The proposed Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century (FIT21) Act is set to revolutionize the regulatory landscape for the crypto industry. This legislation aims to provide clear regulatory frameworks for digital assets, addressing longstanding issues of market oversight and consumer protection. House Financial Services Committee Chairman Patrick McHenry has expressed his support for
Regulation
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has suggested that Nigeria should consider embracing the regulated use of digital assets by licensing international crypto exchanges. This recommendation was made in the IMF’s latest consultation report for Nigeria. The primary goal of this proposal is to strengthen the country’s economic stability and enhance its position within the African
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has been prompted to review the regulations surrounding crypto asset investments by UCITS (Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities) by the European Commission. This review is part of a broader assessment of the EU’s financial regulatory framework in light of the rapidly evolving crypto market. Since the
In a recent development, US lawmakers have put forth a new bill called the Blockchain Integrity Act, with the primary aim of halting financial institutions from engaging in transactions involving funds that have passed through crypto mixers. The bill was introduced by Congressman Sean Casten and has garnered support from Representatives Bill Foster, Brad Sherman,
Coinbase’s chief legal officer, Paul Grewal, recently made a bold statement calling out US SEC Chair, Gary Gensler, for allegedly misleading the market about the legal status of cryptocurrencies. Grewal pointed out that Gensler’s claims about certain digital assets being classified as securities are false, as the SEC’s own lawyers have previously acknowledged that cryptocurrencies
Robinhood’s crypto division recently received a Wells Notice from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), signaling that the Commission staff had been investigating Robinhood’s cryptocurrency listings, custody of cryptocurrencies, and platform operations. The chief legal officer at Robinhood Markets expressed disappointment with the SEC’s decision, emphasizing that the assets listed on their platform are
Rep. Maxine Waters’ nomination of Ms. Kristin Johnson for the position of Assistant Secretary for Financial Institutions at the US Department of Treasury has sparked conversations within the financial services industry. Waters’ emphasis on Johnson’s expertise in financial regulation and commitment to upholding the integrity of financial markets is certainly commendable. However, one cannot help
Federal prosecutors from the Southern District of New York have launched an investigation into Fintech giant Block following allegations of significant compliance failures within its main business units – Square and Cash App. These allegations stem from a former employee who disclosed numerous lapses in the company’s transaction monitoring systems. The former employee provided internal
Recently, House Financial Services Committee Chairman Patrick McHenry accused SEC Chair Gary Gensler of misleading Congress during his testimony in April 2023. The accusation arose from concerns about the classification of Ethereum and the SEC’s regulatory approach to digital assets. McHenry pointed out that recent court documents indicate that Gensler evaded questions about whether the
Cryptocurrency decentralized finance platforms have been garnering increased regulatory attention, with the SEC recently taking action against Uniswap for alleged violations of federal securities laws. This crackdown highlights the growing concerns surrounding DeFi and its compliance with regulatory frameworks. The SEC’s Wells notice to Uniswap alleges that certain tokens traded on the platform constitute investment
US Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bill Cassidy have taken a bipartisan stand against the use of cryptocurrency in the illegal trade of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). In a letter addressed to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, the senators highlighted the pseudonymity of cryptocurrencies as a critical factor enabling
The recent approval of new Anti-Money Laundering Regulations (AMLR) by the European Parliament has significant implications for Crypto Asset Service Providers (CASP) in Europe. These regulations mandate stringent Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures to combat money laundering. CASPs, including banks, assets and crypto asset managers, as well as real and virtual estate agents, are now
The Nigerian authorities are intensifying their efforts to clamp down on crypto trading, with a specific focus on peer-to-peer (P2P) platforms such as OKX, Binance, KuCoin, and Bybit. A circulating document on social media has revealed that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has instructed financial institutions to identify and impose restrictions on individuals or
Two leading organizations in the cryptocurrency realm, the Blockchain Association and the Crypto Freedom Alliance of Texas, have recently taken a bold step by filing a legal action against the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Their argument revolves around the SEC’s alleged overreach in sanctioning a rule that redefines the parameters for determining a
Stablecoin issuer Tether has announced that they will freeze any addresses linked to sanctioned entities. This move comes after reports revealed that state actors were using Tether’s USDT tokens to bypass US sanctions. A spokesperson for Tether stated that the company respects the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) SDN list and is dedicated to
In response to the rapid growth and increasing complexity of the digital assets sector, the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Professionals Association (HKSFPA) has called for the establishment of independent self-regulatory organizations (SRO) dedicated to overseeing this industry. This initiative aims to enhance the regulatory landscape to support innovation and security within the burgeoning field.
Recently, two SEC trial lawyers, Michael Welsh and Joseph Watkins, resigned amidst the legal case against crypto firm DEBT Box. The controversy surrounding their handling of the case led to their resignations in April. It is concerning that inaccuracies in the information presented by Welsh and Watkins resulted in a temporary restraining order and asset
The MiCA regulation, set to reshape the crypto industry, is a significant development within the European Union. This regulatory framework aims to provide clarity and security within the crypto-asset market, addressing the needs of crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) and issuers, while also safeguarding investors. As the crypto industry approaches this regulatory evolution, companies must understand
The recent amendment to the US SEC’s complaint against Justin Sun and other defendants has brought to light the regulator’s argument that Sun’s alleged visits to the US should establish the jurisdiction necessary to initiate legal proceedings. According to the SEC, Sun purportedly spent more than 380 days in the US between 2017 and 2019,
The recent legislative bill introduced by US Senators Cynthia Lummis and Kirsten Gillibrand has sparked controversy within the crypto industry. Former Blockchain Association member Jake Chervinsky criticized the bill, calling it “deeply flawed” and warning that it would only allow centralized and custodial stablecoins to operate. Chervinsky argued that the proposed ban on algorithmic stablecoins
Recently, the provincial government of Buenos Aires has taken a stand against Worldcoin, accusing the company of violating consumer laws. The government has pointed out several issues within Worldcoin’s user agreement that are deemed as abusive towards consumers. One of the main concerns raised is the alleged ability of Worldcoin to interrupt services without any
Recent discussions between House leaders and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer may lead to action on stablecoin legislation during this summer’s session or in the year-end lame-duck session, according to investment bank TD Cowen. House Financial Services Chair Patrick McHenry and ranking member Maxine Waters met with Schumer last week to deliberate on stablecoin legislation,
In the realm of blockchain technology, the debate over data transparency and ownership is reaching a critical point. While the blockchain’s inherent transparency and immutability are praised for democratizing data, there is a growing concern over individual control and ownership of personal information. Striking a balance between the two is crucial, but is it realistic
The IRS criminal investigation chief, Guy Ficco, recently addressed the growing concern of taxpayers engaging in tax crimes related to cryptocurrencies. He emphasized that there has been a surge in what he referred to as “pure crypto tax crimes” falling under Title 26 of the US Code, which deals with federal income tax violations. These
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) issued a warning about the high level of concentration in the crypto markets on April 10. This concentration is concerning because the failure of a single asset or exchange could have a widespread impact on the entire crypto ecosystem. ESMA’s research found that market capitalizations and trading volumes
Upon receiving a Wells notice from the US SEC, Hayden Adams, the founder of Uniswap, took to social media to express his feelings about the impending legal action. Adams stated, “I’m not surprised. Just annoyed, disappointed, and ready to fight.” He also emphasized the legality of Uniswap’s products and criticized the SEC for what he
During a recent Senate hearing, Senator Tim Scott criticized the current US administration for focusing on digital assets as the main source of terrorism financing while neglecting more significant traditional sources. Scott pointed out that Iran’s $35 billion in oil exports and $16 billion in US hostage relief and electricity waivers are major contributors to