Search Results for: Virtu Financial

“The director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Rohit Chopra, recently shared that the bureau is contemplating applying the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA) to digital assets. This approach could minimize high losses often experienced from unauthorized crypto transactions and aim to establish safer environment for investors.”

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is contemplating applying the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA) to cryptos. This measure aims at protecting consumers from unauthorized transfers, errors, or hacks related to digital assets. Amid the exponential growth in crypto-platform hacks, CFPB’s move suggests increased accountability for crypto-related financial institutions.

“Komainu, a digital asset custody service, has been authorized by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to operate within the bounds of laws concerning money laundering and related funds transfer. This enables them to offer a range of cryptocurrency custody services across the UK, highlighting the growing acceptance of digital assets globally.”

“Taiwanese legislators are set to introduce the country’s first cryptocurrency regulatory bill in November 2023, aimed at overseeing cryptocurrency trading and related activities. The law is intended to prevent ‘regulatory arbitrage’ and protect investors from the challenges posed by rising foreign crypto operations.”

Taiwan plans to propose a special law to regulate emerging crypto businesses by November 2023, driven by concerns over offshore markets’ activities. There’s consensus on needing unique legislation for crypto, dissimilar to traditional financial instruments. Taiwan’s Financial Supervisory Commission is helping, releasing guidelines for investors’ protection, including complete segregation between exchange treasuries and customers’ assets. Critics argue that over-regulation might hinder organic growth and innovation.

South Korea’s financial watchdog, Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation (KDIC), has seized virtual assets in insolvency cases, marking their first crypto crackdown. The shift follows regulatory amendments that demand local crypto exchanges to link customer wallets to domestic bank accounts, eliminating anonymous trading while empowering agencies to tackle insolvency. Increased crypto asset seizure is predicted amidst arguments over Korea’s increasingly restrictive crypto policies.

Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission and local police are ramping up efforts to counter illicit activities in the crypto market, in response to the fallout of the JPEX exchange, which reportedly led to investor losses of approximately $166 million. Stricter regulations and oversight are planned, focusing on virtual assets trading platforms, underscoring the necessity for robust regulatory frameworks in the volatile cryptocurrency market.

The Hong Kong Police Force and the Securities and Futures Commission have formed a task force for increased scrutiny of crypto exchanges. This comes after allegations against JPEX, a Dubai-based exchange, of operating without a permit. This body aims to regulate cryptocurrency activities in Hong Kong, providing a safer trade environment despite potential impact on the digital currency’s comparative freedom.

The report by Chainalysis highlights a crypto activity resurgence in East Asia, largely driven by Hong Kong’s crypto-friendly policies. Despite China’s stringent ban on crypto, Hong Kong managed $64 billion in transaction volumes over a year. The city’s regulatory framework for crypto trading and active collaboration with crypto firms could influence East Asian countries to foster a more crypto-friendly environment.

A high-ranking Russian legislitor, Anatoly Aksakov, predicts that domestic corporations will utilize the nation’s digital ruble, a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), by 2025, especially in Latin American nations. He also suggested potential usage could transform “mutual settlements” among these nations.

“In the Asian crypto landscape, contrasting narratives surface – rigid policy making restricts tech freedom, exemplified by a developer penalized for VPN use by China’s Great Firewall, versus progressive digital adoption, as evidenced by Hangzhou’s 10 million e-CNY airdrop and Alibaba’s move into crypto securities.”

Hong Kong’s security chief, Chris Tang Ping-keung, pledges swift action in the JPEX crypto exchange fraud case involving over 2300 victims with losses exceeding $175 million. This incident brings into focus the need for stringent regulations and transparent operation in the largely volatile digital currency market.

Taiwan’s Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) introduces fresh directives for Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) to improve cryptocurrency users’ security. Guidelines demand a clear separation of company and customer assets, increased transparency, fortified internal controls within crypto firms, and adherence to robust anti-money laundering mechanisms. These regulations aim to encourage self-regulation in the crypto industry.