CyberKongz, a gaming-based NFT project, announced on December 16 that it has received a Wells Notice from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The notice raises concerns about the platform’s integration of its ERC-20 token with blockchain games and questions aspects of its activities, including its 2021 contract migration. The SEC’s Argument In a...Read More
Federally approved digital asset securities platform Prometheum has filed a defamation lawsuit against crypto commentator Matthew Blumberg. The dispute stems from a November 6 post on X, where the critic accused the firm of operating “an illegal unregistered commodities exchange” and engaging in shady dealings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Free Speech...Read More
The Federal Court of Australia has imposed an $8 million fine on Bit Trade, the operator of the cryptocurrency exchange Kraken in the country, for offering an unapproved margin lending product to local customers. The penalty follows allegations by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) that the firm violated financial regulations by failing to...Read More
Hester Peirce, a Commissioner at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), has outlined a vision for the agency’s crypto regulatory strategy under President-elect Donald Trump. In a recent interview on Fox Business, Peirce identified three priorities to address what she sees as critical obstacles hindering the growth and clarity of the crypto industry. Pierces’s...Read More
Taiwan’s Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) will enforce new anti-money laundering (AML) regulations for cryptocurrency service providers starting November 30. The upcoming rules require crypto exchanges and other virtual asset service providers (VASPs) to register for AML compliance. AML Framework The deadline for mandatory AML registration for crypto companies was initially January 1, 2025, but the...Read More
It’s been barely a few weeks since the pro-crypto candidate Donald Trump won the United States presidential elections, and the digital asset market still feels the impact of that victory. As the Trump administration prepares to take complete charge of affairs at the White House by January, crypto users anticipate what this could mean for...Read More
Last week, the pro-crypto Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump won the United States election, paving the way for him to fulfill his many promises that could drive crypto adoption in the country. Following Trump’s election victory, Ark Invest CEO and founder Cathie Wood stated in a recent video that there is more clarity in the...Read More
Gary Gensler’s SEC has conducted one of the most aggressive regulatory crackdowns on the crypto industry in US history, viewing most digital assets as unregistered securities under decades-old finance laws. However, the recent Republican landslide at the polls could result in a rollback of enforcement action from the securities regulator, according to Bloomberg. Additionally, President...Read More
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed a bill on October 24 to establish regulatory clarity for digital assets like Bitcoin (BTC) within the state. Known as House Bill 2481, or the “Bitcoin Rights” bill, the legislation passed with strong bipartisan support, receiving a vote of 176 to 26, including all 100 Republicans and 76 Democrats....Read More
Ripple chief executive Brad Garlinghouse has spoken out about the impacts of a change in administration on the US crypto industry. In an interview with Bloomberg on Oct. 23, he said that Joe Biden’s approach to regulating the crypto industry is coming to an end, and no matter what happens in the presidential election, “we’ll...Read More
Financial Services Commission Chairman Kim Byung-hwan said he would “look into it” regarding the market domination of the country’s leading crypto exchange Upbit. In a national assembly meeting, legislator Lee Kang-il raised issues about Upbit’s dominance and its close partnership with the local bank, K-Bank. The online banking firm holds a significant portion of Upbit’s...Read More
Taiwan’s Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) unveiled updated Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations on October 2nd. The main objective is to boost the oversight of local virtual asset service providers (VASPs). Non-compliant entities, on the other hand, will be heavily penalized. The revised regulations will supersede the existing AML framework. Updated AML Regulations Aim to Strengthen Crypto...Read More
A new survey by ConsenSys and HarrisX reveals that nearly half of U.S. voters (49%) consider a pro-crypto stance important when choosing political candidates. Additionally, 62% are willing to cross party lines for a candidate who supports pro-cryptocurrency policies. Crypto Regulation and Voter Sentiment The study also found that 85% of respondents want presidential candidates...Read More
Reports have emerged that Japan plans to assess the effectiveness of its cryptocurrency rules. The review, which will take place over the next few months, could pave the way for the launch of crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the country. Review to Evaluate Investor Protection The news was first reported by Bloomberg, which quoted an...Read More
Taiwan’s Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) has introduced a new policy allowing professional investors to invest in foreign cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs) through local brokers. The policy restricts access to these financial products to professional investors, including institutions, high-net-worth entities, and individuals classified as professionals. Suitability Assessments and Training Requirements According to a September 30 press...Read More
Gary Gensler, the chairman of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), believes there have been significant changes in the financial market requiring upgraded definitions of exchanges and alternative trading platforms. During the 10th Annual U.S. Treasury Market Conference on September 26, Gensler highlighted the shifts in the capital markets since the SEC first...Read More
A group of Republican lawmakers, headed by Rep. Patrick McHenry and Sen. Cynthia Lummis, have raised concerns over the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) approach to regulating crypto custody. In a letter addressed to SEC Chair Gary Gensler, the lawmakers demanded the agency “rescind” its Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 121 (SAB 121). Critique of SAB...Read More
German authorities have shut down 47 cryptocurrency exchanges operating in the country for allegedly facilitating large-scale money laundering operations for cybercriminals. According to an official statement by the Frankfurt main prosecutor’s office, the German office for combating Internet crime, and the federal criminal police office, these exchanges deliberately allowed their users to bypass Know You...Read More
Anthony Scaramucci, founder of the New York-based investment firm SkyBridge Capital, has revealed that he is working with Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris to draft crypto policies for her campaign. According to a CNBC report, Scaramucci made the revelation at the annual TOKEN2049 crypto conference on Thursday. He told a panel during the conference that...Read More
On-chain investigator ZachXBT has accused top crypto influencer Professor Crypto of using bots to manipulate his social media metrics. Following the allegations, the crypto influencer has deactivated his account without giving a response to the public. Fake Engagement Strategies In a post on X, the on-chain sleuth addressed the Youtuber, telling him to “lay off...Read More
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has ramped up its enforcement actions against the cryptocurrency sector in 2024, imposing nearly $4.7 billion in fines. This figure represents a 3,018% increase from the $150.3 million in fines issued in 2023. Record Breaking Settlement According to a report from Social Capital Markets, 2024’s figures are largely...Read More
On Sept. 11, the UK government introduced the “Property (Digital Assets) Bill,” which means that digital holdings, including cryptocurrency, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) such as digital art, and carbon credits, can be considered personal property under the law. “Tech-savvy owners of Bitcoin and other digital assets will benefit from greater legal protection thanks to an important clarification to...Read More
North Carolina legislators have approved a bill that prevents the U.S. state from accepting central bank digital currencies (CBDC) as a form of payment or participating in any related tests conducted by any branch of the Federal Reserve. According to the roll call transcript for the voting session, the North Carolina General Assembly passed the...Read More
The U.S. Federal Reserve has issued a cease-and-desist order against United Texas Bank (UTB), one of the few remaining American financial institutions still catering to crypto companies. The central bank cited “significant deficiencies” in its governance, particularly in its adherence to anti-money laundering (AML) laws and risk management tied to virtual currency customers and foreign...Read More
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has fined Uniswap Labs $175,000 for unlawfully offering leveraged and margined retail commodity transactions in digital assets. It marks the latest regulatory crackdown on the decentralized finance (DeFi) sector. Key Details of the Case In a September 4 statement addressing the matter, the agency said Uniswap facilitated illegal...Read More
In a post on X on Sept. 4, the American billionaire businessman said that Bitcoin has been an outsider to the TradFi community over the past five years, and it’s only now “dipping its toe into global finance.” He added that his firm, Cantor Fitzgerald, will help the traditional finance sector onboard Bitcoin as it...Read More
The Chief Legal Officer at Ripple Stuart Alderoty has publicly criticized the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over its use of the phrase “crypto asset security.” In a post published on his official X account, the lawyer argued that the term is a made-up concept that has no legitimate grounding. Lawyer, Court, Call Out...Read More
A London resident has become the first person in the UK to be charged with operating a Bitcoin ATM without proper registration. Habibur Rahman, 37, of Langdon Crescent, East Ham, was arrested on April 28, 2023, following a raid by Kent Police at a gadget shop in Chatham. Medway Trader Faces Charges for Laundering £300,000...Read More
German authorities seized nearly 250,000 euros ($279,000) in cash and 13 crypto ATMs during a nationwide crackdown. The operation, led by the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), is part of a broader effort to strengthen regulatory oversight in the country’s rapidly expanding cryptocurrency sector. Germany’s Raid on Crypto ATMs On August 20, German administrators executed...Read More
Several crypto industry figureheads met with White House officials on Thursday morning to attempt to mend relations between the emerging fintech sector and the U.S. Democratic Party, according to FOX Business. The meeting reportedly grew tense when the government denied the industry’s claims that there was a coordinated effort to cut off crypto firms from...Read More
