What Is the Howey Test? Understanding Its Role in Crypto Regulation

This year, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) increasing enforcement on businesses accused of offering unregistered crypto securities to American investors, regulators, attorneys, and judges have been utilizing the Howey Test to ascertain whether specific crypto assets constitute an “investment contract” and thereby fall under U.S. securities laws. Below is an in-depth exploration … Read more

Veteran Trader Peter Brandt Warns of ‘Biggest Disasters yet to Come in Crypto’

Veteran trader Peter Brandt has issued a stark warning about the future of crypto staking, calling it “the biggest disasters yet to come in crypto.” He predicts significant disasters, bankruptcies, and personal financial losses within the sector. His warning followed the approval of spot ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs) by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission … Read more

UK Approves First Physically Backed Bitcoin and Ethereum ETPs for Listing on London Stock Exchange

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the UK’s top financial regulator, has approved physically backed bitcoin and ethereum exchange-traded products (ETPs) for listing on the London Stock Exchange for the first time. “FCA approval in this respect could result in greater institutional adoption of the asset class,” Wisdomtree stated. First Bitcoin and Ethereum ETP Listings on … Read more

US House Passes Central Bank Digital Currency Anti-Surveillance State Act

The House of Representatives has passed Congressman Tom Emmer’s CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act, which prohibits the Federal Reserve from issuing a surveillance-oriented central bank digital currency (CBDC). The lawmaker emphasized that the bill protects American values of privacy and individual sovereignty, countering potential governmental overreach. CBDC Anti-Surveillance Act Clears House Following the passage of the … Read more

Consensys Hails Spot Ether ETF Approval, Slams SEC’s ‘Deliberate Regulatory Abuse’

Consensys has lauded the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s approval of 19b-4 filings for spot ether exchange-traded funds as “a step in the right direction.” However, the software firm expressed its disapproval of what it calls the securities regulator’s “deliberate regulatory abuse” in its handling of ethereum. The SEC’s Inconsistent Approach to Digital Assets The … Read more

Montenegro Court Blocks Do Kwon’s Extradition to South Korea

A Montenegro appeals court has reversed an order to extradite Do Kwon, the cryptocurrency entrepreneur behind Terraform Labs, to South Korea. Kwon is wanted for his alleged role in the company’s collapse, which caused a $40 billion loss and impacted global crypto markets. Both South Korea and the U.S. have sought his extradition on fraud … Read more

Coinbase Continues to Fight for Crypto Clarity, Challenging SEC Overreach in Court

Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has filed a reply memorandum supporting its motion to certify an interlocutory appeal in its lawsuit against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which alleges that certain digital asset transactions conducted by Coinbase constitute the sale of unregistered securities. Coinbase’s chief legal officer, Paul Grewal, explained that the crypto exchange’s position … Read more

Former Bank CEO Pleads Guilty to Embezzling $47M to Buy Crypto, Leading to Bank Collapse

Former Heartland Tri-State Bank CEO Shan Hanes pleaded guilty on Thursday to embezzling $47.1 million for personal cryptocurrency purchases, leading to the bank’s collapse. From May to July 2023, Hanes executed at least 10 wire transfers from the Elkhart-based bank to cryptocurrency accounts. The bank’s failure resulted in a total loss of equity for investors. … Read more

Kelp DAO Secures $9 Million in Private Sale to Boost Defi Expansion

Kelp DAO, a liquid restaking platform, has completed a private funding round, amassing $9 million to propel its growth in the decentralized finance (defi) sector. The funding aims to enhance the platform’s capabilities and expand into new ecosystems, including Solana and Bitcoin. Restaking Protocol Kelp DAO Secures $9 million Leading the investment round were SCB … Read more

Indian Central Bank RBI Warns Retail Investors of Crypto’s Lack of Accountability and Stability

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s May 2024 bulletin warns retail investors that “the crypto ecosystem lacks accountability and stability and is marked by regulatory ambiguity.” The Indian central bank also cautioned that some cryptocurrency systems may be “prone to crisis without safeguards.” RBI Bulletin’s Crypto and Defi Warnings India’s central bank, the Reserve Bank … Read more