Photo of Andrew Lucas

Andrew Lucas

Subscribe to Andrew Lucas's Posts

Andrew works with a range of fintech and digital business clients on federal and state regulatory, compliance and enforcement matters, and complex bank regulatory issues, as well as contract drafting and negotiation. Through his leadership role at NYDFS, Andrew developed a deep knowledge of the virtual currency market. He also established relationships with leading industry figures, in both the public and private sectors.

Contact:Read more about Andrew Lucas

What Happened?

The New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS or Department) released proposed updates to its guidance on the self-certification process for listing and delisting digital assets. It also announced significant changes to the Department’s “Greenlist” of vetted digital assets.

This industry development affects companies that have received permission to engage in virtual currency…

Weekly Blockchain Focus

  • Zelenskyy Signs Virtual Assets Bill Into Law, Legalizing Crypto in Ukraine
  • Japan Sets Penalties on Crypto Exchanges in Case of Violations of Sanctions on Russia
  • SEC Rejects Spot Bitcoin ETF Proposals From NYDIG, Global X
  • Bipartisan Praise for Biden’s Executive Order on Crypto
  • Crypto Apps break 100M Downloads in Fourth Quarter
  • EU Parliament Committee Votes Against Proof-of-Work Ban and Supports Alternative Amendment on Crypto Assets

Further Reading

  • Andreessen Horowitz Hires Michele Korver, Former FinCEN Chief Currency Advisor
  • CNBC: Senate Banking Committee holds hearing on crypto and illicit finance
  • The Block: ConsenSys raises $450 million Series D at $7 billion valuation
  • The Washington Post: Sarah Bloom Raskin withdraws nomination for Fed vice chair for supervision

…
Continue Reading Blockchain Week in Review: Week of March 28, 2022

Weekly Blockchain Focus

  • Senate Holds Hearing on Stablecoins
  • Senate Confirms New Commodities Futures Trading Commission Chair
  • U.S. National Credit Union Administration Clarifies Ability of Federally Insured Credit Unions to Partner With Third-Party Digital Asset Service Providers
  • IRS Revises Language on Form 1040
  • Ninety Percent of Bitcoin’s Total Supply Mined
  • Chinese Court Declares Mining Contract Void

…
Continue Reading Blockchain Legal Report: Week of December 17, 2021

Weekly Blockchain Focus

  • European Central Bank announces the investigation phase of a digital Euro project.
  • SEC charges Coinschedule.com with unlawfully touting digital asset securities.
  • Federal court order permanently bans PaxForex and imposes a $300,000 penalty for offering illegal leveraged transactions in Bitcoin, Ether, Litecoin, and precious metals.
  • Shapeshift announces “largest airdrop in history” as it attempts to become a fully decentralized exchange.
  • Saquon Barkley announces plan to accept all endorsement money in Bitcoin.
  • Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen take a stake in cryptocurrency exchange FTX.

…
Continue Reading Blockchain Week in Review: Week of July 12, 2021

Weekly Blockchain Focus

  • Crypto Rating Council releases its securities law framework
  • Diem Association announces plans to shift operations to the United States
  • Tether releases a breakdown of reserve assets
  • Bank of England deputy governor calls a CBDC probable in public remarks
  • Chainalysis report states that ransomware attacks are becoming more profitable
  • Ethiopia to begin using Cardano-based blockchain IDs in its schools

…
Continue Reading Blockchain Week in Review: Week of May 14, 2021

Weekly Focus:

  • Bipartisan crypto bill passes House of Representatives
  • Fed leaves interest rates unchanged, while Chairman Powell says equity markets are a “bit frothy”
  • Paxos becomes third federally regulated crypto bank (& raises $300 million)
  • Wyoming DAO law to go into effect in July
  • DOJ announces arrest of Bitcoin Fog founder who allegedly laundered $335M in crypto
  • Turkey bans cryptocurrency payments, sets up central custodian
  • South Korea set to tax crypto trading gains

…
Continue Reading Blockchain Week in Review: Week of April 30, 2021

Weekly Focus:

  • The nominee for chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Gary Gensler, testifies before the Senate Banking Committee.
  • The NY attorney general issues industry alerts citing risks in cryptocurrency investments and emphasizing registration requirement for industry members.
  • IRS clarifies and limits virtual currency disclosure question on Form 1040.
  • Kentucky legislature advances crypto mining incentives bills.
  • Kings of Leon to release its next album as an NFT.

…
Continue Reading Blockchain Week in Review: Week of March 5, 2021

Weekly Focus:

  • CFTC Releases Digital Asset Primer
  • Coinbase Submits Form S-1 to the Securities and Exchange Commission
  • CME Announces Ethereum Futures Product Launch in February 2021
  • Paxos Conducts $142 Million Series C Raise
  • FinCEN Issues Notice of Proposed Rulemaking with New Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements for Digital Asset Transactions
  • Figure Applies for OCC Charter
  • Compound Releases Whitepaper Describing Product to Add Interoperability Between Chains
  • Germany Legalizes Electronic Securities on the Blockchain

…
Continue Reading Blockchain Week in Review: Week of December 18, 2020

Weekly Focus:

  • Jay Clayton to step down as Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission
  • Brian Brooks nominated to five-year term as Comptroller of Currency
  • Origin Protocol attacked, resulting in estimated loss of $7 million
  • SEC issues no-action letter for IMVU
  • Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group plans launch of blockchain payments network in 2021
  • Texas State Securities Board files emergency cease-and-desist orders against ten digital asset investment platforms

…
Continue Reading Blockchain Week in Review: Week of November 20, 2020

Weekly Focus:

  • Kik & SEC Agree to $5M Judgment
  • CFTC Releases Advisory on Futures Commission Merchants
  • New York “Techsprint” Focuses on Virtual Currency Companies
  • Powell Considers U.S. Digital Dollar at IMF Virtual Panel
  • Ripple Considers Leaving U.S. over Lack of Regulatory Clarity
  • New Jersey “Digital Asset and Blockchain Technology Act” Moves Forward in State Legislature
  • IMF Issues New Report on CBDCs and GSCs
  • The Bahamas Rolls Out First CBDC, the “Sand Dollar”
  • Bank of Spain Releases CBDC Research Plan

…
Continue Reading Blockchain Week in Review: Week of October 23, 2020