Politics, Legal & Regulation

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

June 5, 2025 @ 10:14 am By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission is poised to revise its treatment of foreign private issuers. While recognizing that they do not want to deter foreign issuers from US markets, there seems to be an agreement that the playing field needs to be leveled, as disparities… Read More

June 4, 2025 @ 5:08 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

DailyPay, a worktech company and the provider of On-Demand Pay, marks a significant legislative milestone with the enactment of House Bill 1294, which regulates On-Demand Pay (also known “as earned wage access) services in Maryland.” On-Demand Pay is a critical financial tool that empowers hardworking… Read More

June 4, 2025 @ 4:05 pm By JD Alois  |  

Prediction markets have emerged as a novel asset class where investors may “bet” on the outcome of events. While somewhat similar to traditional securities markets, these platforms are not regulated by securities regulators but fall under the purview of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC),… Read More

June 4, 2025 @ 3:25 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is asking for feedback on the treatment of Foreign Private Issuers. The public comment period will remain open for 90 days following publication of the concept release in the Federal Register. In brief, issuers who are based outside the… Read More

June 4, 2025 @ 8:15 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The cryptocurrency ecosystem has marked a pivotal moment as FTX, once a major crypto exchange, began its creditor distribution process. Sunil, an advocate for FTX creditors known on X as @sunil_trades, shared that around $5 billion is being returned to creditors. Large claims over $50,000… Read More

June 4, 2025 @ 7:01 am By Omar Faridi  |  

In a key decision on May 22, 2025, the Delaware Court of Chancery delivered a significant blow to the board of directors of Ionic Digital Inc., ruling that they breached their fiduciary duties to shareholders. The ruling, which has been hailed as a victory for… Read More

June 3, 2025 @ 10:11 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Recently, a significant milestone unfolded in the digital asset space as four industry groups—the Blockchain Association, Crypto Council for Innovation, DeFi Education Fund, and The Digital Chamber—issued a joint statement endorsing the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins Act of 2025, commonly known… Read More

June 3, 2025 @ 10:08 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The European Central Bank (ECB) has made significant strides in 2025 to bolster financial stability, advance the digital euro initiative, and address consumer expectations in the Eurozone. Recent updates highlight the ECB’s proactive measures to navigate a complex geopolitical landscape, foster private-sector collaboration for a… Read More

June 3, 2025 @ 5:05 pm By JD Alois  |  

The French Autorité des Marchés Financiers has published its annual report for 2024. As part of the update, the AMF Chair, Marie-Anne Barbat-Layani, outlined three major challenges for the agency. Beyond investor protection and the choppy geopolitical environment, Barbat-Layani focused on the need to vigorously… Read More