UK Government Moots Ban on Cryptocurrency Derivatives

The U.K. government is considering a ban on cryptocurrency-linked derivative products. The Financial Conduct Authority said in a report on Oct. 29 that it will begin consultations on whether to ban the sale of derivatives based on digital coins like BTC as well as to restrict crypto-based contracts of difference to the public. Virtual currency … Read more

Markets Roundup: Spot BTC Markets Shrug CME Settlement, Pantera CEO on Cyclical Sentiment

In the cryptocurrency markets, the recent settlement of CME futures contracts appears to have exerted little impact on spot BTC prices, the CEO of Pantera Capital has shared his outlook on initial coin offerings, and October has proven to be the least volatile month of 2018, with only a single day producing a price swing … Read more

Former CFTC Chair Advocates ‘Technology Neutral’ Cryptocurrency Regulations

The former chairman of the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), Gary Gensler, recently expressed his views on the regulation of cryptocurrency markets. Gensler emphasized his belief in the need for robust consumer protections, and also argued that the majority of initial coin offerings essentially comprise initial public offerings (IPOs). Also Read: Two US States … Read more

Hong Kong Regulator: Cryptocurrencies ‘May Not Qualify as Securities’

Cryptocurrency falls into a legislative gray area in many jurisdictions, which is why governments should take a particularly nuanced approach to developing regulatory frameworks for crypto trading, the outgoing chairman of Hong Kong’s securities regulator said in a recent interview. Also Read: Fidelity Launching Crypto Custody and Trading Services Key Challenge for Legislators “We have to … Read more

The Daily: Wall Street-Backed Crypto Futures, Market Manipulation as a Service

Cryptocurrency attracts a diverse crowd, from speculators to scammers, and from financiers to gamblers. These groups, and their often opposing aims, are what make the cryptoconomy such a strange yet compelling place. In today’s edition of The Daily, for instance, we’ve got stories pertaining to a Wall Street-funded futures exchange, another US platform ending its … Read more

SEC, CFTC, FBI Take Action Against Bitcoin-Funded Securities Dealer 1Broker

Three U.S. agencies have taken action against international bitcoin-funded securities dealer 1pool Ltd., aka 1Broker. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) says 1Broker violated federal securities laws. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) says it violated the Commodity Exchange Act. Meanwhile, the company says it is working on letting customers withdraw their funds. Also read: 160 … Read more

Exchanges Roundup: Ledgerx Readies ETH Futures, Coinbase Partners With Caspian

In recent news pertaining to cryptocurrency exchanges, anonymous sources have stated that Ledgerx is preparing to launch ETH futures trading, Coinbase has announced a partnership with Caspian intended to target institutional investors, and the chief executive officer of Binance has shared his opinions regarding “trans-fee mining” and decentralized exchanges. Also Read: European Regulator Renews Restrictions on … Read more

Top 6 Popular Cryptocurrency Futures Pairs to Pay Attention to

There is an increasing focus on futures trading pertaining to the various cryptocurrencies. Offerings by CME and CBOE primarily focus on Bitcoin, though an Ethereum-based vehicle may be introduced in the future. Crypto Facilities, a UK-based trading firm, has introduced a few interesting cryptocurrency futures markets. The following list is ranked by monthly volume for … Read more