheduled a meeting for September. The inaugural members included several well-known names in the virtual currency sector. Bittrex, Bitstamp, bitFlyer USA and Gemini Trust Company were announced as founding members. At the same time, Maria… Read More

August 28, 2018 @ 7:31 am By JD Alois  |  

The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) has launched a consultation pertaining to Fintech. Switzerland has pursued innovations in finance as beneficial to their banking centric economy. The alpine nation has become prominent in the crypto or initial coin offering sector as many early stage… Read More

August 27, 2018 @ 8:13 pm By Samuel Guzik  |  

President Trump:  It’s High Time for a few More Tweets to SEC Chairman Jay Clayton Any good litigator can tell you that the difference between success and failure is often the ability to ask the right questions – at the right times – and asking… Read More

August 27, 2018 @ 4:53 pm By Cali Haan  |  

Chinese search giant Baidu will no longer allow discussions of crypto on its popular forum site, Baidu Tieba, China Times reports. The decision is the latest in a spate of recent crackdowns being waged against crypto-industries in China, actions seeking to give teeth to a… Read More

August 26, 2018 @ 6:00 pm By Steven McClurg  |  

The SEC Rejects Bitcoin ETF Proposals. The SEC has rejected nine more Bitcoin ETF proposals, one of them from a fairly well-established ETF distributor, ProShares.  The ProShares filing was due for comments on Thursday, but the SEC promptly responded a day early, as well as… Read More