Financial Services Firms Expand Cryptocurrency Custody Services - According to recent reports, the cryptocurrency custody arm of a major international bank has launched its institutional cryptocurrency custody services in...more
Cryptocurrency has entered that stage, common to newly traded assets, where volume matters. When that happens, traders in a new frontier seem unable to resist the temptation to engage in wash trades to build their book and...more
Reports Address Crypto M&A and Metaverse, New Crypto Products Launch - A Big Four accounting firm recently released its “2021 Global Cryptocurrency Mergers and Acquisition and Fundraising Report.” Key takeaways from the...more
U.S. Bank Seeks to Launch Stablecoin; New Crypto Payments Data Released - A well-known digital payments consortium sold its technology platform this week to a U.S.-based bank known for its cryptocurrency-related offerings....more
On September 10, 2020, the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) issued the latest in a series of circulars regarding corporate compliance released this summer by government agencies. In June, the Criminal Division of...more
A federal judge in the Northern District of Illinois ruled that Chicago derivatives firm DV Trading LLC can force three futures traders to arbitrate claims that it is withholding $1.6 million to defray a $5 million regulatory...more
A well-renowned think tank sued the Securities and Exchange Commission claiming that the SEC’s prohibition against respondents contesting allegations in enforcement settlements violates the freedom of speech guarantee under...more
J. Christopher Giancarlo, Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, laid out his priorities for the remainder of 2018 in a speech before the FIA at its annual conference last week. Unrelatedly, the Securities and...more
The Financial Conduct Authority published a Final Notice in relation to Neil Danziger, a former RBS interest rate derivatives trader, in connection with his involvement in the manipulation of Japanese Yen LIBOR. The FCA...more
Three CFTC-Regulated Exchanges Self-Certify Bitcoin Derivatives Contracts: On December 1, three exchanges regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission self-certified new cash-settled derivatives contracts based on...more
Backers of Tezos Initial Coin Offering Named in Prospective Class Action Litigation: On October 25, the promoters of a highly successful initial coin offering to support development of the Tezos blockchain project and other...more
UK-Based Subsidiary of US Bank Fined UK £34.5 Million for Not Reporting Certain Derivatives Transactions As Required: UK-based Merrill Lynch International consented to the imposition of a fine of £34.5 million (the equivalent...more
Non-US Commodity Firm Settles CFTC Allegations of Wash Trading for US $300,000 Fine: Copersucar Trading A.V.V., an Aruban corporation that engages in the import and export of sugar and related hedging activities, consented to...more
If you own stock that is currently worth less than what you paid for it you might wish to consider selling it and then reacquiring it by purchase -- if you think that the stock has reached its low point but feel that it is...more
CFTC Postpones Swap Dealer Compliance Date for OTC Swaps Variation Margin Requirements; Other Regulators Likely to Exercise Forbearance: On February 13, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Division of Swap Dealer and...more
In 2016, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC or Commission) continued to pursue high-profile enforcement cases and to test its new enforcement authority under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer...more
Effective February 23, 2016, ICE Futures U.S., Inc. (“ICE” or “Exchange”) issued a revised Wash Trade Frequently Asked Questions (“ICE FAQ”). This ICE FAQ replaces a 2009 ICE Wash Trade FAQ and provides additional guidance...more
Court Chastises SEC for Causing Unwarranted Collapse of Foreign Bank: A federal judge in New York severely criticized the Securities and Exchange Commission over its handling of a lawsuit against Caledonian Bank Ltd.,...more
Three Individuals Fined and Banned From Trading on CME Group Exchanges for Market Conduct Violations - CME Group business conduct committees permanently banned three traders from trading on CME Group exchanges for market...more
Regulatory Developments - SEC Proposes to Amend Administrative Proceedings Rules: On Sept. 24 the SEC announced that it had voted to propose amendments to rules governing its administrative proceedings. The...more
ESMA Says “No for Now” to Granting Passport Rights to US Fund Managers Under AIFMD - The European Securities and Markets Authority told the European Commission last week that it was premature to grant passport rights to...more
ESMA Says “No for Now” to Granting Passport Rights to US Fund Managers Under AIFMD: The European Securities and Markets Authority told the European Commission last week that it was premature to grant passport rights to...more
On January 6, the CME Group Exchanges (CME Group) issued an amended Advisory Notice on wash trades, which removes language prohibiting block trades between accounts with the same beneficial ownership. As reported in the...more
On December 17, the CME Group Exchanges (CME Group) issued Market Regulation Advisory Notice RA1411-5 to provide updated guidance on wash trades. The Advisory Notice revises portions of the frequently asked questions section...more
On December 18, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York entered a Consent Order against a foreign bank (the “Bank”), imposing a civil monetary penalty of $35 million and enjoining future violations by...more