Regulation

The crypto landscape is about to shift dramatically. The Financial Times (FT) reports that Eun Young Choi, the director of the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) national cryptocurrency enforcement team, promises intensified scrutiny over illicit activities on digital platforms. According to the FT, the DOJ plans to focus on crypto exchanges and entities that obscure […]

In a pivotal move that could shape the future of crypto regulations in the UK, venture capital titan Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) has proactively engaged with HM Treasury (aka “the Treasury”). Venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, also known as a16z, has submitted a comprehensive response to the UK’s Treasury Department (which is the government’s economic and finance ministry) consultation paper on […]

Small in size but big on innovation, Liechtenstein is marking its territory in the blockchain and crypto sphere. An article by Cointelegraph published earlier today reports that Liechtenstein, which is snuggled between Switzerland and Austria, has grabbed the attention of the international and European crypto communities since the industry’s early days. The Cointelegraph report points […]

In a bold move, Coinbase, Inc., which operates the largest cryptocurrency trading platform in the U.S., has taken legal action against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to seek regulatory clarity for the crypto industry. Paul Grewal, Coinbase’s Chief Legal Officer, brings a wealth of experience to the table, having previously served as a […]

Amid the absence of clear cryptocurrency regulations in the U.S., Ripple’s Head of Public Policy, Susan Friedman, urges the nation to draw inspiration from the EU and UK’s regulatory approaches. On April 21, 2023, she warned that the absence of such regulations drives activity offshore, ultimately hindering the monitoring of illicit and criminal activities. This, […]

As the quest for regulatory clarity intensifies, Coinbase Co-Founder and CEO Brian Armstrong calls for congressional intervention in the cryptocurrency space. On April 21, 2023, Armstrong took to Twitter to share his concerns regarding the need for transparent cryptocurrency regulations in the United States. Emphasizing the importance of the U.S. not falling behind in adopting […]

Following the European Parliament’s approval of the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, Ukrainian authorities have publicly declared their intention to adopt this legislative package within their own country. According to a report by Cointelegraph, Yaroslav Zheleznyak, the Deputy Chairman of the Tax Committee of Ukraine, announced on his Telegram channel on April 20th that they […]

The European Parliament has approved the first-ever EU legislation for tracking crypto-asset transfers. This development aims to deter money laundering while establishing standard supervision and consumer protection guidelines. Crypto transfers will now be subject to the “travel rule,” which is already applicable in traditional finance. This rule mandates that transaction information, including the source and […]

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong recently discussed the company’s preparation for a potential court battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). On Tuesday (April 18), during an interview with CNBC’s Arjun Kharpal, Armstrong expressed disappointment that the SEC had not provided any feedback during their 30 meetings over the past year, stating, “Over the […]

In a heated hearing on April 18, U.S. Securities And Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Chair Gary Gensler clashed with Republicans over digital asset regulation, highlighting the urgent need for clear crypto rules. On April 18, 2023, Gensler testified before the House Financial Services Committee’s “Oversight of the Securities and Exchange Commission” hearing. The hearing showcased the growing […]

In an upcoming testimony, U.S. Securities And Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Chair Gary Gensler is set to share his thoughts on crypto markets and regulation at a U.S. Congress hearing. It is important to note that these comments reflect his personal views, and he makes it clear that he is not speaking on behalf of the […]

On Sunday (April 9), Jeremy Hogan, a partner at the American law firm Hogan & Hogan, who has been closely following and commenting on the U.S. SEC’s ongoing lawsuit against Ripple, shared his reasoning for why XRP should not be considered a security. Over a series of tweets, Hogan explained that XRP could only potentially […]

John Deaton, a prominent highly-respected attorney closely monitoring the U.S. SEC’s lawsuit against FinTech firm Ripple, has shared his thoughts on why $XRP and $ETH should not be considered securities. Deaton, Managing Partner of Deaton Law Firm, is the founder of CryptoLaw, a website focusing on U.S. legal and regulatory developments for digital asset holders, and […]

On Saturday (April 1), highly respected equity research analyst and investment strategist Lyn Alden ignited a conversation on Twitter by suggesting that Ethereum ($ETH) is likely a security based on the Howey Test. Alden compared commodities and securities, emphasizing the differences in centralization and potential legal ramifications of such classifications. Alden initiated the conversation by tweeting, […]

The recent surge in regulatory action worldwide might stem from policymakers finally recognizing the importance of cryptocurrencies. An article by Liam J. Kelly published in Decrypt earlier today reported on a panel discussion — at Citi’s 10th Annual Digital Money Symposium, which took place in London on March 30 — that focused on crypto regulations […]

Galaxy Digital Holdings Inc. (OTCPK:BRPHF) CEO Mike Novogratz voiced his concerns about the US regulatory environment for the crypto industry in a recent interview. According to what Novogratz said in his interview with The Block’s East Coast Managing Editor Nathan Crooks, the crypto industry is “under assault” by U.S. regulators. The Galaxy Digital CEO believes that […]

On March 31, John Deaton, a well-known attorney closely monitoring the U.S. SEC’s lawsuit against FinTech firm Ripple, shared his latest insights on the ongoing case. Deaton, Managing Partner of Deaton Law Firm, is the founder of CryptoLaw, a website focusing on U.S. legal and regulatory developments for digital asset holders, and the host of […]

Popular cryptocurrency exchange Bittrex has announced that it will wind down its U.S. operations due to the challenging regulatory and economic environment. Founded in 2013 by Bill Shihara, Richie Lai, and Rami Kawach, Bittrex has been a prominent player in the crypto space. However, this decision does not impact Bittrex Global, the international arm of […]

Cardano Foundation CEO Frederik Gregaard recently traveled to London, where he engaged with influential policymakers and stakeholders invested in the UK’s blockchain future. The Cardano Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and promoting the Cardano blockchain ecosystem. Its primary goals are to drive the adoption of the Cardano platform, shape legislation and […]

Real Vision CEO and former Goldman Sachs executive Raoul Pal recently offered his perspective on the future of the global crypto industry. Before founding the macroeconomic and investment strategy research service Global Macro Investor (GMI) in 2005, Pal co-managed the GLG Global Macro Fund in London for global asset management firm GLG Partners (which is now called “Man […]

On Friday (March 24),  Charles Hoskinson, who is Co-Founder and CEO of IO Global (“IOG”), the company responsible for Cardano’s research and development, expressed his support for Messari Co-Founder Ryan Selkis’ recent open letter to U.S. Congressional leaders, which called for effective crypto legislation. Ryan Selkis, Co-Founder of Mesari, recently sent a letter to several U.S. Congressional […]

The crypto community has been reacting to news that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Enforcement sent a Wells Notice to Coinbase on Wednesday (March 22). According to Thomson Reuters’ Practical Law website, here is what a Wells Notice means: “A notice enforcement attorneys of financial industry regulators, including the Securities and Exchange […]

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun, Tron Foundation Limited, BitTorrent Foundation Ltd., and Rainberry Inc. (formerly BitTorrent) for the unregistered offer and sale of Tronix ($TRX) and BitTorrent ($BTT) crypto asset securities. According to a press release issued by the SEC earlier today, Sun and his companies are […]

Coinbase, a leading cryptocurrency exchange, announced that it had received a Wells Notice from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), signaling that the regulatory body may take enforcement action against the company. According to a blog post published by Coinbase earlier today, this notice comes after a brief investigation into unspecified digital assets listed […]

In an op-ed piece published on CNBC, Former White House Director of Communications Anthony Scaramucci, who is the founder and managing partner of global alternative investment firm SkyBridge Capital, explores the ongoing debate surrounding the regulation of the blockchain and cryptocurrency industries. He believes the “too little, too much, or just right” approach to regulation is overly […]

On Monday (March 20), Coinbase, a leading U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange, submitted a petition to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requesting a reevaluation of the notion that staking services should be uniformly considered securities. The petition follows a recent SEC settlement with Kraken, a cryptocurrency exchange, regarding its staking services, which the SEC claims […]

Coinbase, a leading cryptocurrency platform, has praised the UK government’s proactive approach towards the crypto industry in a recent blog post. The UK government has launched the “Future financial services regulatory regime for cryptoassets” consultation to provide regulatory clarity, drive innovation, and prioritize consumer protection. Coinbase’s blog post highlights the potential for the UK to […]

New data controls may require smart contracts to include kill switches, sparking debate among experts and the Web3 community. According to a report by CoinDesk, in a recent development, the European Parliament has given the green light to new data regulations that could potentially necessitate the incorporation of kill switches in smart contracts to halt […]

On Thursday (23 February 2023), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) issued a press release on crypto assets that has some crypto enthusiasts worried. The IMF, established on 27 December 1945, “works to achieve sustainable growth and prosperity for all of its 190 member countries” by “supporting economic policies that promote financial stability and monetary cooperation, which are essential […]

Late last week, Paul Grewal, Chief Legal Officer at Coinbase, shared his thoughts on the recent settlement between the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and crypto exchange Kraken over the latter’s staking program. On 9 February 2023, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a press release about Kraken that stated: “The Securities and Exchange […]

Last Friday (10 February 2023), Charles Hoskinson, Co-Founder and CEO at Input Output Global (“IOG), the blockchain technology firm responsible for the development of Cardano ($ADA), shared his thoughts on the U.S. SEC’s stance on crypto staking and how they might impact $ETH or $ADA. On 9 February 2023, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a press […]

Last week, Hester Peirce, a Commissioner at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), criticized the agency for the decision to force crypto exchange Kraken to shut down its crypto staking services for all U.S. clients. On 9 February 2023, Kraken announced in a blog post that it had agreed to shut down its crypto staking services for […]

In a recent CNBC interview, Gary Gensler, the Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), explained why the SEC forced crypto exchange Kraken to end its crypto staking services for U.S. clients. Last Friday (10 February 2023), Gensler told Andrew Ross Sorkin, co-anchor of CNBC’s “Squawk Box” that any crypto firm that is […]

On Thursday (9 February 2023), Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse commented on the exciting developments in the regulation of the cryptocurrency industry worldwide. In a Twitter thread posted yesterday, Garlinghouse noted that while the US lags behind, countries such as Dubai, Australia, the UK, South Korea, and Brazil have taken significant steps to clarify and support […]

On Wednesday (February 8), Coinbase Co-Founder and CEO Brian Armstrong expressed his worries about rumors of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) considering a ban on crypto staking for retail investors. Armstrong believes that such a ban would have a negative impact on the growth of the crypto industry in the U.S. Crypto staking, […]

Although the XRP community seems to believe that the U.S. SEC’s lawsuit against Ripple does not go to verdict, American lawyer John Deaton, the owner of the Deaton Law Firm, now thinks that “we will get a decision by Judge Torres.” As you may remember, on 22 December 2020, the SEC announced that it had “filed an action […]

In a recent interview, Sir Jon Cunliffe, Deputy Governor for Financial Stability at Bank of England (BoE), shared his thoughts on crypto and how it should be regulated. According to his BoE bio, Sir Jon Cunliffe “became Deputy Governor for Financial Stability on 1 November 2013.” He is “a member of the Bank’s Financial Policy and Monetary […]

Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro has signed into law a bill that “provides for the inclusion of virtual currencies and air mileage programs in the definition of ‘payment arrangements’ under the supervision of the Central Bank.” This bill was passed by Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies on 29 November 2022. The Brazilian Parliament, which is called the National […]

Earlier this week, Brian Armstrong, Co-Founder and CEO of crypto exchange Coinbase, shared his thoughts on crypto regulation in the U.S. In a blog post published on 19 December 2022, Armstrong said that, in the wake of the collapse of crypto exchange FTX, the U.S. and other major jurisdictions needed to take the aforementioned steps […]

During a recent interview, U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) shared his thoughts on crypto. Tester’s comments about crypto were made in response to a question by Chuck Todd, the host of NBC’s “Meet the Press” program. When Todd asked Tester if crypto should be banned or regulated, the senior senator of Montana replied: “Look, one […]

On Wednesday (14 December 2022), U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) explained during a hearing of the Senate Banking Committee that the failure of FTX does not mean that crypto is guilty since fraud is fraud regardless of how it is committed. According to a press release issued on 7 June 2022, “U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), member of the Senate Agriculture […]

On Wednesday (14 December 2022), U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) explained during a hearing of the Senate Banking Committee that what caused the collapse of FTX was not crypto but the exchange’s bad behavior. Toomey’s comments were made during the “Crypto Crash: Why the FTX Bubble Burst and the Harm to Consumers” hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, […]

Recently, Dr. Fabio Panetta, a Member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank (ECB), talked about crypto finance during a speech given at the Insight Summit held at the London Business School (LSB). Panetta, whose speech was titled “Crypto dominos: the bursting crypto bubbles and the destiny of digital finance”, mentioned that we […]

The latest comments about altcoins from Michael Saylor, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman at business intelligence software company MicroStrategy Inc. (Nasdaq: MSTR), makes U.S. SEC Chair Gary Gensler look quite crypto-friendly by comparison. This is because although Gesler has said on several occasions that Bitcoin is definitely a commodity while most altcoins are unregistered securities, Saylor seems […]

On 4 December 2022, entrepreneur David Gokhshtein, who is Founder and Chairman of crypto-focused media outlet Gokhshtein Media, predicted victory for Ripple Labs in its fight against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). As you may remember, on 22 December 2020, the SEC announced that it had “filed an action against Ripple Labs Inc. and two of its […]

On Tuesday (29 November 2022), Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies passed a bill that “provides for the inclusion of virtual currencies and air mileage programs in the definition of ‘payment arrangements’ under the supervision of the Central Bank.” The Brazilian Parliament, which is called the National Congress, is composed of the Chamber of Deputies and the Federal […]

On Wednesday (30 November 2022), Ulrich Bindseil, who is Director General for Market Infrastructure and Payments (DG-MIP) at the European Central Bank (ECB), shared his thoughts on Bitcoin. The ECB is “the central bank of the European Union countries which use the euro.” Its main purpose is “to maintain price stability”, which it tries to […]

On Monday (21 November 2022), Sir Jon Cunliffe, Deputy Governor for Financial Stability at Bank of England (BoE), shared his thoughts on crypto and its regulation during a speech given at Warwick Business School’s Gilmore Centre Policy Forum Conference on DeFi & Digital Currencies. According to his BoE bio, Sir Jon Cunliffe “became Deputy Governor […]

Last week, at the 17th G20 Heads of State and Government Summit, which was held November 15-16, 2022 in Bali, Indonesia, the world leaders present made a joint declaration that had some interesting things to say about the “crypto-assets ecosystem”. In a joint declaration released by the White House on 16 November 2022, the G20 […]

In a recent interview, Alfred F. Kelly, Jr. (aka “Al Kelly”), who is Chairman and CEO of Visa Inc., said that he hopes that the collapse of FTX will lead to good crypto regulation, which is “what’s necessary to build back confidence for people.” According to a report by The Daily Hodl, the outgoing CEO […]

U.S. Treasury Secretary Dr. Janet Yellen has spoken out on regulation of crypto markets in the wake of the recent collapse of crypto exchange FTX. On 11 November 2022, FTX issued the following press release: And here is how — on the same day — Sam Bankerman-Fried (aka “SBF”) announced the collapse of the FTX empire: The […]

Stuart Alderoty, who is FinTech firm Ripple’s General Counsel, says that although his firm still has quite a lot of employees inside the U.S. (presumably since the headquarters are in San Francisco), it is “effectively” operating outside the U.S. On 22 December 2020, the SEC announced that it had “filed an action against Ripple Labs Inc. and […]

Celebrity investor Kevin O’Leary (aka “Mr. Wonderful” on ABC TV series “Shark Tank“), who was also an investor in and spokesperson for insolvent crypto exchange FTX.com, shared his thoughts on crypto. On 10 August 2021, FTX Trading Ltd. (“FTX.com”) and West Realm Shires Services Inc. (“FTX.US”) owners and operators of FTX.COM and FTX.US respectively (collectively “FTX”), […]

Recently, U.S. Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA), who is one of the biggest crypto skeptics in Washington, D.C., pointed a finger at what he calls “billionaire crypto bros” for the delay in digital asset regulation.  Congressman Sherman, who was “born and raised in southern California” is “currently serving his thirteenth term in Congress and has served in the House […]

On Monday (14 November 2022), Charles Hoskinson, Co-Founder and CEO of Input Output Global (aka “IOG”), the blockchain technology firm behind Cardano’s R&D, talked about why he believes the U.S. SEC decided to allege that $XRP is a security instead of $ETH. on 14 June 2018, William Hinman, the director of the Division of Corporation […]

In a recent speech, Martin J. Gruenberg, who has been the Acting Chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Board of Directors since 5 February 2022, shared his thoughts on “the prudential regulation of crypto–assets.” Here is how Wikipedia describes the FDIC: “The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is one of two agencies that […]

On Friday (October 28), Jake Chervinsky, who is Executive Vice President and Head of Policy at Blockchain Association, Advisor at Variant Fund, and Board Member at DeFi Education Fund, explained why the U.S. SEC’s views are “wrong as a matter of law and policy.” As you may remember, on 22 December 2020, the SEC announced that it […]

During a recent Twitter Spaces discussion hosted by American law firm BakerHostetler, Cardano ($ADA) founder Charles Hoskinson talked about his frustration with the lack of regulatory clarity in the U.S. Hoskinson, who is Co-Founder and CEO of Input Output Global (“IOG),  the blockchain technology firm behind Cardano’s R&D, told Perianne Boring, who is the Founder and […]

In a recent interview, Deborah McCrimmon, who is Vice President of Litigation and Employment at Ripple, talked about the U.S. SEC’s ongoing lawsuit against Ripple. As you may remember, on 22 December 2020, the SEC announced that it had “filed an action against Ripple Labs Inc. and two of its executives, who are also significant security holders, […]

On Friday (October 21), Kristin Smith, who is the Executive Director of Washington, D.C. based Blockchain Association (which represents “the reputable leaders of the US blockchain and cryptocurrency industry”), explained in a recent interview why the Bitcoin price has been so stable over the past few months. Here is her bio: “Kristin runs the Blockchain Association, […]