On Tuesday, April 21, LabCFTC, the FinTech hub of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), announced it launched Project Streetlamp, a prize competition that leverages emerging technologies to identify non-U.S. entities that are soliciting U.S. investors in CFTC-regulated investment products but are not registered with the CFTC.

The contest ends on September 4, at 5:00 pm ET.

Weekly Focus:

  • Libra Association updates white paper with plans to release multiple stablecoins
  • New Wyoming law allows insurance companies to invest in crypto
  • CFTC proposes updates to Part 190
  • Andreessen Horowitz to raise $450 million for second crypto fund
  • ATBCoin settles class action lawsuit for $250k
  • Financial Stability Board releases document on global stablecoins
  • Chinese tech companies file most blockchain patents in 2019
  • China to launch blockchain platform this week

Continue Reading Blockchain Week in Review: Week of April 17, 2020

Weekly Focus:

  • Preliminary Injunction Against Telegram Covers Distribution of Grams Outside of the United States
  • SEC Postpones Decision on Approval of Boston Security Token Exchange
  • Binance Acquires CoinMarketCap
  • Blox and Sovos Crypto Tax Report 2020
  • Financial Action Task Force Finds that U.S. is “Largely Compliant”
  • FINMA 2019 ANNUAL REPORT
  • Russia Delays Adoption of Crypto Law

Continue Reading Blockchain Week in Review: Week of April 3, 2020

Weekly Focus

  • Congress Circulates Draft Legislations Calling For a “Digital Dollar” Payment System
  • CFTC Issues a Final Interpretive Guidance on Actual Delivery of Digital Assets
  • Digital Dollar Foundation Adds Several Former Government Officials to its Board
  • DHS and Several States Deem Certain Blockchain Managers as Essential
  • CFTC issues an Advisory Warning of Increased Fraudulent Schemes During COVID-19
  • SEC Obtains Injunctive Relief Against Telegram, Telegram Appeals
  • SEC Charges Former State Senator with Fraudulent Digital Asset Offering
  • KIK and SEC Seek Summary Judgement in SEC v. Kik Interactive Inc.
  • IOSCO Issues its Public Report on Global Stablecoin Initiatives

Continue Reading Blockchain Week in Review: Week of March 27, 2020

Weekly Focus:

  • Hawaii Launches Digital Currency Sandbox
  • Coinbase CLO appointed to Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
  • DHS Critical Infrastructure Memo Includes Blockchain Managers
  • Bank of Russia Reluctant to Legalize Cryptocurrencies
  • Approved Smart Contract Certification for Argentinian Gas Distributor
  • Thai Remittance Platform Uses Ripple
  • Bakkt Launches Partnership with Starbucks
  • Huobi Exchange Implements Liquidation Halt

Continue Reading Blockchain Week in Review: Week of March 20, 2020

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the financial markets have experienced significant volatility. During the course of this volatility, exchanges have halted trading multiple times after declines in trading trigged circuit breakers. In addition, trading floors are transitioning to electronic trading in efforts to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 on physical trading floors. With the recent turmoil, this post provides a high-level summary of the various types of circuit breakers and what can be expected. Continue Reading Understanding Circuit Breakers, Our New Reality, in the Time of COVID-19

Weekly Focus:

  • Congressman Gosar Introduces Crypto-Currency Act of 2020
  • Morningstar Rates Ethereum-based Digital Representation of Securities for the First Time
  • Verizon Uses Blockchain Technology for Cybersecurity Purposes
  • Figure Technologies Securitizes $150 million of HELOCs on Blockchain

Continue Reading Blockchain Week in Review: Week of March 13, 2020

On March 9, 2020, FINRA released Regulatory Notice 20-08 (the “Regulatory Notice”) providing guidance and limited relief to its member broker-dealers during the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, the Regulatory Notice requests that broker-dealers evaluate their compliance with FINRA Rule 4370, which requires broker-dealers to create, maintain, and update upon any material change, BCPs (Business Continuity Plans) identifying procedures relating to emergency or significant business disruption. Continue Reading FINRA Issues Notice Regarding Business Continuity Planning During COVID-19 Outbreak

On March 10, the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) issued guidance and a request for assurance to financial institutions engaged in virtual currency business activity in New York. The request requires regulated virtual currency businesses to prepare and submit a plan of preparedness to manage the risk of disruption to services and operations caused by the novel coronavirus known as “COVID-19”. Continue Reading Client Alert: COVID-19 Preparedness Plan Requirements For NY Virtual Currency Businesses

Weekly Focus:

  • ICO Issuer Settles SEC Registration Charges
  • IRS and Cryptocurrency Industry Groups to Meet Amid Agency Enforcement Push
  • Washington Blockchain Work Group Bill Passes State Senate
  • Brazilian Central Bank to Launch Payment System to Compete With Cryptocurrencies
  • Financial Intelligence Units Meet to Discuss Global Issues Surrounding Virtual Assets
  • Bank of Korea to Leverage Blockchain Technology in Bond Market
  • DeFi Project, bZx, Loses $630,000 in Ether in Second “Flash Loan” Exploit in a Week
  • Coinbase Given Principal Status With Visa

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