International Developments

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:

  • Members of Congress Request SEC Clarity On Digital Securities Custody
  • Digital Asset ‘Stacks’ Plans 2.0 Launch as Non-Security
  • Secretary Mnuchin Emphasizes G7 Coordination on Digital Currencies
  • CFTC and SEC Leaders to Step Down
  • DOJ Indicts ICO Promoter for Tax Fraud, SEC Files Civil Suit
  • France Strengthens Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Requirements for Digital Asset Companies
  • Thailand Plans to Incorporate Blockchain into Tax Revenue Collection Systems

Continue Reading Blockchain Week in Review: Week of December 11, 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

Weekly Focus

  • CFTC and DOJ Actions Involving BitMEX
  • SEC Settlement with Salt Lending
  • CFTC Action Against PaxForex
  • Summary Judgment Granted in SEC Action Against Kik
  • FinCEN and OFAC Issue Advisories on Ransomware
  • FinCEN Director Blanco Speech at ACAMS AML Conference
  • French Authorities Investigate Use of Virtual Currency to Fund Terrorism

Continue Reading Blockchain Week in Review: Week of October 2, 2020

Weekly Focus

  • S. Department of Homeland Security Issues Challenge for Development of Trusted User Interface for Digital Wallets
  • Kraken Announces Approval From Wyoming Division of Banking for a Special Purpose Depository Institution Charter
  • CFTC Provides Temporary No-Action Relief to Tassat From SEF Reinstatement Requirements
  • FinCEN Seeks Public Comments on AML Program Requirements
  • CSBS Announces “One Company, One Exam” for Licensed Payment Firms
  • CFTC Files Complaint in Alleged Fraudulent Digital Asset Scheme
  • SEC Brings Charges against T.I. for Violations of Securities Laws
  • SEC Brings a Complaint Against Individuals and Two Companies Relating to Token Offerings
  • FAFT Issues Report on Virtual Assets Red Flag Indicators of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing
  • Gibraltar Issues Updated Guidance Notes for DLT
  • Report: New Zealand Updates Tax Guidance for Crypto Assets
  • Report: Bahamas Planning to Formally Launch Its CBDC as Soon as October 2020
  • Report: India Considering a New Law Banning Cryptocurrency Trading
  • Nigeria Issues Statement on Digital Assets and Their Classification and Treatment
  • EU Committee Legislative Proposal on the Regulation of Crypto-Assets

Continue Reading Blockchain Week in Review: Week of September 18, 2020

Weekly Focus

  • CFTC approves LedgerX to clear fully-collateralized futures and options.
  • Square launches the Cryptocurrency Open Patent Alliance to spur cryptocurrency adoption and protect against trolls.
  • Mastercard launches testing platform for central bank digital currencies.
  • California’s Consumer Financial Regulator to get a new name and new powers.
  • Blockpit and CryptoTax complete merger.

Continue Reading Blockchain Week in Review: Week of September 11, 2020

Weekly Focus

  • Federal Reserve Publishes Observations From “FooWire” Project
  • Federal Reserve Governor Lael Brainard Announces Collaboration With MIT
  • SEC Appoints New Director of Enforcement
  • Companies Accepted to Hawaii Regulatory Sandbox Begin Providing Services
  • Prosecutors Unseal Charges Against Crypto Mining Ponzi Scheme
  • Monetary Authority of Singapore and Industry Groups Roll Out “Code of Practice” for Payment Service Provider Licensing
  • China Expanding its Digital Currency Testing Program

Continue Reading Blockchain Week in Review: Week of August 21, 2020

Weekly Focus

  • California Appellate Court Upholds Coinbase Summary Judgement
  • California Issues Opinion on Crypto Escrow Services under the Money Transmission Act
  • The Federal Reserve Is Testing a Digital Dollar and Distributed Ledgers
  • New York Updates Cryptocurrency Greenlist
  • SEC Charges Issuer with Fraudulent ICO
  • Wealthsimple Receives Approval for Canadian Regulatory Sandbox
  • Russian Monitoring Service Planning to Create Cryptocurrency Tracking System
  • MicroStrategy Adopts Bitcoin as Treasury Reserve Asset
  • Coinbase Announces Crypto-Backed Loans
  • Grayscale Ethereum Trust Files Registration Statement

Continue Reading Blockchain Week in Review: Week of August 14, 2020

Weekly Focus

  • U.S. Senate Confirms SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce for Second Term
  • U.S. Attorney Files Complaint to Forfeit $6.5M in Cryptocurrency Stolen in Ponzi Scheme
  • Russian Cryptocurrency Law Signed
  • Tel Aviv Stock Exchange Announces Blockchain Securities Platform
  • Swiss Bank to Launch Crypto Services

Continue Reading Blockchain Week in Review: Week of August 7, 2020