FIT21 would provide regulatory certainty for the US digital asset ecosystem, balancing support for innovation with consumer protection....more
5/30/2024
/ Blockchain ,
CFTC ,
Commodities ,
Consumer Protection Laws ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Decentralized Finance (DeFi) ,
Digital Assets ,
FinTech ,
Investment Contract ,
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) ,
Pending Legislation ,
Rulemaking Process ,
Securities ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Stablecoins
The legislation allows decentralized autonomous organizations to gain legal entity status and operate within the bounds of applicable law. ...more
4/2/2024
/ CFTC ,
Corporate Governance ,
Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) ,
Ether ,
Ethereum ,
Governance Standards ,
Howey ,
Indemnification ,
Investment Contract ,
Legal Entities ,
Liability ,
Limited Liability ,
Market Participants ,
Membership Interest ,
Nonprofits ,
Securities Act of 1933 ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Service of Process
The viability of DAO structures draws attention after a judge declares that a decentralized autonomous organization is a “person” under the law.
On June 8, 2023, the US District Court for the Northern District of...more
The proposed bill sets forth a comprehensive framework for the digital asset ecosystem by bridging regulatory gaps, promoting innovation, and protecting consumers.
On June 2, 2023, Patrick McHenry, Chairman of the House...more
6/30/2023
/ Advisory Committee ,
Anti-Fraud Provisions ,
Anti-Manipulation Rule ,
CFTC ,
Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) ,
Consumer Protection Laws ,
Cryptoassets ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Decentralized Finance (DeFi) ,
Digital Assets ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Investment Contract ,
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Registration Requirement ,
Regulatory Authority ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Stablecoins
The plan directs the agency to develop a robust regulatory framework to prevent market misconduct, as SEC officials’ public comments keep advancements in technology high on the agenda.
On August 25, 2022, the Securities...more
9/16/2022
/ CFTC ,
Digital Assets ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Enforcement ,
Howey ,
Popular ,
Retail Investors ,
Reves Test ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Strategic Planning ,
Technology Sector
Securities issues are covered in Title III (Responsible Securities Innovation) of the Responsible Financial Innovation Act (RFIA). The RFIA would add a new Section 41 to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Securities...more
The report addresses the market risks and regulatory challenges presented by stablecoins and urges Congress to act quickly.
On November 1, 2021, the President’s Working Group on Financial Markets (PWG) in conjunction...more
11/11/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
CFTC ,
Digital Assets ,
Digital Currency ,
FDIC ,
Financial Markets ,
Financial Services Industry ,
FSB ,
FSOC ,
Information Reports ,
IOSCO ,
OCC ,
Prudential Standards ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Risk Factors ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Stablecoins
An ambitious proposal could bring digital assets into the mainstream regulatory fold. During an eventful summer for the digital assets industry, it may have been easy to miss US Representative Don Beyer’s introduction of the...more
9/13/2021
/ Anti-Money Laundering ,
Bank Secrecy Act ,
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDCs) ,
CFTC ,
Commodities ,
Cryptoassets ,
Digital Assets ,
Enforcement Authority ,
FDIC ,
Federal Reserve ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Securities ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Stablecoins ,
U.S. Treasury
A sovereign nation’s decision to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender raises interesting questions — and legal ramifications.
On June 8, 2021, El Salvador’s Legislative Assembly voted to establish Bitcoin as unrestricted legal...more
6/25/2021
/ Article 9 ,
Banking Sector ,
Bitcoin ,
CFTC ,
Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) ,
Cryptocurrency ,
El Salvador ,
Exchange-Traded Products ,
Financial Action Task Force ,
Foreign Currency ,
IRS ,
Money Transfer ,
Multinationals ,
New Legislation ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Uniform Commercial Code (UCC)
Regulators once again offered piecemeal guidance, while focusing on risks and enforcement. Meanwhile, innovation and institutional adoption took off. Last year, Latham & Watkins sounded a hopeful note that 2020 would provide...more
1/22/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDCs) ,
CFTC ,
Digital Assets ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Federal Reserve ,
FinCEN ,
No-Action Letters ,
OCC ,
Popular ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Safe Harbors ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Tokens ,
Token Sales
US regulators are calling attention to financial firms’ obligations to protect against evolving cybersecurity threats.
On October 2, 2019, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) issued an information notice to...more
11/26/2019
/ Business E-Mail Compromise (BEC) ,
CFTC ,
Cyber Attacks ,
Cyber Threats ,
Cybersecurity ,
Data Protection ,
Data Security ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) ,
Information Systems Security Program (ISSP) ,
National Futures Association ,
New Guidance
Developing a framework for consumer tokens -
With the rapid growth in the development of blockchain technology, virtual currencies and token sales (sometimes referred to as initial coin offerings, or ICOs), token...more
11/13/2019
/ Blockchain ,
CFTC ,
Commodities ,
Compliance ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Derivatives ,
Digital Assets ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Futures ,
Howey ,
Initial Coin Offering (ICOs) ,
Securities Act of 1933 ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Swaps ,
Token Sales
Latham & Watkins has collaborated with ConsenSys to launch the Automated Convertible Note to help startups raise capital using a traditional financing instrument with an eye toward a future distribution of tokens.
In...more
5/28/2019
/ Capital Raising ,
CFTC ,
Commodities ,
Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) ,
Convertible Notes ,
Financial Instruments ,
Most-Favored Nations ,
Securities ,
Securities Exchange Act ,
Startups ,
Token Sales
Developing a framework for consumer tokens -
With the rapid growth in the development of blockchain technology, virtual currencies and token sales (sometimes referred to as initial coin offerings, or ICOs) in 2017 and...more
9/19/2018
/ Bitcoin ,
Blockchain ,
CFTC ,
Commodities ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Currency Control ,
Initial Coin Offering (ICOs) ,
Popular ,
Securities ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Token Sales ,
Tokenization ,
Virtual Currency
Best execution is currently a hot topic for global regulators and the past year has seen notable regulatory focus in this area. Amid this development, firms are recommended to review their global best execution compliance...more
How should broker-dealers, investment advisers, and other registered firms in the US, UK, and Hong Kong address cryptocurrencies in their compliance programs?
Originally published on bloombergbna.com on April 16,...more
Cryptocurrency is on the rise...and so are enforcement actions.
In less than a decade, cyptocurrencies have grown from a novelty reserved for those dealing in the illicit into a robust platform embraced by financial...more
12/9/2015
/ Anti-Money Laundering ,
Bitcoin ,
BitLicense ,
CFTC ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Dodd-Frank ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
FinCEN ,
Popular ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Young Lawyers
The CFTC discusses first Bitcoin swap listed on a CFTC-regulated platform and Bitcoin regulation generally with panel of industry participants.
The Global Markets Advisory Committee (GMAC) of the U.S. Commodity...more