Regulatory Roundup: Trump’s Cryptocurrency Proposals, IRS Changes Rule, China Quarantines Cash

In this roundup, we cover numerous cryptocurrency regulatory developments in the U.S., including President Trump’s crypto proposals, testimonies by the Federal Reserve chairman and the Treasury secretary, a crypto-friendly SEC proposal, and the IRS changing a crypto tax rule. We also cover China quarantining yuan bills, its central bank filing 84 digital currency patents, 40 … Read more

Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Are ‘Like a Giant Garbage Dumpster,’ Says Minneapolis Federal Reserve President

The president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, Neel Kashkari, said on Tuesday that bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are “like a giant garbage dumpster.” He would rather his one-year-old daughter have a low yielding Treasury bond than a bitcoin, emphasizing that all that’s emerging from the crypto world “is burning garbage.” Also read: Fed … Read more

Fed Chair Powell Reveals US Response to China’s Digital Yuan, Libra, Public Payments Ledger

In his testimony before the House Financial Services Committee, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell answered a number of questions regarding digital currencies. While stating that “a ledger where you know everybody’s payments” is not a problem in China, he believes it is not attractive for the U.S. Admitting that Facebook’s Libra project was a wake-up … Read more

Facebook, China Light Flame Under Fed: Governor Cites Stablecoins Influencing Digital Dollar Research

At the recent Symposium for Future Payments held in Stanford, California on February 5, Federal Reserve Governor Lael Brainard stressed the importance of remaining “on the frontier of research and policy development regarding CBDC.” The position seems a contrast to the narrative in 2018 when Brainard maintained “there is no compelling demonstrated need for a … Read more

Trump ‘Loves’ Negative Rates and ‘Could Get Used to’ Them, Criticizes Fed at World Economic Forum, China Trade Deal

U.S. President Donald Trump spoke at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland Tuesday saying the U.S. and other nations are “forced to compete … with nations that are getting negative rates, something very new.” Trump took direct shots at the U.S. Federal Reserve, claiming they’ve not lowered rates quickly enough. The harsh words echo … Read more

Fed Officials Ponder Funding Hedge Funds and Private Brokers Directly

On January 13, the New York Federal Reserve gave $60.7 billion to eligible private financial institutions by leveraging U.S. Treasurys and agency securities. With all the stimulus given to financial institutions since September, it hasn’t relieved the stress of economic uncertainty. Now the Fed is pondering giving money directly to hedge funds and private brokers … Read more

Federal Reserve Considers Creating a Separate Entity for Cash Injections

While American President Donald Trump wages war with Iran, the U.S. Federal Reserve has continued to inject fresh capital into the hands of private banks by giving them $100 billion in overnight and 14-day repos on Tuesday. The same day, Rabobank strategist Philip Marey predicted the central bank will reduce interest rates to zero in … Read more

Fed Governor Blasts Bitcoin for its Ties to “Illegal Activities”

It is a well-known fact that US politicians don’t like bitcoin very much. Particularly the Federal Reserve governor still sees plenty of problems, primarily due it facilitating illicit activities.  In a recent meeting, the bitcoin debate was reopened once again. The Fed Still Hates Bitcoin As regulators prepare to take a closer look at cryptocurrencies, … Read more