Key Takeaways -
..In June 2022, the DOJ issued a Report recommending increased cooperation amongst international law enforcement to combat crimes involving digital assets.
..The Report identified characteristics...more
6/30/2022
/ Banking Sector ,
Biden Administration ,
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDCs) ,
Criminal Investigations ,
Cross-Border ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Digital Assets ,
Executive Orders ,
FATF ,
Information Reports ,
Law Enforcement
Firms Announce New Crypto Initiatives; Data Published on Crypto and NFT Use -
Late last week, a major U.S. cryptocurrency custodian announced “a groundbreaking, industry-first custody exchange network giving institutions...more
6/20/2022
/ Australia ,
Blockchain ,
Crypto Exchanges ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Digital Assets ,
FinTech ,
First Amendment ,
Fourth Amendment ,
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) ,
Scams ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Stablecoins
Fintech and Crypto Firms Announce Myriad New Crypto Product Launches -
This week, a major global payments firm announced the launch of a stablecoin settlement solution that leverages technology by Fireblocks, a digital...more
6/10/2022
/ Bitcoin ,
Blockchain ,
Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) ,
CFTC ,
Crypto Exchanges ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Digital Currency ,
Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) ,
Embezzlement ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
FinTech ,
Fraud ,
Hackers ,
NYDFS ,
Popular ,
Scams ,
Stablecoins ,
Virtual Currency
According to reports, a major U.S.-based global investment bank has allowed a borrower to use bitcoin as collateral for a cash loan, for the first time in the bank’s history. In other financial news, according to reports, the...more
5/9/2022
/ Banks ,
Bitcoin ,
Bitcoin Mining ,
Blockchain ,
Collateral ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Decentralized Finance (DeFi) ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Enforcement Priorities ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
FinCEN ,
Fraud ,
Hackers ,
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) ,
NYDFS ,
Patriot Act ,
Retailers ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
A major U.S. fintech firm recently announced the launch of a “crypto payouts” pilot that will allow a select group of creators to receive cryptocurrency payments through a major social media platform. According to a press...more
5/2/2022
/ 401k ,
Anti-Money Laundering ,
Bitcoin ,
Bitcoin Mining ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Digital Wallets ,
El Salvador ,
Enforcement ,
Evasion ,
FinTech ,
Indictments ,
New Regulations ,
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) ,
Online Platforms ,
Popular ,
Stablecoins
Crypto Payment Initiatives Announced in Stablecoins, Lightning Network, Mining -
Late last week, the issuer of USD Coin (USDC) announced that it had selected a major U.S. bank as a primary custodian for USDC reserves....more
4/11/2022
/ Bitcoin ,
Bitcoin Mining ,
Cryptoassets ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) ,
Economic Sanctions ,
HM Treasury ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Popular ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Russia ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Stablecoins ,
UK ,
Ukraine ,
United Nations
This week, President Joe Biden signed “Executive Order on Ensuring Responsible Development of Digital Assets” (EO). According to a fact sheet published with the EO, the EO calls for measures to accomplish the following...more
3/14/2022
/ Anti-Money Laundering ,
Banking Sector ,
Biden Administration ,
Bitcoin ,
CFTC ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Digital Assets ,
Economic Sanctions ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Executive Orders ,
FinCEN ,
Russia ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Stablecoins ,
Virtual Currency
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
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
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)
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
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
CBDC Initiatives Announced, Blockchain Trade Finance Platform Launches - This week, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) announced Project Dunbar, an initiative in which BIS will collaborate with the Reserve Bank of...more
9/7/2021
/ Bitcoin ,
Blockchain ,
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDCs) ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Digital Assets ,
Digital Currency ,
Financial Markets ,
Fraud ,
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) ,
Popular ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Virtual Currency
US Institutional Financial Firms, and Fintech Startups, Launch Crypto Products - A major U.S. financial services corporation announced this week that it would begin to settle transactions over the Ethereum Network in USD Coin...more
4/5/2021
/ Bitcoin ,
Broker-Dealer ,
CFTC ,
Cryptoassets ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Digital Currency ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Financial Services Industry ,
FinCEN ,
Fraud ,
IRS ,
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) ,
Popular ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Virtual Currency
In the past several years, the use and prevalence of virtual currency have increased exponentially. The proliferation of digital assets has changed the way goods and services are exchanged and has allowed for faster and...more
OCC Clarifies Status of Stablecoins, Registration Statement Filed for Network Token - The chief counsel for the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) recently issued a letter clarifying the agency’s stance on the...more
U.S. Crypto Exchange Approved as Wyoming Bank, MSB Regulations to be Simplified - This week Kraken, a major U.S. cryptocurrency exchange, announced that it has received approval from the State of Wyoming to form a Special...more
Market Actors Focus on Stablecoins, Crypto-Backed Loans and Real Estate Transactions - A partnership between BCB Group, a global digital asset financial services group, and Circle, a leading global financial technology firm,...more
Announcements Provide Details on New Cryptocurrency Payment Products - According to recent reports, a major U.S. mobile payments firm has announced that its Q2 revenue from selling bitcoin to customers through its Cash App...more
Reports Detail New Plans for Crypto Custody Services, Payment Cards and ATS Platforms - According to recent reports, a major multinational financial services firm is taking steps toward launching a cryptocurrency custody...more
Blockchain Traceability Developments for Automobile, Pharma and Art Industries - Earlier this week, one of the world’s largest automobile manufacturers, in conjunction with its financial services arm and two other...more
Smart Contracts Deployed by Icelandic Retailer, Blockchain for Sneakers and DHS -
A press release issued this week announced the successful completion of an automated invoice payment using the Ethereum blockchain. ...more
Blockchain Applications for Beer Advertising, Hotel Booking and the U.S. Air Force -
Late last week, a major U.S.-based beer brewing company launched a blockchain-based trivia game in conjunction with Vatom Labs as part of...more
Cryptocurrency Exchange and Payment Solutions Continue to Expand -
This week, Blockchain.com, a London-based supplier of digital wallets, announced that it is moving into the trading side of cryptocurrencies with a...more