SWIFT Publishes Blockchain Pilot Findings; Firms Announce USDC Integrations - According to a recent press release, the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (Swift) recently published a report with...more
Virtual asset is an innovative technology representing value which could be stored, traded, transferred or used as a payment tool in a digital form. Bitcoin, crypto assets, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are all virtual assets. ...more
In a series of articles, we discuss recent efforts by U.S. regulators and other bodies to set expectations and standards with respect to cryptocurrencies and other virtual assets and the impact of these efforts on businesses...more
U.S. Developments - Tesla buys $1.5 billion in Bitcoin - In a 10-K filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Monday, Tesla announced that it had bought $1.5 billion worth of bitcoin. Tesla said the...more
US Regulatory Developments - New York’s Financial Services Regulator Announces New Virtual Currency Initiatives - It has been five years since the New York Department of Financial Services (the NYDFS) issued the...more
The growing rigor of virtual asset service provider (VASP) regulation and supervision globally has strengthened the compliance focus of leading VASPs, increasing their access to the traditional financial system and to...more
FinCEN Director Ken Blanco addressed this year’s Consensus Blockchain Conference on May 13, 2020. In a set of prepared remarks, Blanco recognized the unprecedented challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has created for...more
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin remarked before a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee three weeks ago that “significant new requirements at FinCEN” for cryptocurrencies would be introduced quickly, in response to...more
The G20 has urged countries to adopt the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards on virtual assets and virtual asset service providers, which were adopted in June last year. ...more
The Travel Rule is an old friend for those familiar with banking regulations and anti-money laundering rules. The Rule, first issued by FinCEN in 1995 with fiat currency in mind, requires banks and nonbank financial...more
U.S. Developments - Enforcement and Litigation Developments - Craig Wright Faces Sanctions - Craig Wright, the self-proclaimed inventor of Bitcoin, has been tied up in litigation since February 2018 related to his...more
U.S. Regulatory - Kik Files Answer to SEC Complaint - On August 7, Canadian messaging company Kik Interactive Inc. (“Kik”) filed its answer to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) complaint filed in the...more
U.S. Developments - Legislative Updates - Facebook’s David Marcus Testifies Before Congress on Libra - David Marcus, the Facebook blockchain chief in charge of its planned Libra cryptocurrency and Calibra-branded...more
CFTC Plans Public Meeting Addressing Fintech, Including Blockchain Technology - On March 27, 2019, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Technology Advisory Committee will host a public meeting at the CFTC...more
SEC Launches FinHub, FATF Revises Cryptocurrency Guidance - On Oct. 18, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced the creation of the Strategic Hub for Innovation and Financial Technology (FinHub). ...more
• The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) staff made official statements regarding when a token may or may no longer be a security • The SEC continued to bring actions related to cryptocurrency offerings against...more
U.S. Developments - Regulatory Updates - CFTC Issues Customer Advisory Urging Public to Use Caution When Buying Virtual Currencies - On July 16, 2018, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) issued...more
On February 23, the Financial Action Task Force (“FATF”) signaled that the inter-governmental body “will step up its efforts in monitoring the use of cryptocurrencies in money laundering.” ...more
Argentina - Virtual currencies are not legal tender under the country’s National Constitution, which designates the Central Bank as the only authority that may issue legal tender. Although not specifically regulated,...more
Virtual and digital currencies continue to be the focus of policy makers around the globe. In addition to new reports from international bodies addressing both the benefits and risks of the currencies, California...more