Though the Democratic presidential race in the United States may have lost its most forward-thinking candidate when it comes to cryptocurrency, that doesn’t mean it’s not still a hot button issue across party lines. The number of patents and companies associated with cryptocurrencies and blockchains continues to rise in the US market, making it both
Regulation
The United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s fintech lab will host office hours during New York Fintech Week. In April, the CFTC’s fintech research unit, LabCFTC, will host office hours during New York Fintech Week to engage with innovators in the field, according to a recently published announcement. LabCFTC’s objective is to promote market-enhancing fintech
An Ohio man has been charged by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission for allegedly defrauding 150 investors in a cryptocurrency trading scheme. The SEC’s complaint, filed in federal court in New York on Feb. 11, accuses Michael W. Ackerman of raising at least $33 million in violation of anti-fraud provisions for federal securities
Commissioner Hester Peirce of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission is known for her work on the regulator’s approach to crypto, enough to have earned the moniker “CryptoMom.” On Thursday, Feb. 6, she presented a new proposal looking to build a safe harbor for networks in their infancy seeking to avoid classification as securities.
Italy’s securities regulator has shut down six foreign exchange websites and two crypto investing and derivative trading sites. According to Finance Magnates’ Feb. 10 report, the Commissione Nazionale per le Società e la Borsa (CONSOB) has accused these 8 FX sites of violating the Mifid2 and the Consolidated Law on Finance (TUF) for providing illegal
India has developed a somewhat paradoxical relationship with cryptocurrencies, blockchain and other emerging technologies. On one hand, the Indian government is a huge proponent of distributed ledger technology, with several government-led initiatives gaining ground across the country. On the other hand, the Reserve Bank of India issued a de facto ban on cryptocurrencies when it
A member of the United States Federal Reserve’s board of governors has signalled that the institution is more open to the idea of central bank digital currency than previously. Lael Brainard — who chairs several Fed committees — made her remarks during a speech at a symposium on the future of payments at the Stanford
Ugandan legislators are exploring the role of cryptocurrencies in connection with pyramid scheme frauds that are often found in the country, local newspaper PML Daily reported on Feb. 4. While legislators are moving forward with a proposal to criminalize Ponzi schemes, cryptocurrencies may come under fire as well. Speaking at the parliament, the State Minister
Japan is feeling the pressure of China’s strident moves forward with a digital yuan. According to a Feb. 7 Reuters report, top lawmakers in the country are calling on their government to push for digital currencies to be placed on the G7’s agenda this year. Akira Amari — former economy minister and a prominent member
A new working group, spearheaded by senior employees of Ripple and Coinbase, is going to advise United States regulators on crypto-friendly policies. But congresspeople are too busy preparing for the upcoming elections, which means that U.S. crypto firms will have to continue hula-hooping through state-by-state regulations in the near future. Earlier this month, a D.C.-based
The United Kingdom’s major financial regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), is looking to hire a specialist with a cryptocurrency background. Specifically, the FCA is seeking an intelligence associate with crypto expertise to address digital assets under the European Union’s 5th Anti-Money Laundering Directive, the regulator said in a LinkedIn job posting on Feb. 6.
As crypto continues its foray into the mainstream financial world, more countries are recognizing digital assets legally. Singapore is the latest to join the party. On Jan. 28, the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s (MAS) Payment Services Act went into effect, setting up a framework for the regulation of payment-related activities in the country. Given that
The counsel for the estate of Dave Kleiman has accused self-proclaimed “Satoshi Nakamoto” Craig Wright of abusing attorney client privilege to withhold documents and confuse trial proceedings. On Feb. 2, plaintiff Ira Kleiman — the late Dave Kleiman’s brother and personal representative of the estate — filed a memorandum challenging Craig’s privilege designations with the
A policy think tank of the Indian government, NITI Aayog, has released its national blockchain policy draft paper dubbed “Blockchain — The India Strategy” which explains different use cases of blockchain in India along with some conclusions from ongoing pilot projects. NITI Aayog was established with the aim to achieve sustainable development goals by fostering
European researchers writing for the Oxford University Faculty of Law blog argue that the distinction between utility and security tokens is less important than most assume when it comes to regulation. In a Feb. 3 blog post and their paper, “Blockchain Startups and Prospectus Regulation,” Dmitri Boreiko, Paolo Giudici and Guido Ferrarini claim that the
Capital markets blockchain platform iSTOX has graduated from Singapore’s regulatory sandbox and been approved as a recognized market operator and capital markets services licensee. Singapore’s The Business Times confirmed on Feb. 3 that the platform, developed by blockchain infrastructure firm ICHX Tech, is now fully operational and licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS),
Gemini Europe — the United Kingdom and EU affiliate of the Winklevoss twins’ United States-based crypto exchange Gemini — has appointed a new chief compliance and money laundering reporting officer. As part of the firm’s expansion into the transatlantic market, the new appointee, Blair Halliday, will oversee Gemini Europe’s compliance program in the region. A
It’s here! The United States tax season officially started on Jan. 27, and this time, crypto tax is in the spotlight. Following developments that culminated in theInternal Revenue Service publishing new guidance in October 2019, the bureau has begun to invest efforts in cryptocurrency tax reporting and investigation and is expecting to see an increase
Swiss regulators have given the go-ahead for what is purportedly the country’s first fully compliant initial public offering (IPO) on a blockchain. Swiss blockchain firm Overture will launch a compliant IPO and offer ordinary class-A shares natively on the Ethereum blockchain, using smart contracts provided by Zug-based EURO DAXX (the European Digital Assets Exchange), a
Legislation regulating the operations of cryptocurrency firms in Singapore comes into effect today, Jan. 28. The new Payment Services Act will regulate cryptocurrency payments and trading enterprises under some aspects of the regulatory regime that currently governs traditional payment services and require them to hold a license. Crypto payment services must also comply with the
