By Paul Grewal, Chief Legal Officer Bad facts make bad law. We see this in jurisdictions all over the world, especially when it comes to digital assets. Unfortunately, we are about to see this again — this time in the European Union — in the form of a revision to the Transfer of Funds Regulation....Read More
2020 is fast approaching and the last decade will be behind us. Throughout the last ten years, the biggest unicorn firms were born like Uber and Airbnb. However, even though Bitcoin isn’t a company, the best investment of the decade belongs to the decentralized cryptocurrency Satoshi created. In fact, Bank of America’s recent securities report...Read More
A U.S. district judge has ruled that former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden must turn over the proceeds of his new book to the U.S. government. According to the ruling, Snowden failed to obtain clearance for the materials and information used in his book. The same judge previously ruled against Kim Dotcom and Megaupload. Also read:...Read More
At a summit attended by leaders of Muslim countries, including Malaysia, Turkey, Iran, Qatar, and Indonesia, the Iranian president proposed creating a Muslim cryptocurrency to cut reliance on the U.S. dollar. The Malaysian prime minister supports the idea of a unified cryptocurrency for Muslim countries. Also read: Regulatory Roundup: Crypto ‘Inevitable’ in India, China Rankings,...Read More
Crypto trading platform Erisx has launched a bitcoin futures market regulated by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Its physically settled bitcoin futures contracts trade alongside its spot market which supports four cryptocurrencies. Erisx has obtained a license from the U.S. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and is currently approved to operate in 44...Read More
Some surprising cryptocurrency news has come out of Germany this week. It now appears banks in the country prepare to embrace digital assets in every way possible. The first bank openly pledging support is SolarisBank. A Smart Move by SolarisBank The company confirmed it will launch a digital asset custody service for all of its...Read More
The tax authority of Denmark has reportedly sent out warning letters to 20,000 crypto owners asking them to amend their tax returns, pay taxes on crypto gains, or face penalties. The tax agency is demanding a full breakdown of their crypto transactions; it recently obtained information on these traders from three local crypto exchanges. Also...Read More
Bakkt has launched two new regulated bitcoin derivatives products. Within hours of launch, Bakkt announced that over 1,000 futures contracts had been traded in Asia. The platform now offers four types of regulated bitcoin derivatives products: monthly and daily physically delivered bitcoin futures, cash settled bitcoin futures, and options on monthly bitcoin futures. Also read:...Read More
The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has finalized and put in use a new tax form that requires crypto owners to declare whether they received, bought, sold, exchanged, or acquired any cryptocurrencies in 2019. Tax experts are frustrated at the vagueness of the tax agency, with some questioning whether the answers would increase the chances...Read More
Deutsche Bank analysts have made some predictions regarding the future of cryptocurrency. Strategist Jim Reid explained why cryptocurrencies are inevitable and how the existing fiat money system could crumble over the next decade, leading to soaring demand for cryptocurrencies. Also read: Swiss Licensed Crypto Bank Expanding Into 9 Markets ‘The End of Fiat Money?’ –...Read More
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved an investment fund that will invest in bitcoin futures contracts. SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce calls this move “a bit of progress.” The SEC has also revealed why it decided to approve such a fund. Also read: Swiss Licensed Crypto Bank Expanding Into 9 Markets Bitcoin Futures...Read More
Germany’s second-largest stock exchange, Boerse Stuttgart, has opened up its cryptocurrency trading platform to all interested traders in the country. This move follows the passing of a bill allowing banks in Germany to sell and hold cryptocurrencies for their clients starting next year. Also read: Regulatory Roundup — Germany to Let Banks Sell and Store...Read More