Politics, Legal & Regulation

June 15, 2025 @ 4:32 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The recent rejection of an ethics provision in the CLARITY Act by the White House has ignited more controversy over the intersection of politics and cryptocurrency. This decision comes amid growing scrutiny of President Donald Trump’s financial ties to the crypto industry. 🚨 SCOOP: Lawmakers… Read More

June 15, 2025 @ 4:26 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In a significant development tied to the collapse of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal has reportedly reached a $1.8 million settlement to resolve claims against him for his role in promoting the platform. The settlement, finalized recently, marks a notable contrast to… Read More

June 14, 2025 @ 4:15 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has recently outlined a transformative agenda to bolster economic growth and enhance the UK’s standing as a leading financial center. Through a combination of regulatory reforms, innovative initiatives, and a rebalanced approach to risk, the FCA is working to create… Read More

June 13, 2025 @ 3:21 pm By JD Alois  |  

The CLARITY Act (HR 3633)is moving forward in the House. A hearing was held yesterday on the legislation that aims to create a regulatory ecosystem to enable digital asset innovation while protecting consumers. The legislation is extensive, and the House Financial Services Committee has created… Read More

June 13, 2025 @ 2:27 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) has conducted a mystery shopping visit campaign among institutions offering investment services to retail investors in France via mobile applications. It notes that client journeys are, for the most part, simple and quick, making it easier to “invest on… Read More

June 13, 2025 @ 10:45 am By JD Alois  |  

Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Paul Atkins is moving to establish leadership at the Commission to help him effectuate his policy goals. Today, the SEC announced several new leadership additions. This includes the Director of the Division of Investment Management and the… Read More

June 11, 2025 @ 10:17 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Congressman William Timmons, a Republican from South Carolina, has fired off a letter to newly appointed SEC Chair Paul Atkins, demanding documents that shed light on the agency’s inconsistent handling of Ethereum (ETH) under former Chair Gary Gensler. Sent on June 10, 2025, this move… Read More

June 11, 2025 @ 5:38 pm By JD Alois  |  

The GENIUS Act, stablecoin legislation, is poised to move towards a Senate floor vote following a Cloture Motion, which was approved 68 to 30 with two members not voting. Senator Bill Hagerty of Tennessee sponsored the legislation. A cloture motion is a procedure that ends… Read More

June 11, 2025 @ 2:27 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) says a US District Court in Massachusetts has ordered a default judgment against My Big Coin, My Big Coin Pay, and affiliated individuals John Roche and Mark Gillespie to pay a $25.7 million in penalties regarding allegations of digital asset… Read More

June 11, 2025 @ 9:41 am By JD Alois  |  

This week, the UK Financial Conduct Authority revealed a new Sandbox, the Supercharged Sandbox, in partnership with NVIDIA, in a move designed to fuel artificial intelligence (AI) growth. The UK has been a trailblazer in creating Fintech sandboxes as a way for innovators to experiment… Read More

June 11, 2025 @ 9:13 am By JD Alois  |  

The Payments Association has asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, to clarify the position on stablecoins. The Association notes that during her last comment addressing digital assets this past April, it did not include any updates on the stablecoin sector. In November 2024,… Read More

June 11, 2025 @ 8:16 am By JD Alois  |  

The House Financial Services Committee and House Agriculture Committee have moved comprehensive digital asset legislation forward following a markup hearing on the CLARITY Act. The bill passed by a bipartisan vote of 32 to 19 in the Financial Services Committee, and the Agriculture Committee passed… Read More

June 10, 2025 @ 10:33 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Financial Services Authority (FSRA) of ADGM announced the implementation of amendments to its regulatory framework for digital assets, with immediate effect. The implementation of these amendments follows “extensive industry engagement and feedback received on Consultation Paper No. 11 of 2024.” As stated in the… Read More

June 10, 2025 @ 4:45 pm By JD Alois  |  

The House Financial Services Committee held a meeting today to review the Clarity Act, comprehensive digital asset legislation that aims to clarify a regulatory approach while providing improved consumer protection. Committee Chairman French Hill issued a statement on the bill: “Last week, this Committee held a… Read More

June 10, 2025 @ 4:10 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In an international operation codenamed Operation RapTor, U.S. and Taiwanese law enforcement reportedly dismantled Incognito Market – a notorious darknet marketplace “that facilitated over $100 million in illegal drug sales.” Binance‘s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) played “a pivotal role in helping bring the platform’s operators… Read More

June 9, 2025 @ 3:00 am By JD Alois  |  

Artificial intelligence (AI) is all the rage today, with expectations that all sectors of industry will be transformed as software takes over both mundane and complex tasks. While there remains an element of concern as to how AI could develop, perhaps becoming “self-aware,” the reality… Read More

June 8, 2025 @ 4:55 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Hong Kong will implement its new Stablecoins Ordinance on August 1, formalizing the city’s regulatory framework for stablecoin-related activities and introducing a licensing regime aimed at strengthening oversight of the fast-growing digital asset sector. The ordinance, which was officially gazetted on May 30, is a… Read More

June 6, 2025 @ 4:06 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

CertiK noted that earlier this year, the U.S. Treasury Department made a groundbreaking decision to lift sanctions on Tornado Cash, an Ethereum-based cryptocurrency mixing service that had been a lightning rod for controversy since its sanctioning in 2022. Originally blacklisted by the Office of Foreign… Read More

June 6, 2025 @ 9:34 am By JD Alois  |  

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is erasing its ban on crypto-based Exchange Traded Notes (ETNs) as government policy aims to support digital asset innovation. ETNs are different from ETFs in the US. A breakdown of the assets is available here. In a release, David… Read More

June 5, 2025 @ 7:01 pm By JD Alois  |  

In general, celebrities and influencers are typically most beneficial when others are telling them what to do and how to act. Otherwise, they really should be ignored. This is even more important when it comes to policy and financial advice. Well, the UK Financial Conduct… Read More