Month: September 2023

“The indictment against FTX’s founder, Sam Bankman-Fried, for alleged violation of campaign finance laws and connections to a multibillion-dollar fraud gains momentum as key figures, including Ryan Salame, plead guilty. This saga highlights the intersection of finance, politics, and blockchain, shedding light on the potential misuse of this potent mix and prompting questions regarding customer safeguarding and innovation enhancement.”

The US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is scrutinizing big tech companies like Apple and Google for potentially monopolizing the mobile payments sector and acting as “mini-governments”. This has raised concerns about competition and consumer choice, as CFPB plans to bolster consumer control over personal financial data while promoting open banking and payments.

A lawsuit against Curve Finance’s CEO, Michael Egorov, alleging fraud and misappropriation of trade secrets was dismissed by a California judge due to procedural technicality. Egorov’s lawyers argued the case belongs in Switzerland, where both Egorov and his company, Swiss Stake resides.

The IMF, backed by the G20, reveals a roadmap advocating for firm regulatory supervision on cryptocurrencies instead of outright prohibitions which can lead to greater risks. Introducing global standards for the crypto industry, clear tax treatment, and targeted restrictions could mitigate macroeconomic risks better than stringent bans.

CFTC’s Caroline Pham advocates for a pilot program to oversee cryptocurrencies, aiming to stimulate the growth of digital asset markets. Besides facing resistance from current CFTC leadership, the crypto industry’s future is uncertain due to regulatory skepticism and Congress bills’ fate.

“The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority could extend the deadline for crypto companies to comply with its marketing rules until January 8, 2024. This move underlines the need for crypto firms to provide transparent and honest marketing. Firms violating regulations could face strict penalties, including suspensions or removal of social media accounts.”

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has extended the deadline for cryptoasset firms to make changes to their marketing practices. This includes a mandatory 24-hour cooling-off period for new clients and greater transparency. Firms infringing on new directives could face unlimited fines and/or imprisonment. The UK, despite regulatory tightening, remains a growing hub for crypto.

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) plans to adopt fair-value accounting for cryptocurrencies, allowing businesses to immediately reflect gains and losses in their income statements. This could encourage more businesses to accept digital currencies as assets. However, concerns about their volatility continue to pose hesitations.

Sen. Bill Hagerty critiques SEC Chair Gary Gensler’s stance towards crypto, stating it stifles innovation and drives potential investors and companies overseas. He advocates for basic stablecoin regulations instead of comprehensive measures to improve the environment for U.S. crypto operations.

“The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is set to enforce restrictive measures on crypto promotions from October, potentially extending to January 2024 for technical compliance adjustments. This could impact crypto firms’ ability to advertise with clarity and fairness, redefining the crypto advertising ecosystem. However, these changes raise concerns about stifling innovation within the crypto industry.”

“Ryan Dalame, ex co-CEO of FTX Digital Market, may plead guilty in a campaign finance violation case involving $24 million from FTX users. This development may impact the trial of Sam Bankman-Fried, FTX’s former CEO, and has generated tension in the cryptocurrency world, emphasizing the need for robust regulatory frameworks for blockchain’s future.”

Crypto Facilities, associated with the crypto exchange Kraken, is planning to expand its diversity of client asset custody services but it requires expansion of its multilateral trading license. CEO Mark Jennings projects it may take six to twelve months for such implementation.

China continues its crackdown on crypto activities on Weibo, targeting more than 80 influential crypto personalities. Meanwhile, the IMF and FSB released policy recommendations to manage cryptocurrency-associated financial risks. In other developments, the DFINITY Foundation partners with Lugano’s municipality and Unstoppable Domains added .eth domain support to its messaging service.

“The Open Network (TON) blockchain has pivoted into a Swiss-based non-profit, focusing on fostering the TON ecosystem and broadening its adoption. The TON Foundation plans to stimulate TON-centric scholarly and creative ventures, while making strides towards transparency and community-driven governance in a quest to become the primary platform for Web3 dapps.”

“The Ripple CTO expressed optimism about the U.S. regulatory landscape, citing the court ruling that dismissed the classification of Ripple’s XRP as a security. This decision denotes a potential shift away from the rigorous scrutiny that the cryptocurrency industry faced. Despite previous reluctance, judges are showing skepticism towards SEC cases, which may benefit the industry via prompted legislative changes. These legal triumphs mark potential shifts in the regulatory arena, offering hope to industry participants.”