REGULATION
Cryptocurrencies are not issued by a monetary authority, are not controlled or regulated and their price is determined by the supply and demand of their market.
Kazakhstan Intends to Attract Over $738 Million in Crypto Investments in Next Three Years
The government of Kazakhstan is making plans to attract $738 million in investments related to cryptocurrencies and digital mining activities set up with the nation over the next three years.
Floyd Mayweather Promoted 2017 ICO Was a Fraud, Co-Founder Pleads Guilty
The $25 million 2017 Centra Tech ICO court case has finally resulted in a verdict against one of the co-founders who pleaded guilty to fraud yesterday. The other founders are still awaiting trial.
CFTC Chairman Calls For Principle-Based Not Rules-Based Regulation For Crypto
Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chairman Heath Tarbert has stated his preference for the financial governance to be principle based rather than a strictly enforced set of rules. This extends to cryptocurrency and digital assets.
The Algorand Foundation to Integrate Chainalysis KYT for Transaction Monitoring and Compliance
The Algorand Foundation will be leveraging Chainalysis’ Know Your Transaction (KYT) for transaction monitoring and compliance processes after its integration.
Trump Nominates SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce For Second Term
Crypto Mom, Hester Peirce has been nominated for a second term with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as one of its five commissioners, until 2025.
Louisiana State Congress Unanimously Pass Crypto-Business Licensing Bill
Crypto businesses may be offered a regulated path to legalization in the state of Louisiana. The proposed bill has been backed by Louisiana state representative Mark Weight. Should the bill be passed, the state would have a regulated crypto framework to operate within and would provide an official definition of traditionally ambiguous cryptocurrency-related terms.
Argentina Orders Stricter Monitoring on Local Crypto Transactions Amid Battling the Flight of Devalued Pesos
Argentina’s Financial Information Unit (FIU) has ordered stricter controls and monitoring into cryptocurrency transactions in the country to eradicate money laundering and other illicit activities. Argentine newspaper El Cronista reported that the FIU, a government agency that is responsible for enforcing anti-money laundering laws and compliance, is looking to tighten its controls on cryptocurrency trading.
Myanmar says Cryptocurrencies are Banned, but Local Users Disagree
Even though the Myanmar government said earlier this month that Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are not legal tenders in the country, fanatics continue to interact with the technology.
New York Times Square Billboard Demands Release of Silk Road Darknet Drug Trafficker
A billboard in Times Square has been hired by the ‘Free Ross’ movement as part of a campaign to release the Ross Ulbricht, founder of the Silk Road drug trafficking marketplace on the darknet.
“We Can’t Let China Beat Us,” Document shows US Regulators Want to Pass a National Blockchain Bill
Lawmakers in the US are coaxing the federal government to consider a national blockchain strategy for regulation and growth, citing China’s Blockchain Service Network as an example.
Telegram Abandons TON and Gram Tokens, Durov Critical of US Regulating Whole World
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has announced that they are calling it quits on the Telegram Open Network (TON) and its Gram tokens after a drawn-out battle with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
HSBC Chief Legal Officer Stuart Levey Gets Appointed as Libra’s New CEO, Expert in Dealing with Regulatory Backlash
The Libra Association appointed its first CEO, Stuart Levey, the Chief Legal Officer at HSBC Holdings. Levey will be overseeing the Libra digital currency and payments system and holds a strong compliance track record and is expected to join Libra in the coming months. However, HSBC has not shown the same upright compliance record. Levey is also expected to “combine technology innovation with robust compliance and regulatory framework.” The Facebook-led project has invited scrutiny from global regulators, with concerns over its threat to national sovereignty with its potential launch. Many of Libra’s original members, including Vodafone, PayPal, and Visa have also chosen to leave the association.
Dutch Central Bank Forces Crypto Firms to Register Within Two Weeks or Face Cease and Desist
The Dutch Central Bank, De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) has announced that crypto companies must register with the authority by May 18, or to stop operating immediately. DNB has looking to enforce the Dutch anti-money laundering (AML) laws, which was passed by the Dutch Parliament in April to comply with the Fourth Anti-Money Laundering Directive (AMLD4) laws. The Dutch AML laws are in compliance with the Financial Action Task Force-recommended AML directives and standards.
European Central Bank Encourages Clear Regulatory Structure for Stablecoins to Reap the Benefits While Minimizing Potential Risks
The European Central Bank (ECB) published an in-depth report on global stablecoins, focusing on highlighting the requirement for clear regulatory parameters for stablecoins, and the risks it may pose to financial stability. The ECB suggests that a “robust regulatory framework” must be established to address risks before its benefits could be explored.
Why Hong Kong is Still Not Ready to Become Asia's Leader in Crypto and Blockchain
During a live webinar, as part of the UK FinTech Week, Clara Chiu, the Head of Fintech Unit & Director of Licensing at the SFC explicitly stated that Hong Kong does not have the mandate to create a large regulatory regime for cryptocurrencies or to attract more investors or players in the crypto field. Rather than promoting the crypto sector, Hong Kong is rather focused on protecting investors and promoting new regulations for the same reason. Is focusing on licensing enough for the city?
