Politics, Legal & Regulation

July 9, 2025 @ 5:53 am By Omar Faridi  |  

We recently caught up with decentralized finance and blockchain professional, Tory Green, co-founder of io.net, who shared key insights about the GENIUS Act. While the Senate’s passage of the bill was historic, momentum is now at risk. House lawmakers are considering whether to merge the… Read More

July 8, 2025 @ 8:53 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Pakistan’s cabinet has cleared the creation of the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA), setting the stage for a formal licensing and supervisory regime for digital-asset businesses in a country that already ranks among the world’s busiest crypto markets. A cabinet communiqué said PVARA will… Read More

July 8, 2025 @ 8:02 am By Michael Wong  |  

The European Union has authorized 53 crypto-related firms to operate under its landmark Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, six months after the framework came into full effect. The approvals mark a major milestone in the bloc’s effort to establish a single, harmonized rulebook for digital… Read More

July 8, 2025 @ 6:23 am By JD Alois  |  

Monzo, a top UK-based digital bank, has been hit with a penalty of £21,091,300 for “inadequate anti-financial crime systems and controls.” In a public statement the UK Financial Conduct Authority said the infratctions took place between October 2018 and August 2020. The FCA stated that… Read More

July 7, 2025 @ 9:08 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Sweden’s central bank, Sveriges Riksbank, has introduced significant initiatives to strengthen its financial systems and enhance monetary policy communication. These updates reflect the Riksbank’s commitment to resilience, transparency, and adaptability in a rapidly evolving global economic ecosystem. This month, the Riksbank proposed new regulations requiring… Read More

July 6, 2025 @ 1:40 am By Michael Wong  |  

Sweden has ordered six government agencies, including the national police, tax authority (Skatteverket), and enforcement agency (Kronofogden), to ramp up efforts to seize illicit assets such as cryptocurrency, luxury items, and real estate held in corporate structures, as part of a broad crackdown on unexplained… Read More

July 5, 2025 @ 10:44 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Singapore’s central bank has imposed S$27.45 million ($20.3 million) in fines on nine financial institutions after concluding a sweeping investigation into anti-money laundering (AML) lapses tied to a major money laundering case uncovered in August 2023. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said it had… Read More

July 5, 2025 @ 9:33 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The United Kingdom is taking steps to bolster its fintech sector by reducing bureaucratic hurdles, aiming to cement its position as a global leader in financial innovation. The newly established Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO) is collaborating with the Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum (DRCF) to simplify… Read More

July 5, 2025 @ 8:18 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the international financial center of the UAE’s capital, continues to solidify its position as a hub for innovation, transparency, and accessibility in financial and legal services. Two recent developments underscore ADGM’s commitment to fostering an inclusive and progressive ecosystem: the… Read More

July 5, 2025 @ 11:30 am By Michael Wong  |  

The U.S. House of Representatives will designate the week of July 14 as “Crypto Week” to advance a trio of landmark digital asset bills aimed at cementing the country’s position as a global leader in cryptocurrency innovation, Republican leaders announced. The House is set to… Read More

July 4, 2025 @ 7:14 am By Michael Wong  |  

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has vetoed a proposed law that would have created a state-managed reserve fund for digital assets seized through criminal forfeiture, citing concerns it could undermine cooperation with local law enforcement. House Bill 2324, which narrowly passed the state legislature with a… Read More

July 4, 2025 @ 12:51 am By Michael Wong  |  

Singapore’s central bank will strengthen liquidity risk management rules and overhaul its data collection regime for fund managers, as it seeks to bolster resilience in the country’s asset management sector amid heightened global economic uncertainty. In a keynote speech at the Investment Management Association of… Read More

July 3, 2025 @ 1:24 am By Michael Wong  |  

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has proposed new measures to improve investor disclosures and simplify regulatory requirements for complex financial products, in a move aimed at balancing self-directed investing with protections for vulnerable consumers. The consultation paper, published on July 1, outlines enhancements to… Read More

July 2, 2025 @ 10:08 am By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Corporate Finance has posted its opinion on exchange-traded products based on crypto assets. Crypto ETFs have emerged as a regulated path for retail investors to participate in the digital asset sector. Starting with Bitcoin ETFs, today these exchange-traded products are… Read More

July 2, 2025 @ 6:37 am By JD Alois  |  

The CLARITY Act, or the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025 (HR 3633), is expected to move to a House floor vote as soon as next week. Sponsored by Representative French Hill, the Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, the legislation aims to… Read More

July 1, 2025 @ 1:04 pm By JD Alois  |  

The One Big Beautiful Bill (HR 1) , the Trump Administration’s tax and spend legislation, has squeaked by the Senate in a vote of 51 to 50. Three Republicans voted no, compelling Vice President JD Vance to cast the tie-breaking vote. All Democrats voted against… Read More

July 1, 2025 @ 10:25 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Banco Central do Brasil (BCB), Brazil’s central bank, has recently announced a series of significant updates that confirm its commitment to fostering financial stability, transparency, and innovation in the country’s financial system. These updates cover new regulations for credit fintechs, the issuance of digital… Read More

July 1, 2025 @ 10:11 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) reported the key issues facing the federal banking system in its Semiannual Risk Perspective for Spring 2025. The OCC reported that the strength of “the federal banking system remains sound.” Consumer sentiment, geopolitical risk, sustained higher interest… Read More

July 1, 2025 @ 2:46 am By Michael Wong  |  

Malaysia’s Securities Commission (SC) has proposed a set of regulatory enhancements aimed at strengthening the country’s digital asset exchange (DAX) framework, seeking to accelerate token listings and bolster investor protection measures. According to a consultation paper published on Monday, the proposed changes include allowing certain… Read More

July 1, 2025 @ 2:24 am By Omar Faridi  |  

In a fast-evolving global economic landscape, Sweden’s central bank, Sveriges Riksbank, has taken steps to adapt its strategies to ensure economic stability and effective monetary policy. Recent developments highlight the Riksbank’s proactive approach: a speech by First Deputy Governor Anna Breman on innovative monetary policy… Read More