Our fifth episode provides an overview of the key legal issues facing cryptocurrencies and blockchain in the U.S....more
3/30/2022
/ Bank Secrecy Act ,
Banking Sector ,
Biden Administration ,
Blockchain ,
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDCs) ,
CFTC ,
Commodities ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Derivatives ,
Digital Assets ,
Digital Currency ,
Executive Orders ,
FinCEN ,
IRS ,
Money Transmitter ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Stablecoins ,
Unregistered Securities ,
Virtual Currency
This week a U.S. investment bank announced the public launch of its digital asset division. According to a press release, “the new division offers full-service trade execution and custody solutions on a platform that provides...more
On March 9, 2022, President Joe Biden signed the Executive Order on Ensuring Responsible Development of Digital Assets (EO) and the White House released a corresponding fact sheet summarizing related key policy objectives. As...more
Traditional Financial Firms Expand Reach into Cryptocurrency Sphere -
Early this week, a major investment bank announced that it plans to launch a digital asset custody platform later this year. This announcement follows...more
3/7/2022
/ Charitable Donations ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Digital Assets ,
Donations ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Enforcement Priorities ,
FATF ,
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) ,
Ponzi Scheme ,
Popular ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Ukraine
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
2/22/2022
/ Acquisitions ,
Capital Raising ,
Corporate Governance ,
Cross-Border Transactions ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Digital Assets ,
Enforcement ,
FATF ,
Information Reports ,
Mergers ,
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Stablecoins ,
U.S. Treasury ,
Wash Trades
Key Takeaways -
..Banks and cryptocurrency exchanges need to update their BSA programs to account for the unique aspects of cryptocurrencies, detect and report related suspicious activity, and minimize the risk of...more
2/17/2022
/ BSA/AML ,
Compliance ,
Corporate Criminal Fines ,
Criminal Prosecution ,
Crypto Exchanges ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Cyber Crimes ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Digital Currency ,
FBI ,
Financial Institutions ,
FinCEN ,
Policies and Procedures ,
U.S. Treasury ,
White Collar Crimes
CBDC Research Published, Fintech Firms and Banks Launch Crypto Initiatives -
The Boston branch of a major U.S. banking agency and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology recently released “the findings of their initial...more
2/14/2022
/ Anti-Money Laundering ,
Banks ,
Blockchain ,
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDCs) ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Decentralized Finance (DeFi) ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Enforcement Actions ,
FinTech ,
HMRC ,
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) ,
Securities Transactions ,
UK
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
2/7/2022
/ Bitcoin ,
Blockchain ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Cyber Attacks ,
Decentralized Finance (DeFi) ,
ETFs ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Financial Services Industry ,
FinTech ,
Hackers ,
Money Laundering ,
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) ,
Popular ,
Scams ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Stablecoins ,
Wash Trades
Crypto Payments Consortium Sells Assets; Other Crypto Firms Make Moves -
A well-known digital payments consortium announced this week that it will sell its blockchain-based technology to a large cryptocurrency-focused U.S....more
1/31/2022
/ Bitcoin ,
Blockchain ,
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDCs) ,
Criminal Prosecution ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
FinTech ,
GAAP ,
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) ,
Popular ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
From Music to Marketplaces: NFT Use Cases Continue to Expand - According to recent reports, a Philadelphia rapper has announced that the final installment of his mixtape series will drop as a non-fungible token (NFT). Details...more
Financial Messaging Network Launches Experiments in Stablecoin Sector - A global messaging network used by financial institutions to send and receive financial information recently announced that it is exploring the tokenized...more
Banks to Use Blockchain for FX Settlement, Avalanche Network Adds USDC - In a recent press release, two major banks announced an agreement to implement a new blockchain-based solution for the netting and settlement of matched...more
Multiple US Financial Services Firms Announce Cryptocurrency Initiatives - This week a major U.S. financial services firm announced the launch of a “Crypto Advisory Practice” that will leverage the firm’s work “with more than...more
US and Swiss Financial Firms Announce Decentralized Exchange, Digital Bond - A major U.S. fintech and digital payments company recently released a white paper detailing tbDEX, a new decentralized protocol for exchanging...more
12/8/2021
/ Banking Sector ,
Banks ,
Blockchain ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Digital Assets ,
Digital Currency ,
Financial Markets ,
IRS ,
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) ,
OCC ,
Popular ,
Virtual Currency
Partner Jeewon Serrato and Counsel Rob Musiala discuss what online merchants and e-commerce companies should know about cryptocurrency....more
Raising Municipal Funds and Rewarding Loyalty: New Cryptocurrency Use Cases - Earlier this week, a cryptocurrency nonprofit organization reportedly launched a Bitcoin-based digital asset designed to raise funds for New York...more
New Crypto Payment Products Launch, Report Cites Exchange Consolidation - This week, a major U.S. financial services firm announced its partnership with three leading cryptocurrency service providers in the Asia Pacific...more
Traditional Financial Firms Integrate Crypto Services, CBDC Reports Published - This week a fintech and e-commerce firm announced the integration of its payment gateway with a major U.S. financial services corporation’s new...more
Financial Firms Integrate Crypto Products, New Bitcoin Network Data Published - This week, a large financial services corporation and a digital wallet app company announced a partnership to reduce friction among merchants,...more
Blockchain Payment Pilots Launched by Media, Government and Crypto Firms - A leading social media and technology company recently launched pilots of its crypto wallet, which is intended to allow users to send and receive...more
Crypto Products Launch in Payments, ETFs, DeFi; Bitcoin Mining Data Published - This week, a digital asset marketplace announced a partnership with a major multinational technology company specializing in Internet and...more
On October 6, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) announced the creation of a National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (“NCET” or “Team”) to tackle investigations and prosecutions of criminal misuses of...more
Major Financial Institutions Announce Crypto and Blockchain Initiatives - According to reports this week, one of the largest money transfer services in the world will partner with the Stellar Development Foundation to...more
Problems caused by the lack of regulation in NFT markets were clearly exposed just last month with the revelation of not one, but two NFT scandals involving the use of insider information to snag exclusive pieces and game the...more
CBDCs Explored by the U.K., New Zealand and Major Payments Network - This week, the Bank of England and Her Majesty’s Treasury announced the members appointed to its central bank digital currency (CBDC) Engagement and...more