Politics, Legal & Regulation

April 30, 2025 @ 12:20 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Alex Mashinsky, the former CEO of crypto firm Celsius Network, has pleaded guilty to fraud charges, marking a pivotal moment in the ongoing legal scrutiny of the collapsed crypto lending platform. The U.S. Department of Justice is said to be seeking a 20-year prison sentence… Read More

April 30, 2025 @ 10:32 am By JD Alois  |  

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves has announced new crypto rules, where crypto exchanges, dealers, and others will be brought into the regulatory perimeter. Clear regulation is vital to allow digital asset technology to develop responsibly. In a public statement, Reeves noted that new rules will… Read More

April 30, 2025 @ 8:39 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The European Crypto Initiative (EUCI) has ushered in a transformative phase for cryptocurrency regulation with the release of The AML Handbook: A Guide for Crypto Activities. This comprehensive guide introduces 13 pivotal compliance pillars that crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) must adopt to align with the… Read More

April 29, 2025 @ 9:22 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Arizona’s legislature has passed legislation that could position the state as a pioneer in Bitcoin and cryptocurrency adoption within the United States. The bill, which authorizes the state treasurer and retirement system to allocate up to 10% of their available funds to Bitcoin and other… Read More

April 29, 2025 @ 4:36 pm By JD Alois  |  

While there has been chatter that some Republicans may look for tax increases, the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council) expects a pro-growth tax bill to be signed into law. Earlier this month, the SBE Council joined dozens of other pro-business groups telling Congress… Read More

April 29, 2025 @ 10:56 am By JD Alois  |  

Last week, FCA Chief Data, Information, and Intelligence Officer Jessica Rusu delivered a speech on the regulation of digital assets. Delivered at the CityUK International Conference 2025, Rusu said the regulator is supporting growth via innovation while reducing regulatory burdens. She noted that entrepreneurs are “looking for predictability,… Read More

April 28, 2025 @ 6:08 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Mike Cagney, Co-founder and CEO of Figure Markets, who also founded SoFi, has outlined transformative changes on the horizon for financial markets driven by upcoming stablecoin legislation and blockchain innovations. These developments, expected to take shape by the August recess, could redefine the banking system,… Read More

April 28, 2025 @ 6:05 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Just a few days prior to US President Donald Trump’s second inauguration, financial technology firm Ramp had released a detailed blog post titled “The Efficiency Formula,” outlining strategies to curb wasteful government spending. The 4,000-word blog post, authored by Ramp’s CEO and a key investor,… Read More

April 28, 2025 @ 7:19 am By Omar Faridi  |  

BitGo, the infrastructure provider of digital asset solutions, is pleased to announce that its Dubai subsidiary, BitGo Custody MENA FZE, has received a Virtual Assets Service Provider (VASP) operating license to provide Virtual Asset Custody Services and Staking, from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA)…. Read More

April 27, 2025 @ 9:37 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Nasdaq is calling on U.S. regulators to establish clearer rules for digital assets by defining them into four distinct categories, a move the exchange operator said would help determine the proper oversight responsibilities between federal agencies. In a 23-page letter sent to the Securities and… Read More

April 27, 2025 @ 5:50 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) announced plans to eliminate approximately 1,250 positions across most of its departments. This, according to an internal email that was reportedly sent to staff recently and obtained by American Banker. This significant reduction is part of the second phase… Read More

April 27, 2025 @ 5:36 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

On April 30, 2025, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will see the effective launch date for ProShares Trust‘s XRP-focused exchange-traded funds (ETFs), a development that signals a major step forward for XRP’s integration into mainstream financial markets. ProShares Trust, based in Bethesda, Maryland,… Read More

April 25, 2025 @ 6:04 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Federal Reserve Board has recently announced the withdrawal of guidance for banks related to their crypto-asset and dollar token activities and related “changes to its expectations for these activities.” These actions ensure the Board’s expectations remain “aligned with evolving risks and further support innovation… Read More

April 25, 2025 @ 4:17 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged Ramil Palafox with allegedly orchestrating a fraudulent scheme that raised approximately $198 million from investors worldwide and misappropriating over $57 million of investor funds. According to the SEC’s complaint, Palafox’s company, known as PGI Global, claimed to be “a crypto asset… Read More

April 24, 2025 @ 11:17 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Chainalysis has noted that on April 7, 2025, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a pivotal memorandum, now widely known as the “Blanche Memo,” marking a significant shift in the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) approach to digital asset enforcement. This directive signals the end… Read More

April 24, 2025 @ 4:26 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Central Bank of Ireland takes enforcement action against Waystone Fund Management (IE) Limited for breaches of the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Regulations. The Central Bank of Ireland has reportedly fined Waystone Fund Management (IE) Limited (WFM) the sum of €393,512 for allegedly breaching requirements… Read More

April 22, 2025 @ 12:33 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Recent Federal Election Commission (FEC) disclosures show that major cryptocurrency companies and their executives poured significant funds into US President Donald Trump’s $239 million inauguration fund after his 2024 election win. Released on April 20 by the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee, these filings underscore the crypto… Read More

April 22, 2025 @ 9:36 am By Omar Faridi  |  

On April 21, 2025, Paul Atkins was officially sworn in as the 34th Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), marking a pivotal moment for the agency and the cryptocurrency industry. Appointed by President Donald Trump and confirmed by a 52-44 Senate vote… Read More

April 21, 2025 @ 2:21 pm By Nick Morgan  |  

Investor Choice Advocates Network (ICAN) co-founder Nicolas Morgan and board member Dara Albright recently spoke with newly appointed ICAN Senior Legal Director and Policy Counsel Mark Hiraide, who shared insights on securities regulation reform, the JOBS Act, and potential legislation that could expand capital access… Read More

April 21, 2025 @ 11:11 am By Omar Faridi  |  

In a recent update shared via X, Bybit CEO Ben Zhou revealed that approximately 27.59% of the $1.4 billion in cryptocurrency stolen from the exchange has become untraceable, marking a significant development in one of the largest hacks ever to hit a centralized crypto exchange…. Read More