Well-known move-to-earn game STEPN announced on Thursday that it will stop offering IP and GPS-related services to users from mainland China, as required by the authorities. The new ban will come into effect on July 15th. Deadline Set on July 15th The Solana-based social-fi application is a mobile platform that rewards users through walking, jogging,...Read More
Bitcoin and the overall crypto-market welcomed 2020 with increased regulatory clarity which has in turn helped its overall adoption narrative. However, with the ongoing presidential election taking place, many in the crypto space have speculated as to what the effects of a new government and new regulations might imply for the likes of Bitcoin and...Read More
India’s central bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), has confirmed that there is no longer any banking ban on crypto exchanges, companies, or traders. This follows the supreme court decision to quash the RBI circular prohibiting banks from providing services to any customers dealing in cryptocurrencies. The ban lasted for almost two years. RBI...Read More
The chairman of the Russian State Duma Committee on Financial Markets has confirmed that the bill which provides the regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies in Russia has been completed. The official explained key features of the bill, including how cryptocurrency exchanges and miners will be regulated. However, the bill’s adoption has been delayed due to the...Read More
Last week, Bitcoin bulls celebrated when it was revealed that India’s Supreme Court on Wednesday reversed anti-crypto restrictions placed on the industry by the nation’s central bank, the Reserve Bank of India. This move allowed banks to once again facilitate transactions with and offer services to industry entities once again, “removing a major hurdle for...Read More
For years, crypto financial services firms across the U.S. have been trying their hand at launching publicly-traded Bitcoin funds (ETFs). Unfortunately for these hopefuls, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has long not agreed with these firms’ assertions that the cryptocurrency market is ready for its own regulated, tradable fund. This was confirmed to...Read More
India’s former Finance Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg has shared his views on the future of cryptocurrency, both in India and worldwide. He headed the committee responsible for drafting the infamous bill to ban cryptocurrencies, which the crypto community calls flawed in many regards. Also read: Regulatory Roundup – China Blockchain ETF, New French Crypto Rules,...Read More
Do you use a VPN? It’s a privacy-enhancing tool that everyone should be using, especially those with digital assets. Or do you happen to be older than the typical crypto trader? Both of these characteristics are part of a list of so-called ‘red flags’ that can get you in trouble with a new dragnet that...Read More
The China Foreign Exchange Trade System (CFETS) announced that effective January 1, 2020, the system “will adjust weights for CFETS RMB Index,” decreasing the weighting of the USD for the second time in the currency basket’s history from 22.40% to 21.59%, and increasing the Euro from 16.34% to 17.40%. The change could signal further disassociation...Read More
In this roundup, we cover Russia’s supreme court recognizing tokens as assets like money and property, France’s new crypto regulatory framework, and several industry developments in China, including a blockchain ETF filing. We also cover Japan’s world conference for decentralized financial governance, Uzbekistan’s crypto ban, and four countries’ central bank digital currency updates. Also read:...Read More
The Indian crypto community has had an eventful year, with a bill on the horizon, the RBI ban’s supreme court hearing, and the community’s efforts toward positive crypto regulation. News.Bitcoin.com interviewed Nischal Shetty, CEO of local crypto exchange Wazirx, about what the Indian crypto industry could expect in the year 2020 and a wide range...Read More
It’s been a busy couple of weeks for bad news in crypto, with Youtube’s removal of hundreds of videos, Google Play’s removal of Metamask, and now Coinbase mobile wallet users facing an announcement their app is losing its dapp browser, reportedly due to restrictive policy requirements from Apple. Some are calling the announcement “the last...Read More
While dozens of the world’s economic leaders participate in extreme monetary easing policy, central banks have also been hoarding gold. Central banks accumulated over 668 tons in gold purchases this year, which is more than 2018’s record numbers. In fact, the key drivers in gold demand this year stemmed from central bank purchases, most of...Read More
France will soon be monitoring social media accounts to catch suspected tax evaders. The endeavor could label anyone as suspicious who so much as posts a “taxation is theft” meme or a poses with a nice car. The country’s budget minister, Gérald Darmanin, called the court-approved experiment ‘one more tool to fight fraud.’ Exemplified by...Read More
Numerous countries want to regulate cryptocurrencies. Paraguay may be ahead of the competition in this department, albeit in a positive manner. Most Western countries seem to take a negative stance on bitcoin. The Future of Bitcoin in Paraguay In Paraguay, that situation is – thankfully – very different. Its local government is looking to regulate...Read More
Four financial regulators in China have jointly issued a fresh warning regarding crypto trading activities in Beijing. The notice explains the reason for the warning and lists prohibited crypto activities, which have reportedly been surging as companies ramp up their blockchain promotion. Also read: Regulatory Roundup – New US Crypto Bill, France’s 1st Approved ICO,...Read More
Reports have emerged depicting long lines in front of a physical gold sales location in Germany, in view of pending legislation which would once again lower the anonymous purchase limit, this time from €10,000 to €2,000. The last drop happened in 2017 when the limit was set at €15,000. A draft bill from the German...Read More
Following the consensus reached at the G20 leaders’ summit on the importance of discussing better governance for the decentralized financial ecosystem, Japan’s top financial regulator is hosting a global blockchain conference to discuss the subject. The regulator is welcoming stakeholders from around the world to participate, including other regulators, open-source software developers, university researchers, and...Read More
Cryptocurrency regulation remains a controversial topic in different regions. Many hope to see some sort of solution emerge out of China, and it may be closer than one may think. Bitcoin and other digital assets have proven very difficult to regulate in many different ways. China and Bitcoin Regulation Primarily Chinese officials seem to struggle...Read More
Banking services platform Cashaa has seen significant growth in crypto trading volume in India since it began offering INR deposits and withdrawals. The platform has cut its fees by more than 50% and is getting ready to add five more cryptocurrencies for users in India, Cashaa has shared with news.Bitcoin.com. Also read: Regulatory Roundup –...Read More
Authorities in Uzbekistan have effectively banned residents from purchasing cryptocurrencies on digital asset exchanges licensed in the country. Crypto holders will only be able to sell their coins and that’s if these have not been obtained through anonymous transactions, amendments to the local regulations postulate. Also read: Poles Hit With Backdated Tax on Crypto Trades...Read More
U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin remarked last week that a reported $1.5 trillion in missing cash — mostly one hundred dollar bills — was “sitting in bank vaults all over the world.” The famously anti-bitcoin U.S. official noted that “there’s a lot of ‘Benjamins’ all over the world” and emphasized the strength of the currency...Read More
In this roundup, we cover a wide range of regulatory developments in the crypto space. Much has transpired in the U.S., including a new crypto bill, SEC’s proposal, lawmakers seeking answers from the IRS, and the state of Michigan signing several crypto bills into law. We also cover France’s first-approved initial coin offering, a proposal...Read More
According to recent statements by People’s Bank of China (PBOC) official Mu Changchun, the country’s digital yuan is ready for trials. The central bank digital currency (CBDC) will decidedly not be a speculative asset like bitcoin or stablecoins, and will not need a currency basket for backing, Changchun affirmed. Reactions to the announcement are varied,...Read More
American politicians want to regulate cryptocurrencies. The sooner this voting can take place, the better.. A global regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies will not be easy to implement. More Crypto Regulation in the US Even so, US Congress expects big things from its Cryptocurrency Act of 2020. It will undergo a round of voting in the...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
Authorities in Shenzhen have started pressuring crypto businesses operating in China’s tech capital. Eight companies, two suspected operators of trading platforms, and six entities allegedly associated with coin offerings, have been placed under inquiry, Chinese media revealed, with authorities reportedly questioning their representatives at a meeting hosted by Shenzhen Financial Regulatory Bureau. Also read: Crypto...Read More
Germany remains a very interesting region when it comes to cryptocurrencies. Local officials are seemingly intent on regulating this industry early next year. Given the new regulations introduced in the EU, that doesn’t come as too much of a surprise either. More Crypto Problems in Germany Due to these guidelines, the German Banking Act and...Read More
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has proposed amending the definition of “accredited investor” — a move that will increase access to regulated cryptocurrency investments. A number of them are currently only available to accredited investors. Among other changes, a person can qualify based on professional knowledge, experience, or certifications. Also read: Lagarde Sees...Read More
The French financial markets regulator, the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF), has made its first initial coin offering (ICO) approval. While token sales remain legal as a fundraising option in France, only those that have been approved by the AMF may be marketed directly to the public. Also read: France Adopts New Crypto Regulation France’s...Read More
