Search Results for: Switzerland

Sygnum Singapore, a subsidiary of the Swiss-based crypto bank, has secured its Major Payment Institution License from the Monetary Authority of Singapore. The license enables Sygnum to provide regulated digital payment token brokerage services, breaking previous transaction limits, and paving the way for potential expansion into Asia-Pacific markets.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore has granted a Major Payment Institution Licence to Sygnum Singapore, enabling it to extend its services to the Asia–Pacific market. However, the recent downfall of Silvergate Bank, due to high-risk crypto activities, underscores the need for balancing growth and safety in blockchain adoption.

“Binance, a leading cryptocurrency exchange, has sold its entire Russia business to CommEX. Its chief compliance officer states operating in Russia wasn’t in line with Binance’s compliance strategy. Similarly, the Swiss bank, Hypothekarbank Lenzburg now trades digital securities types on the blockchain-rooted platform, SDX.”

Ripple, a US fintech and blockchain firm, is expanding its British presence amidst regulatory challenges in the US. This follows the UK’s strategic efforts to become a global hub for crypto and fintech firms, including legislation regulating cryptocurrencies and stablecoins. Critics, however, fear this may limit open innovation.

In the crypto market, the founders of Portofino Technologies, Alex Casimo and Leonard Lancia, are accused by Citadel Securities of underhanded business practices and violating employment agreements. Portofino sees this as an intimidation tactic and effort to stifle competition. A critical dispute involves Citadel’s allegations of Portofino recruiting Vincent Prieur, Citadel’s ‘whiz kid’ of crypto.

“Deutsche Bank has partnered with crypto safekeeping specialist, Taurus to establish digital asset custody and tokenization services. They have lodged for a crypto custody license from Germany’s financial regulator, indicative of digital asset custody plans for early 2021. This partnership signals the rising potential of tokenized financial assets.”

“Ripple’s CEO, Brad Garlinghouse, argues that the U.S. is the worst country for crypto start-ups due to its hesitance towards digital asset innovation. He highlights the UK, Singapore, UAE, and Switzerland as nations nurturing such innovation. Aggressive lawsuits by SEC and CFTC complicate the implementation of crypto regulations in the U.S., possibly inducing a mass exodus of blockchain startups to friendlier jurisdictions.”

Ripple’s CEO, Brad Garlinghouse, asserts the U.S. is one of the worst places for starting a crypto business due to regulatory issues. Despite legal victories, regulatory clarity remains elusive, leading Ripple to consider countries with more crypto-friendly policies. This invariably poses a dilemma for crypto businesses when regulations contradict market opportunities.

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.

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.”

Singapore and the United Arab Emirates have emerged as top destinations for crypto millionaires due to their favorable tax policies on cryptocurrency-related ventures. The global cryptocurrency market is booming, with 425 million people owning some form of digital currencies, and certain individuals even possessing crypto fortunes surpassing the $100 million mark. This growth is prompting traders, investors, and entrepreneurs to seek secure locations to protect their digital assets.

The UK’s recent implementation of the ‘Travel Rule’ for crypto transactions aims to deter anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing on-chain. This rule requires UK-based virtual-asset service providers to collect, verify, and share information about crypto-asset transfers, even from overseas jurisdictions.