French Bank Licensed to Offer Crypto Services, New Crypto Products Launch -
According to recent reports, one of the largest banks in France recently received the first license for crypto services issued by the French...more
Company Announces Stablecoin Pilot; BIS Publishes Reports on CBDCs -
According to a blog post by a major multinational software company, the company has begun a pilot project to experiment with using the USDC and EUROC...more
7/17/2023
/ Bitcoin ,
Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) ,
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDCs) ,
CFTC ,
Congressional Committees ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Digital Assets ,
Enforcement Actions ,
ETFs ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Fraud ,
Hackers ,
Hedge Funds ,
Indictments ,
Information Reports ,
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) ,
Royalties ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Spoofing
On July 13, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York issued its highly anticipated summary judgment decision in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) action against Ripple Labs, Inc....more
Crypto Firms Expand Offerings in Stablecoins, Private Key Management -
The issuer of the Pax Dollar (USDP) stablecoin recently announced that USDP is now available to all Mexican customers of a major Latin American online...more
7/5/2023
/ Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDCs) ,
CFTC ,
Cryptoassets ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Digital Assets ,
Enforcement Actions ,
FATF ,
Fraud ,
Israel ,
Popular ,
Receivership ,
Stablecoins ,
Virtual Goods
New Crypto Products Launch in Exchanges, Wallets, and Custody -
A recent press release announced the launch of EDX Markets, a “first-of-its-kind digital asset marketplace designed to enable safe and compliant trading of...more
6/26/2023
/ Bitcoin ,
Blockchain ,
Cease and Desist Orders ,
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDCs) ,
Corporate Governance ,
Crypto Exchanges ,
Cryptoassets ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Digital Assets ,
Digital Platforms ,
Enforcement ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Financial Services Industry ,
FinTech ,
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) ,
Popular
CBDC Initiatives Advance in Colombia and Hong Kong -
According to a recent press release, a major U.S. fintech company and “leader in enterprise blockchain and crypto solutions” has announced a collaboration with Colombia’s...more
6/20/2023
/ Bitcoin ,
Blockchain ,
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDCs) ,
CFTC ,
Colombia ,
Criminal Prosecution ,
Crypto Exchanges ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) ,
Decentralized Finance (DeFi) ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Digital Currency ,
Digital Wallets ,
Hackers ,
Hong Kong ,
Popular
New Products Launch for Crypto Futures, Wallets, Stablecoins and Settlement -
According to a recent press release, a leading global options exchange has received the necessary approval from the U.S. Commodity Futures...more
6/12/2023
/ Crypto Exchanges ,
Cryptoassets ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Digital Assets ,
Digital Wallets ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Fraud ,
Hackers ,
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Stablecoins
Crypto Firms Announce New Product Launches in Custody, Stablecoins, Wallets -
According to a recent press release, Prometheum Capital has received the first-ever approval from the Financial Industry Regulation Authority...more
6/5/2023
/ Broker-Dealer ,
CFTC ,
Criminal Prosecution ,
Cryptoassets ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Enforcement Actions ,
European Banking Authority (EBA) ,
Financial Services Industry ,
FinTech ,
Fraud ,
IOSCO ,
New Guidance ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Popular ,
SDN List ,
Securities ,
State Attorneys General ,
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Product Integrations and Data Indicate Increased Interest in DeFi -
MetaMask, a web3 Ethereum Network cryptocurrency wallet, recently announced a new integration with a major U.S. payments and fintech firm....more
5/22/2023
/ Blockchain ,
Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) ,
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDCs) ,
Crypto Exchanges ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) ,
Decentralized Finance (DeFi) ,
Ethereum ,
FATF ,
FinTech ,
Fraud ,
IRS ,
Popular ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Ukraine
On May 1, 2023, the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS or Department) issued a consent order (Consent Order), imposing a $1.2 million fine on bitFlyer USA, a cryptocurrency trading platform and custodial...more
5/17/2023
/ BitLicense ,
Compliance ,
Consent Order ,
Crypto Exchanges ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Cybersecurity ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Enforcement Priorities ,
Financial Regulatory Agencies ,
Licenses ,
Licensing Rules ,
NYDFS
Multiple Financial Services Firms Announce New Crypto Products -
A major U.S. financial services firm recently launched its Crypto Credential product, “a set of common standards and infrastructure that will help verify...more
5/8/2023
/ Blockchain ,
CFTC ,
Criminal Prosecution ,
Crypto Exchanges ,
Cryptoassets ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Decentralized Finance (DeFi) ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Digital Assets ,
Enforcement ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Enforcement Priorities ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Fraud ,
Income Taxes ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Payment Methods ,
Popular ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
UK
ETH Staking Data Published, USDC Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol Launches -
New data reflects that the recent amount of staking withdrawals on Ethereum has been balanced by a roughly equal amount of deposits. According to...more
5/1/2023
/ Blockchain ,
Crypto Exchanges ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Ethereum ,
IRS ,
Market Manipulation ,
Money Laundering ,
New Guidance ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
SDN List
European Bank Launches Stablecoin; Financial Firms Expand Crypto Products -
A subsidiary of a major European financial services firm recently launched EUR CoinVertible (EURCV), an Ethereum ERC20 stablecoin backed 1:1 by...more
4/24/2023
/ Bitcoin ,
Blockchain ,
Crypto Exchanges ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Decentralized Finance (DeFi) ,
Digital Assets ,
Digital Wallets ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Ethereum ,
Hackers ,
Popular ,
SDN List ,
Stablecoins
Background and Scope -
The Assessment was drafted by Treasury’s Office of Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes (“TFFC”), in consultation with multiple U.S. agencies, including the Departments of Homeland Security,...more
Montenegro Announces CBDC Pilot, BIS Compares CBDCs to Stablecoins -
According to a recent press release, “The Central Bank of Montenegro (CBCG) has agreed to collaborate with the enterprise crypto and blockchain solutions...more
4/17/2023
/ AML/CFT ,
Banks ,
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDCs) ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) ,
Decentralized Finance (DeFi) ,
Ethereum ,
EU ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Hackers ,
Popular ,
Risk Assessment ,
Stablecoins ,
Tax Liability ,
U.S. Treasury
Crypto Exchange Ends U.S. Operations, Swiss Bank to Expand Crypto Offerings -
Late last month, Bittrex, a leading cryptocurrency exchange founded in Seattle, announced it was closing U.S. operations effective April 30,...more
4/10/2023
/ Anti-Money Laundering ,
Commodities ,
Compliance ,
Crypto Exchanges ,
Cryptoassets ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Fraud ,
Money Laundering ,
National Futures Association ,
Ponzi Scheme ,
Popular ,
Scams ,
State Securities Regulators
“Z” Doors Are Open: Rival Zero Knowledge EVMs Launch -
Earlier this week, a technology innovation lab reportedly released a public Alpha version of its “zero-knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machine” (zkEVM), which has been...more
4/3/2023
/ Banks ,
CFTC ,
Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) ,
Crypto Exchanges ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Depository Institutions ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Ethereum ,
Federal Reserve ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Staking Market Launches, ‘Defi Cover’ Data Published, DAO Buys Golf Course
According to a recent press release, MetaMask Institutional, “the web3 wallet for organizations,” has launched its “institutional staking...more
3/27/2023
/ Biden Administration ,
Blockchain ,
Celebrities ,
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDCs) ,
Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) ,
Decentralized Finance (DeFi) ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Digital Assets ,
Fraud ,
Hackers ,
IRS ,
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) ,
Popular ,
Russia ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Wells Notice
The IRS and Treasury Department announced on March 21, 2023, that they intend to issue guidance providing that certain NFTs qualify as collectibles under Section 408(m) of the Code. The Notice is the first guidance issued by...more
NFT Integration Software Released; NFTs Used to Serve Complaint in Civil Action -
According to a recent press release, a major U.S. software company has launched a suite of tools that will allow users to “enter the Web3 and...more
3/20/2023
/ Compliance ,
Crypto Exchanges ,
Cryptoassets ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Decentralized Finance (DeFi) ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Digital Assets ,
Financial Crimes ,
Money Laundering ,
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) ,
Popular ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Service of Process ,
Terrorist Financing Regulations ,
U.S. Treasury
Reserve Bank of Australia and BIS Commence Efforts to Advance CBDCs -
In a recent announcement, the Reserve Bank of Australia and the Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre (DFCRC) released details on an ongoing...more
3/13/2023
/ Bitcoin ,
Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) ,
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDCs) ,
Criminal Prosecution ,
Crypto Exchanges ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Digital Assets ,
Enforcement Actions ,
FinTech ,
PCAOB ,
Risk Assessment ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Dapper Labs was founded in 2018 shortly after the debut of its first NFT collection, “CryptoKitties,” which was so successful it created a bottleneck of transactions on the decentralized Ethereum Network. Seeking faster...more
3/7/2023
/ Blockchain ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Cryptoassets ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Decentralized Finance (DeFi) ,
Digital Assets ,
Ethereum ,
Howey ,
Investment Contract ,
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) ,
Popular ,
Securities ,
Securities Act of 1933
New ERC-4337 Smart Contract Standard Released to Enhance Wallet Security -
According to reports, Ethereum has deployed a new feature known as “account abstraction,” which has been in development for two years and can “make...more
3/6/2023
/ Banking Regulators ,
Cryptoassets ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Decentralized Finance (DeFi) ,
Digital Wallets ,
G20 ,
Hackers ,
IMF ,
Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) ,
Popular ,
Smart Contracts ,
Trading Platforms
Proof of Stake Alliance Publishes Analysis, Advocates for Industry Standards -
This week the Proof of Stake Alliance (POSA), a nonprofit industry alliance focused on proof of stake (PoS) ecosystems, announced their newly...more
2/27/2023
/ CFTC ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Digital Assets ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Enforcement Priorities ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Financial Transactions ,
Howey ,
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Unregistered Securities
DeFi Protocols Announce Updates, US Bank Introduces Deposit Token Concept -
According to recent reports, Rocket Pool, a decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol used as an Ethereum (ETH) staking service, has reached $1...more