District Court Upholds Tornado Cash Sanctions, DOJ Charges Founders -
On August 17, a Texas federal court found that Tornado Cash, a crypto mixer (which obscures the source of crypto transactions) is an entity that can be...more
8/28/2023
/ Bitcoin ,
Blockchain ,
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDCs) ,
Conspiracies ,
Criminal Conspiracy ,
Crypto Exchanges ,
Cryptoassets ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
E-Commerce ,
Enforcement Actions ,
ETFs ,
Hackers ,
Indictments ,
IRS ,
Monetary Authority of Singapore ,
Money Laundering ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Popular ,
Proposed Regulation ,
Singapore ,
Stablecoins ,
U.S. Treasury
U.S. Fintech Firm Launches Stablecoin; Circle Launches ‘Programmable Wallets’ -
A major U.S. fintech and payments firm recently announced the launch of a U.S. dollar-denominated stablecoin, PYUSD. According to a press...more
8/14/2023
/ Bitcoin ,
Blockchain ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Digital Assets ,
Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Financial Services Industry ,
FinTech ,
Initial Coin Offering (ICOs) ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Stablecoins ,
Token Sales
Federal District Court Enters Default Judgment Based on NFT Service of Process -
A federal district court judge in Florida entered a $2.2 million default judgment against a defendant on whom the judge previously authorized...more
8/10/2023
/ Blockchain ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Decentralized Finance (DeFi) ,
Digital Assets ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Ethereum ,
Fraud ,
IRS ,
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Popular ,
Revenue Procedures ,
SDN List ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Token Sales ,
Unregistered Securities
French Bank Licensed to Offer Crypto Services, New Crypto Products Launch -
According to recent reports, one of the largest banks in France recently received the first license for crypto services issued by the French...more
New Crypto Products Launch in Exchanges, Wallets, and Custody -
A recent press release announced the launch of EDX Markets, a “first-of-its-kind digital asset marketplace designed to enable safe and compliant trading of...more
6/26/2023
/ Bitcoin ,
Blockchain ,
Cease and Desist Orders ,
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDCs) ,
Corporate Governance ,
Crypto Exchanges ,
Cryptoassets ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Digital Assets ,
Digital Platforms ,
Enforcement ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Financial Services Industry ,
FinTech ,
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) ,
Popular
CBDC Initiatives Advance in Colombia and Hong Kong -
According to a recent press release, a major U.S. fintech company and “leader in enterprise blockchain and crypto solutions” has announced a collaboration with Colombia’s...more
6/20/2023
/ Bitcoin ,
Blockchain ,
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDCs) ,
CFTC ,
Colombia ,
Criminal Prosecution ,
Crypto Exchanges ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) ,
Decentralized Finance (DeFi) ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Digital Currency ,
Digital Wallets ,
Hackers ,
Hong Kong ,
Popular
Crypto Firms Announce New Product Launches in Custody, Stablecoins, Wallets -
According to a recent press release, Prometheum Capital has received the first-ever approval from the Financial Industry Regulation Authority...more
6/5/2023
/ Broker-Dealer ,
CFTC ,
Criminal Prosecution ,
Cryptoassets ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Enforcement Actions ,
European Banking Authority (EBA) ,
Financial Services Industry ,
FinTech ,
Fraud ,
IOSCO ,
New Guidance ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Popular ,
SDN List ,
Securities ,
State Attorneys General ,
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
ETH Staking Data Published, Blockchain Solutions Launch for Financial Services -
According to a recent report, Ethereum’s ether (ETH) staking rewards “hit a record 8.6% post-Merge, with validators earning $46 million in...more
5/15/2023
/ ATMs ,
Blockchain ,
Crypto Exchanges ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Digital Assets ,
Ethereum ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Hackers ,
Malware ,
Phishing Scams ,
Proposed Legislation ,
State Attorneys General ,
UK
Multiple Financial Services Firms Announce New Crypto Products -
A major U.S. financial services firm recently launched its Crypto Credential product, “a set of common standards and infrastructure that will help verify...more
5/8/2023
/ Blockchain ,
CFTC ,
Criminal Prosecution ,
Crypto Exchanges ,
Cryptoassets ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Decentralized Finance (DeFi) ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Digital Assets ,
Enforcement ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Enforcement Priorities ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Fraud ,
Income Taxes ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Payment Methods ,
Popular ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
UK
Montenegro Announces CBDC Pilot, BIS Compares CBDCs to Stablecoins -
According to a recent press release, “The Central Bank of Montenegro (CBCG) has agreed to collaborate with the enterprise crypto and blockchain solutions...more
4/17/2023
/ AML/CFT ,
Banks ,
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDCs) ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) ,
Decentralized Finance (DeFi) ,
Ethereum ,
EU ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Hackers ,
Popular ,
Risk Assessment ,
Stablecoins ,
Tax Liability ,
U.S. Treasury
Crypto Exchange Ends U.S. Operations, Swiss Bank to Expand Crypto Offerings -
Late last month, Bittrex, a leading cryptocurrency exchange founded in Seattle, announced it was closing U.S. operations effective April 30,...more
4/10/2023
/ Anti-Money Laundering ,
Commodities ,
Compliance ,
Crypto Exchanges ,
Cryptoassets ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Fraud ,
Money Laundering ,
National Futures Association ,
Ponzi Scheme ,
Popular ,
Scams ,
State Securities Regulators
Staking Market Launches, ‘Defi Cover’ Data Published, DAO Buys Golf Course
According to a recent press release, MetaMask Institutional, “the web3 wallet for organizations,” has launched its “institutional staking...more
3/27/2023
/ Biden Administration ,
Blockchain ,
Celebrities ,
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDCs) ,
Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) ,
Decentralized Finance (DeFi) ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Digital Assets ,
Fraud ,
Hackers ,
IRS ,
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) ,
Popular ,
Russia ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Wells Notice
Reserve Bank of Australia and BIS Commence Efforts to Advance CBDCs -
In a recent announcement, the Reserve Bank of Australia and the Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre (DFCRC) released details on an ongoing...more
3/13/2023
/ Bitcoin ,
Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) ,
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDCs) ,
Criminal Prosecution ,
Crypto Exchanges ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Digital Assets ,
Enforcement Actions ,
FinTech ,
PCAOB ,
Risk Assessment ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Proof of Stake Alliance Publishes Analysis, Advocates for Industry Standards -
This week the Proof of Stake Alliance (POSA), a nonprofit industry alliance focused on proof of stake (PoS) ecosystems, announced their newly...more
2/27/2023
/ CFTC ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Digital Assets ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Enforcement Priorities ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Financial Transactions ,
Howey ,
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Unregistered Securities
DeFi, Stablecoin Products Launch; Bitcoin Network Spikes Due to NFTs -
According to reports, a new decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol recently launched that allows users to deposit the stablecoins USDC or DAI in a...more
2/13/2023
/ Bitcoin ,
Blockchain ,
Criminal Prosecution ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Decentralized Finance (DeFi) ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Digital Assets ,
FASB ,
Individual Retirement Account (IRA) ,
Money Laundering ,
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) ,
North Korea ,
Ransomware ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Tokens ,
Stablecoins
White House Addresses Crypto Risks; Blockchain Firm Wins Air Force Contract -
The White House issued a statement last week briefly outlining the Biden administration’s road map to mitigate the risks of cryptocurrencies,...more
2/6/2023
/ Biden Administration ,
Bitcoin ,
Blockchain ,
Crypto Exchanges ,
Cryptoassets ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Digital Assets ,
Ethereum ,
Executive Orders ,
Fraud ,
Hong Kong ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
SDN List ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Stablecoins ,
UK
Paper Explores Benefits of DeFi for FX; Australian Bank Launches Stablecoin -
A recent industry paper found that DeFi can reduce costs and enhance transparency in foreign exchange (FX) markets. The paper concludes that...more
1/23/2023
/ Blockchain ,
Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) ,
Decentralized Finance (DeFi) ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Digital Assets ,
Enforcement Actions ,
FinCEN ,
Online Platforms ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Stablecoins
On January 4, 2023, the New York State Department of Financial Services (“DFS”) announced that Coinbase, Inc., a major U.S. cryptocurrency exchange, will pay a $50 million penalty and invest an additional $50 million in its...more
1/17/2023
/ Anti-Money Laundering ,
Bank Secrecy Act ,
Coinbase ,
Compliance ,
Consent Order ,
Crypto Exchanges ,
Customer Due Diligence (CDD) ,
Cybersecurity ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Government Investigations ,
Know Your Customers ,
Money Transmitter ,
NYDFS ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Regulatory Violations ,
Settlement ,
Statutory Violations ,
Virtual Currency
Crypto Apps Launch New Features, Custody Firm Achieves CCSS Certificate -
According to recent reports, Uniswap V3 was the most used Ethereum contract in 2022, seeing over 15.5 million transactions throughout 2022 and using...more
1/9/2023
/ Cryptoassets ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Digital Assets ,
Fraud ,
Fundraisers ,
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) ,
Popular ,
Risk Alert ,
Risk Assessment ,
Scams ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Unregistered Securities
Payments Firms Launch Crypto Products, New DeFi Price Indices Announced -
A U.S. fintech company recently announced the launch of a fiat-to-crypto on-ramp, which facilitates fiat-to-crypto payments using “a customizable...more
12/12/2022
/ AML/CFT ,
Bitcoin ,
Blockchain ,
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDCs) ,
Compliance ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Decentralized Finance (DeFi) ,
Enforcement Priorities ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Financial Services Industry ,
FinCEN ,
FinTech ,
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) ,
Popular ,
Royalties ,
Token Sales ,
Trading Platforms
New Crypto Market Data Published, Blockchain Settlement Pilot Announced -
The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) recently published the results of a study “to investigate the drivers of crypto adoption” by assembling a...more
In a sudden and stunning collapse, FTX, the world’s second largest cryptocurrency exchange, run by 30-year-old Sam Bankman-Fried along with more than 130 entities affiliated with FTX, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy...more
Crypto Products Launch in Debit Cards, Payment Gateways, Trading Platforms -
This week, two cryptocurrency financial services and trading platforms announced partnerships with traditional financial services companies to...more
10/31/2022
/ Bitcoin ,
Blockchain ,
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDCs) ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Enforcement Actions ,
EU ,
FinTech ,
Malware ,
Metaverse ,
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) ,
Payment Systems ,
Regulatory Authority ,
State Securities Regulators ,
Supply Chain
On October 11, 2022, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced a $29 million civil monetary penalty against Bittrex, a...more
10/25/2022
/ Bank Secrecy Act ,
BSA/AML ,
Civil Monetary Penalty ,
Compliance ,
Consent Order ,
Crypto Exchanges ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Enforcement Actions ,
FinCEN ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Statutory Violations
New Crypto Products Launch in Custody, Cloud Collaborations and Stablecoins -
This week, a major U.S. financial institution announced that its Digital Asset Custody platform is now live in the United States. According to...more
10/17/2022
/ Bitcoin ,
Blockchain ,
Crypto Exchanges ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Digital Currency ,
Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Financial Stability Board ,
FinCEN ,
Fines ,
Government Investigations ,
Hackers ,
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) ,
OECD ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Stablecoins ,
Statutory Violations