In this episode of the Crypto Exchange, Ethan Ostroff is joined by colleagues Pete Jeydel and Matt Orso to discuss a recent landmark decision from the Fifth Circuit regarding Tornado Cash. The court ruled that the Office of...more
Cryptocurrency, with its anonymity and decentralization, has revolutionized financial transactions. However, it has also opened doors for illicit activities, such as terrorist financing. Below we explore the role of...more
1/17/2024
/ AML/CFT ,
Anti-Money Laundering ,
Cryptoassets ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Financial Crimes ,
Financial Regulatory Reform ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Financial Transactions ,
FinTech ,
Hamas ,
Money Laundering ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Terrorist Financing Regulations
The marijuana industry has seen exponential growth over the past few years. However, the federal prohibition of marijuana poses significant challenges for businesses in this sector, in terms of payment processing and banking....more
1/11/2024
/ Agribusiness ,
Controlled Substances ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Dispensaries ,
Financial Services Industry ,
FinTech ,
Internal Revenue Code (IRC) ,
IRS ,
Marijuana ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
Tax Code
On November 20, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) instituted a civil enforcement action against Kraken, a major U.S. cryptocurrency exchange. The SEC alleged Kraken operated as an unregistered broker, dealer,...more
12/7/2023
/ Civil Monetary Penalty ,
Crypto Exchanges ,
Cryptoassets ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Financial Services Industry ,
FinTech ,
Investment Contract ,
Investment Products ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
On November 21, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) unsealed its criminal indictment against Binance.com (Binance), the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, and its CEO, Changpeng “CZ” Zhao (CZ). The indictment against...more
12/1/2023
/ Anti-Money Laundering ,
BSA/AML ,
CFTC ,
Consent Order ,
Criminal Prosecution ,
Crypto Exchanges ,
Cryptoassets ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Financial Services Industry ,
FinCEN ,
Indictments ,
International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Settlement
The legal marijuana industry has grown rapidly in the U.S., with 38 states, three territories, and the District of Columbia legalizing its use for medical and/or recreational purposes. However, despite the industry’s growth,...more
11/30/2023
/ Agribusiness ,
Controlled Substances ,
Controlled Substances Act ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Decriminalization of Marijuana ,
Dispensaries ,
Financial Institutions ,
Marijuana ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
Mobile Payments ,
Retail Market ,
Stablecoins
On October 13, California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) signed Assembly Bill 39 (Digital Financial Assets Law). This new law broadly empowers the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) to govern...more
11/7/2023
/ AML/CFT ,
Anti-Money Laundering ,
ATMs ,
Bank Secrecy Act ,
California ,
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
Cryptoassets ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) ,
Digital Assets ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
FDIC ,
Financial Regulatory Reform ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Money Laundering ,
New Regulations ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Stablecoins
As reported in more detail on our Regulatory Oversight blog, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Examinations recently released its 2024 Examination Priorities report. The report underscores the SEC’s intent...more
10/31/2023
/ Anti-Money Laundering ,
Bank Secrecy Act ,
Broker-Dealer ,
BSA/AML ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Customer Identification Program (CIP) ,
Digital Assets ,
Emerging Technologies ,
Financial Institutions ,
SEC Examination Priorities ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs)
On October 16, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Examinations (the Division) released its 2024 Examination Priorities report. The report highlights that future examinations will focus on “risk areas...more
10/31/2023
/ Anti-Money Laundering ,
Bank Secrecy Act ,
Beneficial Owner ,
Broker-Dealer ,
BSA/AML ,
Cryptoassets ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Emerging Technology Companies ,
Financial Institutions ,
Investment Adviser ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
SEC Examination Priorities ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Technology
On October 19, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) dismissed its claims against Ripple Labs, Inc. (Ripple) executives Bradley Garlinghouse and Christian Larsen for allegedly aiding and abetting Ripple’s violations of...more
10/23/2023
/ Cryptoassets ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Cybersecurity ,
Digital Assets ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Interlocutory Appeals ,
Popular ,
Ripple ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Violations ,
Summary Judgment ,
Trading Platforms
On September 8, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network of the U.S. Department of Treasury (FinCEN) issued an alert warning financial institutions to be vigilant against a prominent virtual currency investment scam called...more
9/13/2023
/ Cryptocurrency ,
Electronic Fund Transfer Act ,
Financial Crimes ,
Financial Fraud ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Services Industry ,
FinCEN ,
Money Laundering ,
Red Flags Rule ,
Risk Management ,
U.S. Treasury ,
Virtual Currency
In this episode of The Crypto Exchange, Troutman Pepper Partner Ethan Ostroff welcomes his colleagues Mike Lowe and Matt Orso to discuss the U.S. Department of Treasury's Illicit Finance Risk Assessment of Decentralized...more
Coinbase Financial Markets, Inc., a leading cryptocurrency exchange, announced that it has secured regulatory approval from the National Futures Association (NFA) to operate a futures commission merchant offering crypto...more
8/18/2023
/ CFTC ,
Coinbase ,
Consumer Financial Products ,
Crypto Exchanges ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Derivatives ,
Financial Markets ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Futures Commission Merchants (FCMs) ,
National Futures Association ,
Securities Regulation
On July 13, U.S. Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Roger Marshall (R-KS) introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that seeks to examine the...more
7/26/2023
/ Amended Regulation ,
Anti-Money Laundering ,
Bank Secrecy Act ,
BSA/AML ,
CFTC ,
Cryptoassets ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Services Industry ,
FinCEN ,
NDAA ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Stablecoins