Politics, Legal & Regulation

March 24, 2023 @ 8:09 am By Omar Faridi  |  

  After trying to evade law enforcement for around six months, Terraform Labs CEO Do Kwon has now been taken into police custody in Montenegro. Kwon and Terraform Labs were responsible for TerraUSD, an aspiring algorithmic stablecoin, and sister crypto Luna, which collapsed last year… Read More

March 23, 2023 @ 7:13 pm By JD Alois  |  

As part of the deal to reanimate Credit Suisse, Swiss regulators cut a deal with UBS that included writing down the AT1 bonds to zero. Holders are not pleased. In light of the “numerous inquiries,” Swiss regulator FINMA has issued a statement on wiping out… Read More

March 23, 2023 @ 10:14 am By JD Alois  |  

Yesterday, the only publicly traded digital asset exchange, Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN), announced that it has received a Wells Notice from the SEC indicating there is a high possibility of an enforcement action. Coinbase criticized the move by the SEC, stating that it has attempted to engage with the… Read More

March 23, 2023 @ 10:03 am By JD Alois  |  

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee has increased its Bank Rate by 25 basis points, echoing the move by the US Federal Reserve, which did the same yesterday. Unlike the Fed, the vote was not unanimous in a 7-2 majority decision. The MPC said… Read More

March 22, 2023 @ 5:51 pm By JD Alois  |  

Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) has posted a statement indicating it has received a Wells Notice from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A Wells Notice is effectively a heads-up that the SEC is conducting an investigation for any potential infractions. While not a definitive indicator of a looming… Read More

March 22, 2023 @ 4:52 pm By JD Alois  |  

Eight Influencers Charged for Promotion of Digital Assets: Lindsey Lohan, Jake Paul, DeAndrew Cortez Way (Soulja Boy), Austin Mahone, Michele Mason (Kendra Lust), Miles Parks McCollum (Lil Yachty) Shaffer Smith (Ne-Yo), Aliaune Thiam (Akon).   The Securities and Exchange Commission has posted another digital asset… Read More

March 22, 2023 @ 4:19 pm By JD Alois  |  

As widely predicted by market followers, the US Federal Reserve increased benchmark rates by 25 basis points. Not too long ago, prognosticators were vacillating on whether the March meeting would increase rates by 50 bps or 25 bps. The recent bank crises caused the financial… Read More

March 22, 2023 @ 9:26 am By JD Alois  |  

As the US stumbles in crafting bespoke regulation for digital assets, Circle, the issuer of dollar-based stablecoin USDC, has applied to be regulated in France. France crafted digital asset regulation some years ago in an attempt to provide clarity for firms looking to offer crypto…. Read More

March 21, 2023 @ 10:05 pm By JD Alois  |  

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, widely expected to enter the presidential race in the coming months, is aiming to put a stop to central bank digital currency (CBDC) being utilized in his state, and all of the United States for that matter. “Central Bank Digital Currency… Read More

March 21, 2023 @ 9:13 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

There’s new regulation requiring individuals using digital payment apps to report their earnings – over $600 – directly to the IRS. This change significantly impacts business owners, side hustlers, and gig economy workers. These individuals must file Form 1099-K, creating an extra step during tax… Read More

March 21, 2023 @ 2:32 pm By JD Alois  |  

The House Financial Services Committee has scheduled its “first” hearing on the failure of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank. The hearing will be held at 10:00 AM ET on March 29, 2023, and is said to be the first of multiple hearings the Committee… Read More

March 21, 2023 @ 11:03 am By JD Alois  |  

US Secretary of the Treasury, Janet Yellen, addressed the American Bankers Association today, tackling the topic on everyone’s mind. The precarious financial services industry and the possibility for contagion. The collapse of multiple banks in the US has now spread to Europe. This past week,… Read More

March 20, 2023 @ 10:07 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) recently said that Singapore’s banking system “remains sound and resilient amid heightened volatility in global financial markets following the recent closure of banks in the US.” The Singapore Dollar money market and foreign exchange market “continue to function well.”… Read More

March 20, 2023 @ 8:17 pm By JD Alois  |  

President Joe Biden executed the first veto of his administration, axing a bill that garnered bipartisan support in making its way to the President’s desk. Biden tweeted out his action while blaming “Maga House Republicans.” Peter Schiff, a well-known investor and advisor summarized the President’s… Read More

March 20, 2023 @ 7:03 pm By JD Alois  |  

The House Financial Services Committee is demanding answers on how regulators failed in their oversight of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank. Chair of the Committee, Patrick McHenry, has been joined by the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Tim Scott, are requesting… Read More

March 20, 2023 @ 6:50 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will hold the 42nd Annual Small Business Forum as a virtual event. The event is hosted by the Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation. During the tenure of Jay Clayton, the Forum was held at various… Read More

March 20, 2023 @ 4:00 pm By JD Alois  |  

As part of the deal to save Credit Suisse from a potential collapse, the agreement that was cut for UBS to take over the bank included a write-down to zero of AT1 (Tier 1) bonds. This means holders will receive nothing for the securities. Following… Read More

March 19, 2023 @ 4:12 pm By JD Alois  |  

Several government entities have commented on UBS’s recently announced takeover of Credit Suisse. The acquisition was supported by the Swiss government. Credit Suisse faced a crisis of confidence this past week, which could have spilled over into this coming week. Swiss government officials worked to… Read More

March 19, 2023 @ 3:13 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA has approved the acquisition of Credit Suisse by competitor UBS. The move was announced earlier today as Credit Suisse had endured a difficult week after rumblings of financial challenges at the bank. On March 15, FINMA issued a… Read More

March 17, 2023 @ 9:11 am By JD Alois  |  

Representative Patrick McHenry, Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, has issued a statement on the move by big banks to assist First Republic Bank. Yesterday, the largest banks in the US as well as two investment banks, announced $30 billion in deposits for First… Read More