Politics, Legal & Regulation

Policy and regulations impacting innovations in Finance.

ICAN Sues SEC to Challenge Discriminatory Accredited Investor Rule

The Investor Choice Advocates Network (ICAN) has filed a lawsuit to challenge the current definition of an Accredited Investor. Under current rules, only affluent investors may participate in certain private securities offerings. Typically, the most successful private firms leverage Regulation D (Reg D) to raise… Read More

Three “Finfluencers” Charged by FCA for Illegal Invitation to Invest in High Risk Products

The UK is cracking down on individuals, known as Finfluencers, promoting certain investment opportunities. According to a release by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), three individuals have been charged with one count of communicating an invitation to engage in investment activity which transgresses the Financial… Read More

South Korea to Issue New Licenses for Fractional Investment Trading Platforms

South Korea’s Financial Services Commission (FSC) said it plans to issue new licenses for platforms that trade fractional investment securities, establishing a legal framework for services that until now operated under a regulatory sandbox. Fractional investment services allow multiple investors to buy shares in ownership… Read More

Capital Ideas: Karen Kerrigan on Trump’s Executive Order on 401(k) Alternative Assets: A Game-Changer for Small Businesses and Innovation

On August 7, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that could fundamentally reshape how retirement savings intersect with entrepreneurship and economic growth. The order aims to democratize access to alternative assets within 401(k) plans, opening the door for everyday Americans to invest retirement dollars… Read More

SEC Crypto Task Force to Review Privacy, Financial Surveillance

Privacy concerns are a huge issue in the US and recent years financial regulators have ramped up their monitoring of individual activity. Banks and other financial firms must flag suspicious activity, notify the feds of relatively small transfers and constantly be on guard for bad… Read More

SEC, CFTC to Hold Joint Roundtable on Crypto Regulation Sept. 29

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodity Futures Trading Commission will hold a joint public roundtable on Sept. 29 to address regulatory clarity for cryptocurrency markets, focusing on decentralized finance protocols, perpetual contracts and other digital asset innovations. The four-hour session at SEC headquarters… Read More

FINRA Targets Former Synapse Execs in Misconduct Probe Following Fintech’s Collapse

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has launched an investigation into allegations of misconduct by former executives of Synapse Financial Technologies Inc., a now-defunct fintech company whose collapse earlier this year left thousands of customers unable to access their savings. The regulatory scrutiny centers on… Read More

Nasdaq to Tighten Oversight on Firms Stockpiling Cryptocurrency

Nasdaq (Nasdaq:NDAQ) is reportedly looking to increase its oversight of companies that seek to bolster their stock prices by raising capital to amass cryptocurrency reserves. This move reflects growing concerns about the speculative nature of such strategies, as some Nasdaq-listed firms increasingly pivot toward digital… Read More

FTC Cracks Down on E-Commerce Violations : Temu Faces Penalty, Gig Workers Receive Refunds

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has recently taken decisive action against deceptive practices in the e-commerce and gig economy sectors, signaling a commitment to protecting consumers and ensuring fair business practices. Three significant cases highlight the agency’s efforts to address violations, ranging from inadequate seller… Read More

Seven Indicted in France Over Kidnapping of Swiss Man for Crypto Ransom

French prosecutors said seven people have been indicted and placed in preventive detention over the kidnapping of a young Swiss man whose captors demanded a ransom to be paid in cryptocurrency. The victim, in his 20s, was abducted under undisclosed circumstances on Aug. 28 and… Read More

SEC Announces a New Era of Rulemaking Supporting Innovation and Markets

After years of negligence and obtuse rulemaking, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced a “new day” as the agency refocuses its energy on its job of efficient markets and capital formation. During the Gensler tenure, the Commission sought to alter markets in way… Read More

Alchemy Pay Granted South Carolina Money Transmitter License

Alchemy Pay, a fiat-crypto payment gateway, has been granted a Money Transmitter License (MTL) in South Carolina. With the inclusion of South Carolina, Alchemy Pay now holds MTLs in  Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Wyoming, and Arizona. The Money Transmitter License, issued under the authority of the South Carolina Attorney General in accordance with the… Read More

SEC, CFTC Partner on Crypto Initiative Regarding Trading Spot Crypto

The SEC’s Division of Trading and Markets and the CFTC’s Division of Market Oversight and Division of Clearing and Risk have issued a statement on the joint initiative regarding spot crypto trading. The announcement is associated with the President’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets… Read More

SBE Council Welcomes House Committee Review of European Laws Harming US Firms

The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council) has issued a statement regarding the House Judiciary Committee hearing addressing European laws that harm US firms. The EU  and UK have enacted multiple laws that solely impact US firms – typically, US big tech. While crafted… Read More

US Court Ruling on Tariffs Creates Global Market Uncertainty and Challenges Fintech and Crypto Sectors : Analysis

In a key decision on August 29, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit declared most of the United States’ recently imposed tariffs illegal, affirming a May ruling by the U.S. Court of International Trade. The lower court had determined that the… Read More

QCP Trading Issued Major Payment Institution License by Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)

QCP Trading Pte. Ltd., the over-the-counter (OTC) spot digital payment tokens (DPT) trading arm of QCP Group, is pleased to announce that it has been granted a Major Payment Institution (MPI) License by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). The development enables QCP Trading to… Read More

Pete Balint of SolomonEdwards Comments on How Fintechs Can Establish Proper Crypto Governance Frameworks

Pete Balint, Partner at Financial Crimes Advisory at SolomonEdwards, has recently shared key insights with CI. As now widely reported, the 2025 GENIUS Act is reshaping how digital assets are regulated in the U.S. With new AML requirements, stablecoin issuers are now classified as financial institutions…. Read More

London Stock Exchange’s Private Securities Market Obtains PISCES Approval Notice by FCA

The London Stock Exchange has become an operator that has been granted a PISCES Approval Notice (PAN) by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for its Private Securities Market. The new secondary market will, for the first time, “provide private companies with access to intermittent liquidity… Read More

CFTC Announces Foreign Board of Trade (FBOT) Registration Framework to Provide Regulatory Clarity for Non- US Exchanges

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Division of Market Oversight has recently issued an advisory regarding the foreign board of trade (FBOT) registration framework for non-U.S. “entities legally organized and operating outside the United States that seek to provide persons physically located in the United States… Read More

FATF Launches Money Laundering National Risk Assessment Resource to Address Financial Crime

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) unveiled a Money Laundering National Risk Assessment (NRA) resource, designed to enable countries to strengthen their risk-based strategies in combating financial crime. This resource marks a step forward in the global effort to safeguard financial systems from money laundering,… Read More

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