On June 27, 2018, the Chinese Hangzhou Internet Court announced its decision on a case regarding the infringement of the right of communication through an information network. In a first for Chinese courts, the court accepted electronic data that was stored using blockchain technology as legal evidence. The court also clarified the examination standards for such electronic data.

Continue Reading Chinese Court Recognizes Blockchain-Verified Evidence for the First Time

Week of October 15-19, 2018

 U.S. Developments

Regulatory Updates

SEC Launches FinHub to Facilitate Public Engagement on FinTech Issues

On October 18, the SEC launched FinHub, a new “Strategic Hub for Innovation and Financial Technology.” The SEC envisions that the hub will provide the public with a singular resource for engaging with the SEC on emerging FinTech issues. The FinHub website consolidates the SEC’s speeches, publications, and regulatory actions on four key emerging technologies and issues: blockchain technology, digital marketplace financing, automated investment advice, and artificial intelligence/machine learning. Additionally, FinHub provides a portal through which the public can request assistance from SEC staff on securities issues raised by emerging financial technologies. Continue Reading Virtual Currency / FinTech Week-in-Review

On October 18, 2018, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), announced the launch of the agency’s Strategic Hub for Innovation and Financial Technology (FinHub).[1]  FinHub is a resource for industry engagement between financial technology companies (fintechs), market participants, the public, and the SEC.  This client update provides a high-level overview of the FinHub initiative and how the SEC envisions industry participation.

FinHub is designed to serve as a focal point for the SEC to engage with fintech companies.  Led by Valerie A. Szczepanik, Senior Advisor for Digital Assets and Innovation and Associate Director in the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance, FinHub provides a portal where the public can engage directly with SEC staff, request a meeting, and receive updates and information about upcoming initiatives.  The SEC’s expectation is that FinHub will provide a clear path for entrepreneurs, developers, and their advisers to engage SEC staff, seek input, and test ideas.  The FinHub portal covers various fintech topics, such as distributed ledger technology (including digital assets), automated investment advice, digital marketplace financing, and artificial intelligence/machine learning.  FinHub also offers a detailed request form, accessible here, that allows submission of background information and supporting documents for a meeting request or request for other assistance.

Continue Reading SEC Launches FinHub for Engaging with Fintech and Blockchain Companies

On October 11, 2018, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) released an advisory (the Advisory) intended to help money services businesses (MSBs) and foreign financial institutions better understand how U.S. sanctions on Iran affect their compliance obligations under the Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) rules and under the U.S.-Iran sanctions enforced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Controls (OFAC).[1]

While Iran has historically relied upon, among other things, precious metals, such as gold, to evade sanctions and to market Iranian goods abroad, FinCEN views virtual currency as another commodity that Iranians may rely on to avoid sanctions.  Since 2013, Iranians have participated in more than $3.8 million in bitcoin-denominated transactions annually.  As a result, companies subject to U.S. regulation that participate in the virtual currency markets should pay careful attention to the Advisory.

To confirm the importance of the Advisory, OFAC separately issued the Advisory to all persons who subscribe to OFAC updates and listed the Advisory on its website.  This, together with the discussion of OFAC obligations within the Advisory, demonstrates that FinCEN and OFAC may cooperate on enforcement of these obligations.  As a reminder, U.S. sanctions prohibit U.S. persons and U.S.-owned or -controlled foreign entities from entering into transactions involving Iran, the Government of Iran, or Iranian financial institutions.[2]

Continue Reading FinCEN Advisory Emphasizes Importance of U.S.-Iran Sanctions and AML/CFT Compliance for Virtual Currency Businesses

While cryptocurrencies and digital tokens — also known as “digital assets” — have disrupted traditional notions of commerce, capital and investing, there is another asset which any company engaged in this space will need: insurance. Given the rapidly-evolving nature of this new technology and the uncertainties surrounding applicable laws and regulations, it can be challenging to figure out the types of insurance products that should be considered. Any company engaged in this space should ask itself the following questions to help determine which lines of insurance it should consider.

Continue Reading Cryptocurrencies: Matching insurance to risks and exposures

U.S. Developments

Regulatory Updates

FinCEN Issues Advisory on Illicit Iranian Activities

On October 11, 2018, the U.S. Treasury Department Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) issued an advisory to help money services businesses  and foreign financial institutions better understand the U.S. Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (“AML/CFT”) risks related to Iranian activity.  The report encourages financial institutions to “consider reviewing blockchain ledgers for activity that may originate or terminate in Iran” and “utilize technology created to monitor open blockchains and investigate transactions to or from P2P exchange platforms.”  It also reminds foreign companies that “a non-U.S.-based exchanger or virtual currency provider doing substantial business in the United States is subject to AML/CFT obligations and OFAC jurisdiction.”  The U.S. Treasury Department Office of Foreign Asset Controls (“OFAC”), which administers the U.S. sanctions programs, distributed this advisory on behalf of FinCEN to those who subscribe to OFAC updates.  This shows a level of cooperation between these two agencies, as does the discussion of OFAC jurisdiction in the FinCEN advisory.              Continue Reading Blockchain Week in Review – Week of October 8-12, 2018

The French data protection authority, Commission Nationale de l’Informatique et des Libertés (CNIL), became the first European data protection authority to issue written guidance on the intersection of the use of blockchain technology and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The CNIL guidance provides welcome clarification on how to tackle some of the inherent tensions between GDPR and blockchain, although the CNIL left open certain important issues that will require deeper analysis and explanation in the future. Continue Reading French Data Protection Authority Issues Guidance on Application of Blockchain to the GDPR

U.S. Developments

Federal Bank Regulators Issue Joint Statement on Collaborative BSA/AML Compliance

On October 3, 2018, a group of federal bank regulators and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) announced in a joint statement that banks and credit unions could collaborate and share resources to manage their Bank Secrecy Act (“BSA”) and anti–money laundering (“AML”) obligations.  Sharing resources through a collaborative arrangement helps banks to meet their BSA/AML compliance obligations by providing access to specialized expertise, at a reduced cost, that may be difficult to obtain in some markets.  The joint statement provides examples and guidance for how banks can manage their obligations more effectively and efficiently.  Nothing in the joint statement alters the four pillars of a bank’s BSA/AML compliance program: (1) a system of internal controls to ensure ongoing compliance; (2) independent testing of BSA/AML compliance; (3) designation of a BSA compliance officer; and (4) training of appropriate personnel.  With appropriate limits, each of these pillars can be addressed through a collaborative arrangement between banks. Continue Reading Blockchain Week in Review: Week of October 1-5, 2018

The SEC and FINRA recently announced a series of enforcement actions against new types of actors in the digital asset space—private fund managers and broker-dealers. Continue Reading SEC and FINRA Target Cryptocurrency Hedge Fund Manager and Broker-Dealers in New Wave of Digital Asset Enforcement Proceedings

The following summary is available in our sister blog, The Fintech Report.

Roundup of CFTC Resources

Blockchain Week in Review: Week of September 24-28, 2018

U.S. Developments

Cryptocurrency and the Colorado Money Transmitter License Act

On September 20, 2018, following months of consultation with the Colorado Attorney General’s office, Colorado’s Division of Banking released interim guidance interpreting the Colorado Money Transmitters Act and determining whether it applies to transfers of cryptocurrency. If virtual currencies were to be subject to the regulation, facilitating transfers, and therefore cryptocurrency exchanges, would require a license. The Division of Banking determined that cryptocurrency transfers are not the subject of the Colorado Money Transmitters Act because cryptocurrency is not a legal tender. However, a license may be required if legal tender is involved in a cryptocurrency transfer; for example if fiat currency (i.e., legal tender) is bought or sold on an exchange, or if an exchange has the ability to transfer legal tender through a cryptocurrency. The step has been lauded by the virtual currency community for fostering the development and growth of blockchain technology and cryptocurrency exchanges. Continue Reading Blockchain Week in Review – Week of September 24-28