US SEC Commissioner Says Bitcoin ETF Approval Long Overdue

SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce says that the regulator should have approved a bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) in the U.S. a long time ago. She emphasized that it is not the SEC’s job to approve or reject applications based on the merits of the underlying investment itself. “People should make their own decisions” whether to buy … Read more

FinCEN Names Misuse of Cryptocurrencies a National Priority

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has named “cybercrime, including relevant cybersecurity and virtual currency considerations” a national priority. In particular, the Treasury is concerned about the “misuse of virtual assets that exploits and undermines their innovative potential, including through laundering of illicit proceeds.” FinCEN, a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, published … Read more

Binance’s Troubles Grow as Thailand Files Criminal Complaint — Similar Warnings by Cayman Islands, UK, Japan

A growing number of regulators worldwide have come after Binance. Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a criminal complaint against the crypto exchange after the authorities in the Cayman Islands, the U.K., and Japan issued similar warnings on Binance and related companies. Thailand’s Regulator Files Criminal Complaint The Thai Securities and Exchange Commission announced … Read more

New Bill to Ban Crypto Payments in Iran, Support Mining and Regulate Exchange

Urged by the growing popularity of cryptocurrencies, Iranian lawmakers have prepared new legislation to introduce comprehensive rules for the expanding industry. While the bill effectively bans crypto payments in the country, it aims to support cryptocurrency mining and regulate the exchange market. Draft Law Prohibits Crypto Payments in Islamic Republic Members of the Islamic Consultative … Read more

South African Court Grants Final Liquidation Order Against the ‘Biggest Cryptocurrency Scam in 2020’

A South African judge, Justice Alma de Wet, has ruled in favor of granting a final liquidation order against Mirror Trading International (MTI), the country’s biggest bitcoin scam in the past year. Nevertheless, the judge postponed a ruling on an application by MTI liquidators to have the company declared an unlawful business to September 8, … Read more

Binance Deploys Crypto Monitoring ‘Traveler’ System to Comply With FATF Travel Rule

Binance announced yesterday it deployed Ciphertrace’s Traveler system as part of its compliance efforts. Traveler is the first system designed for exchanges to comply with the Travel Rule proposed by the Financial Action Task Force. The exchange would be among the first wave of exchanges implementing this automatic Travel Rule compliance system. Binance Implements Ciphertrace’s … Read more

Bank of Russia to Study Risks of Crypto Investing With Banks and Payment Providers

The Central Bank of Russia (CBR) has set out to examine the risks associated with cryptocurrency investments. The regulator is going to conduct a dedicated study with the participation of major banks and payment processors operating in the Russian market. CBR Adds Crypto to Its Survey Program for 2021 Russia’s central bank, known as Bank … Read more

BIS Economist Recommends ‘Technology-Neutral’ Crypto Regulation, Low-Cost Supervision of Decentralized Markets

An economist with the Bank of International Settlements has found that cryptocurrencies are not sought as an alternative to fiat currencies or regulated finance, therefore a “technology-neutral regulation to this asset class” is recommended. The economist discussed “embedded supervision,” adding that “The main aim is low-cost supervision of decentralized markets.” BIS Economist Suggests Regulatory Approach … Read more