Archives: Blockchain

Crypto Initiatives Launch in Payments, Capital Markets and NFTs; OFAC and White House Address Crypto Risks; CFTC and NYAG Take Enforcement Actions

• Blockchain Payment Pilots Launched by Media, Government and Crypto Firms • Blockchain Market Advances in Options, ATS Platforms, Commodities and DeFi • New Platforms Launch NFT Collections • OFAC and White House Address Cryptocurrency Industry Risks • CFTC and NYAG Enforcement Actions Target Cryptocurrency Exchanges Blockchain Payment Pilots Launched by Media, Government and Crypto … Continue Reading

Crypto Financial Products Launch; G7 Addresses CBDCs; SEC Commissioners and Foreign Regulators Address Crypto; ICO Founders Plead to Tax Evasion

By Veronica Reynolds, Robert A. Musiala, Joanna F. Wasick, Keith R. Murphy and Jordan R. Silversmith on October 15, 2021 Posted in Bitcoin, Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, Cybersecurity, ICOs, Securities & Exchange Commission, Uncategorized

• Crypto Products Launch in Payments, ETFs, DeFi; Bitcoin Mining Data Published • G7 Considers Impact of CBDCs in New Publications • Blockchain Solutions Launch in B2B Software; Cobalt and Leather Supply Chains • SEC Commissioners Address Crypto Market Regulation in Contrasting Speeches • Foreign Regulators Address Crypto Advertising, Mining and Ransomware • ICO Founders … Continue Reading

DOJ Targets Cryptocurrency Fraud

By John J. Carney, Robert A. Musiala, Michelle Tanney and Kayley Sullivan on October 12, 2021 Posted in Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, Enforcement, Securities & Exchange Commission

Authorship credit: John J. Carney, Robert A. Musiala Jr., Michelle N. Tanney, and Kayley B. Sullivan On October 6, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) announced the creation of a National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (“NCET” or “Team”) to tackle investigations and prosecutions of criminal misuses of cryptocurrency, including crimes committed by virtual currency exchanges, … Continue Reading

Crypto Initiatives and Blockchain Supply Chain Solutions Launch; Reports Provide 2021 Crypto Market Stats, Address Risks; DOJ Crypto Team Announced

By Robert A. Musiala, Lauren Bass, Veronica Reynolds and Jordan R. Silversmith on October 8, 2021 Posted in Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, Enforcement, ICOs, NFTs, Securities & Exchange Commission, Uncategorized

• Major Financial Institutions Announce Crypto and Blockchain Initiatives • Blockchain Adopted to Improve Supply Chains and Authenticate Products • Blockchain Reports Publish 2021 Blockchain, DeFi and NFT Stats • Financial Watchdogs Publish Reports Addressing Cryptocurrency Markets • DOJ Announces Crypto Enforcement Team, Warning Issued on French ICO Major Financial Institutions Announce Crypto and Blockchain … Continue Reading

Financial Institutions Pursue Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Offerings, US Treasury Sanctions Russian Crypto OTC Desk, Multiple DeFi Platforms Hacked

By Lauren Bass, Veronica Reynolds, Joanna F. Wasick and Kayley Sullivan on September 24, 2021 Posted in Bitcoin, Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, NFTs, Securities & Exchange Commission

• Traditional Financial Firms Pursue Crypto and Blockchain Market Offerings • States Target Crypto Lending Platform, Alleging Securities Laws Violations • US Treasury Sanctions Russian Crypto OTC Desk, Issues Ransomware Advisory • Cryptocurrency Hackers Continue to Plague DeFi Platforms Traditional Financial Firms Pursue Crypto and Blockchain Market Offerings By Lauren Bass Earlier this week, a … Continue Reading

Market Initiatives Announced in Crypto Compliance, Digital Asset Exchange, Blockchain Enterprise Solutions and NFTs; SEC Chairman Comments on Crypto

By Robert A. Musiala, Kayley Sullivan, Veronica Reynolds and Keith R. Murphy on September 17, 2021 Posted in Bitcoin, Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, Enforcement, NFTs, Securities & Exchange Commission

• US Firm Acquires Crypto Co., Swiss Digital Asset Exchange Gains License • Enterprise Firms Announce Polygon Integration and Shipping Data Solution • NFT Sells for Record $1.1M, NFT Marketplace Exec Accused of Insider Trading • SEC Chairman Comments on Crypto Market in Senate Committee Speech • US Crypto Exchange Files with NFA, UK FCA … Continue Reading

CBDC Initiatives Announced, NFTs Expand Across Markets, Token and Wallet Applications Evolve, SEC and DOJ Target Crypto Fraud, Crypto Hacks Continue

By Robert A. Musiala, Lauren Bass, Veronica Reynolds, Jordan R. Silversmith and Teresa Goody Guillén on September 3, 2021 Posted in Bitcoin, Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, Cybersecurity, Enforcement, NFT, NFTs, Securities & Exchange Commission, Uncategorized

In this issue: • CBDC Initiatives Announced, Blockchain Trade Finance Platform Launches • Baseball, Art, Politics, Commerce: NFT Market Continues to Expand • Gaming Token Shifts Away from Ethereum, MetaMask Announces 10M Users • BitConnect Charged in $2B Crypto Fraud, BitConnect Promoter Pleads Guilty • Seychelles Investigates Crypto Fraud, Singapore Issues Warning for Exchange • … Continue Reading

Cryptocurrency and NFT Market Growth Continues, Regulators Across Globe Target Crypto Industry as Threats Continue, Global Blockchain Survey Published

By Robert A. Musiala, Veronica Reynolds, Lauren Bass, Teresa Goody Guillén, Keith R. Murphy and Joanna F. Wasick on August 27, 2021 Posted in Banking, Bitcoin, Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, Cybersecurity, Enforcement, Global, NFT, Securities & Exchange Commission

In this issue: •Crypto Market Develops in DeFi, Payments, Compliance and Consumer Adoption • Market Navigation, Fashion Metaverse, Online Tutorials: NFT Adoption Continues • Crypto Compliance Addressed by CFTC, Thai SEC, South Korea and UK FCA • SEC, DOJ and Ontario Securities Commission Bring Crypto Enforcement Actions • Reports Released on Crypto Scams and Malware, … Continue Reading

Crypto Adoption and AML Reports Published, NFT Market Growth Continues, Blockchain Cobalt Pilot Progresses, Crypto Exchange and DeFi Market Hacked

By Robert A. Musiala, Joanna F. Wasick, Lauren Bass, Keith R. Murphy, Jordan R. Silversmith and Kayley Sullivan on August 20, 2021 Posted in Bitcoin, Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, Global, NFTs, Ransomware, Supply Chain

In this issue: • Crypto Adoption Index Published, Regulators Address Crypto Across Globe •Design, Data and Digital Platforms: NFT Market Domination Continues • Blockchain Cobalt Tracing Pilot Launches, Ethereum-Based Networks to Merge • Bitcoin “Tumbler” Operator Pleads Guilty, Crypto AML Report Published • Cryptocurrency Exchange and DeFi Market Hacked, Crypto Malware Reported Crypto Adoption Index … Continue Reading

Crypto, CBDC and Blockchain Supply Chain Initiatives Announced; More SEC and FinCEN Enforcement; Crypto Tax Amendment Fails; DeFi Hacked for $600M

By Robert A. Musiala, Veronica Reynolds, Joanna F. Wasick, Teresa Goody Guillén, Nicholas C. Mowbray and Kayley Sullivan on August 13, 2021 Posted in Bitcoin, Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, Enforcement, Platforms, Securities & Exchange Commission, Tax

In this issue: • Crypto Firms Pursue Bank Charters, Traditional Financial Firms Integrate Crypto • CBDC and Blockchain Remittance Initiatives Launch Across Foreign Markets • Blockchain Supply Chain Initiatives Launch Across Various Industries • SEC Charges DeFi Company and Digital Asset Exchange Platform • FinCEN Settles Enforcement Action Against Major Cryptocurrency Exchange • Senate Passes … Continue Reading

SEC Doubles Down on Crypto Enforcement

By John J. Carney, Teresa Goody Guillén, Adam Gale, Jonathan A. Forman and Michelle Tanney on August 10, 2021 Posted in Bitcoin, Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, Enforcement, Securities & Exchange Commission, White Collar

In a speech before the Aspen Security Forum on August 3, 2021, Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” or “Commission”) Chair Gary Gensler urged lawmakers to provide him with the power to police cryptocurrency trading, referring to it as the “Wild West.”[1] While he noted that the views he was sharing were his own and not … Continue Reading

Cryptocurrency Payment Products and NFT Initiatives Launch, SEC Chairman Addresses Crypto, Pending Legislation Includes New Crypto Tax Reporting Rules

By Robert A. Musiala, Joanna F. Wasick, Lauren Bass, Veronica Reynolds and Nicholas C. Mowbray on August 6, 2021 Posted in Bitcoin, Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, Enforcement, NFTs

In this issue: • New Crypto Products Launch in Payment Cards, Gold and Sandwiches • More NFTs Launch in Sports, Fashion, Gaming and Charity Auctions • SEC Chairman, Kentucky and UK Address Various Aspects of Crypto Industry • Proposed Legislation Expands Crypto Tax Reporting, Senators Seek Amendment New Crypto Products Launch in Payment Cards, Gold … Continue Reading

New Stablecoin and CBDC Developments, Blockchain Enterprise Initiatives Announced, Crypto Financial Services Firm Targeted by State Regulators

By Robert A. Musiala, Joanna F. Wasick, Jordan R. Silversmith, Keith R. Murphy and Kayley Sullivan on July 23, 2021 Posted in Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, Securities & Exchange Commission

In this issue: • US Stablecoin Issuers Publish New Details on US Dollar Reserves • US Treasury, Bank of Canada and Academics Address Stablecoins and CBDCs • Australian and Georgian Governments Launch Blockchain Initiatives • Crypto Financial Services Firm Targeted by State Securities Regulators • SEC Enforcement Actions Target Cryptocurrency-Related Misrepresentations US Stablecoin Issuers Publish … Continue Reading

USDC Expands to New Blockchains, NFT Sales Continue, FATF Publishes Review of Crypto Standards, US and Global Crypto Enforcement Actions Continue

By Jordan R. Silversmith, Keith R. Murphy, Robert A. Musiala, Kayley Sullivan and Joanna F. Wasick on July 9, 2021 Posted in Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, NFT

In this issue: • USDC Expands to 10 New Blockchains, Crypto Payment Initiatives Launch • NFT Sales Continue Across Sports and Art Markets • FATF Issues Review of Crypto Standards Amid Regulatory News in US and UK • Major Crypto Exchange Faces Global Scrutiny, Announces Compliance Efforts • DOJ Targets Unlicensed Crypto MSBs, Global Enforcement … Continue Reading

NFT Initiatives Continue, Blockchain Tracing Solutions Expand, SEC Targets ICO, Crypto Enforcement Data Published, Regulators Across Globe Address Crypto

By Veronica Reynolds, Jordan R. Silversmith, Teresa Goody Guillén, Joanna F. Wasick and Kayley Sullivan on June 25, 2021 Posted in Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, NFTs, Securities & Exchange Commission

In this issue: • NFT Initiatives Continue, Cryptocurrency Advertising Restrictions Ease • Blockchain Traceability Solutions Expand in Food, Shipping and Jewelry Sectors • SEC Settles ICO Fraud, US Crypto Enforcement Reaches $2.5 Billion • Regulators in Canada, UK and Portugal Address Cryptocurrency Market • China Crypto Crackdown Continues, South Korea Seizes Tax Evader Crypto NFT … Continue Reading

Reports Address CBDCs, Security Tokens; NFT Sales Continue; Blockchain Initiatives Announced; Regulators Address Crypto; SEC Targets ICO Fraud

By Veronica Reynolds, Jordan R. Silversmith, Keith R. Murphy and Teresa Goody Guillén on June 18, 2021 Posted in Blockchain, NFTs, Securities & Exchange Commission

In this issue: • Reports Address CBDCs and Security Tokens, Banks Launch Crypto Initiatives • NFT Sales Continue at Auction House, US Space Force and News Organization • Blockchain Initiatives Announced in Food, Automotive and IP Sectors • US Congress Members and Foreign Regulators Pursue Cryptocurrency Reforms • SEC Charges ICO Fraud, SEC/CFTC Warn Bitcoin … Continue Reading

Ether-Backed Loans and Blockchain Solutions Announced; New Crypto Guidance from CFTC, WEF, Basel, Texas and El Salvador; DOJ Seizes Ransomware Bitcoin

By Jordan R. Silversmith, Veronica Reynolds, Teresa Goody Guillén and Joanna F. Wasick on June 11, 2021 Posted in Bitcoin, Blockchain, Supply Chain

In this issue: • Bank Offers Ether-Backed Loans, Auction and Property Sales Accept Crypto • Supply Chains Innovate with Blockchain, China Launches Copyright Blockchain • CFTC and WEF Comment on DeFi, Basel Addresses Cryptoasset Exposure • Texas Enacts New Blockchain Law, El Salvador Makes Bitcoin Legal Tender • DOJ Seizes Bitcoin from Ransomware Attack as … Continue Reading

NFTs Launch, Regulators Target Crypto Ads and Scams, Nebraska Passes Digital Asset Bank Charter, Reports Detail Crypto Hedge Funds and Sanctions Evasion

By Teresa Goody Guillén, Veronica Reynolds, Keith R. Murphy and Joanna F. Wasick on May 28, 2021 Posted in Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, NFTs

In this issue: • BD-ATS to Issue Blockchain Securities, Crypto Hedge Fund Report Published • NFTs and Loyalty Tokens Launch, Regulators Target Crypto Ads as Scams Spike • Nebraska Passes Digital Asset Bank Charter, Tax Case Addresses Crypto Mining • China and Hong Kong Implement New Crypto Regulation, Iran Halts Mining • Report Provides New … Continue Reading

Firms Enable Crypto Payments; Blockchain Deployed for Luxury Goods, A&D and Postal Services; NFT Hype Continues; Turkey Bans Crypto; DeFi Hacked for $80M

By Keith R. Murphy, Jordan R. Silversmith, Veronica Reynolds and Joanna F. Wasick on April 23, 2021 Posted in Bitcoin, Blockchain, Cryptocurrency

In this issue: • Companies Enable Crypto Payments, Reports Address Market Developments • Blockchain Solutions Deployed for Luxury Goods, A&D and Postal Services • Charitable NFTs Raise Millions, Soccer Player Pelé Announces His First NFT • DOJ Actions Cite Crypto Use, Turkey Bans Crypto, DeFi Hacked for $80 Million Companies Enable Crypto Payments, Reports Address … Continue Reading

CBDC Initiatives Announced Across Globe, US Crypto Firms Pursue Licenses and Form Lobbying Groups, DOJ Targets Unlicensed Crypto MSB

By Veronica Reynolds, Teresa Goody Guillén and Joanna F. Wasick on April 9, 2021 Posted in Bitcoin, Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, ICOs

In this issue: • Central Bank Digital Currencies Explored in Thailand, Japan and Sweden • US Crypto Firm Seeks Clearing Agency License, New Lobbying Group Formed • DOJ Targets Unlicensed Bitcoin Money Transmitter, ICO Extortion Scheme Central Bank Digital Currencies Explored in Thailand, Japan and Sweden By: Veronica Reynolds According to a recent press release, … Continue Reading

Financial Firms Move to Integrate Cryptocurrencies, Blockchain Solutions Announced Across Markets, Agencies Target Crypto Crimes as Threats Continue

By Veronica Reynolds, Robert A. Musiala, Teresa Goody Guillén and Jordan R. Silversmith on February 12, 2021 Posted in Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, Ransomware

In this issue: • Payment Firms Adopt Cryptocurrencies, Company Purchases $1.5 Billion in Bitcoin • Blockchain Enterprise Initiatives Announced Across Global Markets • US and Foreign Agencies Take Action Against Cryptocurrency Fraud Schemes • Report Details North Korea Links to Crypto Hacks, Ransomware Connections Payment Firms Adopt Cryptocurrencies, Company Purchases $1.5 Billion in Bitcoin By: … Continue Reading

Podcast: BakerHostetler Blockchain University: Beyond Cryptocurrency – Non-Financial Use Cases for Blockchain

By Robert A. Musiala and Veronica Reynolds on February 3, 2021 Posted in Blockchain, Cryptocurrency

The fourth episode in the series provides an overview of how Blockchain is being used today in non-financial applications. Topics discussed include using blockchain in various sectors, including the food supply and pharmaceutical industries, maritime shipping, the cobalt supply chain, self-sovereign identity, credentialing and records management. Questions & Comments: rmusiala@bakerlaw.com, vreynolds@bakerlaw.com Listen to the episode. Subscribe to … Continue Reading

NY DFS Approves New Stablecoin Co., Blockchain Data Solutions Announced, New Cryptocurrency Regulatory and Enforcement Actions in U.S. and Abroad

By Jordan R. Silversmith, Teresa Goody Guillén, Veronica Reynolds and Joanna F. Wasick on January 8, 2021 Posted in Blockchain, Cryptocurrency

In this issue: • NY DFS Approves New Stablecoin Company, Crypto Financial Products Continue Growth • Blockchain Used To Enhance Auto Geofencing and Combat Whiskey Fraud • US Financial Regulators Continue Crypto-Focused Regulatory Proposals • OFAC Settles With Crypto Custodian; Enforcement Actions in UK, Italy, Iran NY DFS Approves New Stablecoin Company, Crypto Financial Products … Continue Reading

FinCEN Proposes New Crypto Record-Keeping Rules; SEC and CFTC Issue Digital Asset Guidance; SEC Closes 2020 With Multiple Enforcement Actions Against Blockchain Firms

By Robert A. Musiala on January 5, 2021 Posted in Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, Enforcement

In this issue: • FinCEN Proposed Rule Creates New Cryptocurrency Record-Keeping Requirements • SEC Issues Statement on Digital Asset Custody, CFTC Issues Digital Assets Primer • SEC Closes 2020 With Multiple Blockchain Industry Enforcement Actions FinCEN Proposed Rule Creates New Cryptocurrency Record-Keeping Requirements By: Robert A. Musiala Jr. On Dec. 18, 2020, the Financial Crimes … Continue Reading