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

• 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

NFT Scandals Coincide with Increased Push for Crypto Regulation

By George Stamboulidis, Robert A. Musiala and Christina Gotsis on October 8, 2021 Posted in Cryptocurrency, Enforcement, NFTs, Securities & Exchange Commission, Uncategorized

Authorship credit: George A. Stamboulidis, Robert A. Musiala Jr., and Christina O. Gotsis Problems caused by the lack of regulation in NFT markets were clearly exposed just last month with the revelation of not one, but two NFT scandals involving the use of insider information to snag exclusive pieces and game the market. In early … 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

SEC Scrutinizes Use of Fintech by Broker-Dealers and Investment Advisers

By Teresa Goody Guillén, Jonathan A. Forman and Madison Gaudreau on September 2, 2021 Posted in FinTech, Securities & Exchange Commission

The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) recently issued a request for information and public comment on the use of new and emerging technologies by investment advisers and broker-dealers that suggests potential regulatory action to come.[1] According to its release, the SEC is seeking to understand how registrants — whether online brokerages, robo-advisers, internet investment advisers, … 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, 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

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

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

Crypto Investment and Payment Products Launch, BiTA Platform Announced, SEC and OFAC Take Crypto Enforcement Actions, FCA Extends AML Exemption

By Veronica Reynolds, Jordan R. Silversmith and Keith R. Murphy on June 4, 2021 Posted in Bitcoin, Cryptocurrency, Securities & Exchange Commission

In this issue: • Crypto Investment and Payments Products Launch, Payment Data Published • Acquisition Targets ‘Smart Agreements’ Tech, BiTA Platform Launched • SEC and OFAC Take Crypto Enforcement Actions, FCA Extends AML Exemption Crypto Investment and Payments Products Launch, Payment Data Published By: Veronica Reynolds Last week Securitize announced the launch of Securitize Capital, … Continue Reading

Reports Analyze Bitcoin Price, Energy Consumption; SEC Petitioned on NFTs, NFT Platform Sued; FDIC and FATF Focus on Crypto; Hacks and Fraud Continue

By Keith R. Murphy, Teresa Goody Guillén, Veronica Reynolds, Joanna F. Wasick and Jordan R. Silversmith on May 21, 2021 Posted in Bitcoin, Cryptocurrency, NFTs, Ransomware, Securities & Exchange Commission

In this issue: • Reports Analyze Bitcoin Price Crash and Network Energy Consumption • SEC Petitioned on NFTs, NFT Platform Sued in Class Action as More NFTs Launch • FDIC Seeks Info on Crypto, FATF Focuses on DeFi, Payment Solutions Announced • Reports Cover Pipeline Ransomware, Crypto Schemes and DeFi Hacks Reports Analyze Bitcoin Price … Continue Reading

Crypto Firm Initiatives in CBDCs and Custody, GSA Auctions Bitcoin, Marketing Campaigns Integrate Crypto, ETFs Seek Approval, Enforcement Actions Continue

By Jordan R. Silversmith, Veronica Reynolds, Teresa Goody Guillén and Joanna F. Wasick on March 26, 2021 Posted in Cryptocurrency, Securities & Exchange Commission

In this issue: • Crypto Firms Expand CBDC and Custody Initiatives, GSA Auctions Bitcoin • Token-Focused Marketing Campaigns Signal Rising Interest in Cryptocurrencies • ETFs Seek SEC Approval as Brazil Approves First ETF, FATF Updates Guidance • CFTC, Canadian Tax Agency and DOJ Continue Crypto Enforcement Activities Crypto Firms Expand CBDC and Custody Initiatives, GSA … Continue Reading

Crypto Financial Products Announced, MIT Seeks to Improve Bitcoin Codebase, SEC Addresses Digital Assets, DeFi Hacks Continue, Crypto Theft Data Published

By Keith R. Murphy, Joanna F. Wasick and Teresa Goody Guillén on March 5, 2021 Posted in Bitcoin, Cryptocurrency, Securities & Exchange Commission

In this issue: • Crypto Firms Launch New Services, MIT Seeks to Improve Bitcoin Codebase • Institutional Cryptocurrency Investment Products Advance, New Data Published • SEC Focuses on Digital Assets, DeFi Hacked, Crypto Theft Data Published Crypto Firms Launch New Services, MIT Seeks to Improve Bitcoin Codebase By Keith R. Murphy A San Francisco-based cryptocurrency … Continue Reading

Crypto Exchanges Announce Market Developments, US Report Addresses Crypto Tax, New DOJ and SEC Enforcement, Reports Detail Crypto Crimes

By Veronica Reynolds, Joanna F. Wasick, Teresa Goody Guillén and Jordan R. Silversmith on February 5, 2021 Posted in Cryptocurrency, Securities & Exchange Commission

In this issue: • Cryptocurrency Exchanges and Financial Firms Announce Market Developments • US Report Covers Crypto Tax Issues, Israeli Ruling Says Tokens Are Securities • DOJ, SEC and Europol Bring Various Cryptocurrency Enforcement Actions • Reports Provide Insights on Cryptocurrency Crimes and Darknet Activities Cryptocurrency Exchanges and Financial Firms Announce Market Developments By: Veronica … Continue Reading

FinCEN Proposed Rule Halted, Exchanges and Banks Expand Crypto Products, SEC Brings Action Against Token Issuer, Crypto Threat Reports Published

By Jordan R. Silversmith, Veronica Reynolds and Robert A. Musiala on January 22, 2021 Posted in Cryptocurrency, Enforcement, Securities & Exchange Commission

In this issue: • Exchanges and Banks Expand Cryptocurrency Services and Products • FinCEN Proposed Rule Halted, Banks and Crypto Exchanges Adjust Policies • SEC Brings Action Against SAFT and Token Issuer, Related Statement Published • Reports Provide Details on Criminal Activities Involving Cryptocurrencies Exchanges and Banks Expand Cryptocurrency Services and Products By: Jordan R. … Continue Reading

SEC Charges Ripple and Two Executives, Alleging XRP Is a Security

By Jonathan A. Forman, Adam Gale, Teresa Goody Guillén and Robert A. Musiala on January 5, 2021 Posted in Securities & Exchange Commission

On Dec. 22, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC or the Commission) filed an action against Ripple Labs Inc. (Ripple or the Company) and two of its executives, alleging that they violated Section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (Securities Act) by raising over $1.3 billion through an unregistered, ongoing securities … Continue Reading

SEC Wins Case Against Kik and Adds Precedent for Digital Assets

By Adam Gale, Teresa Goody Guillén, Robert A. Musiala and Jonathan A. Forman on October 12, 2020 Posted in Securities & Exchange Commission

On Sept. 30, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York granted the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) motion for sum mary judgment against Kik Interactive Inc. (Kik) and denied Kik’s cross-motion for summary judgment. As we previously reported, the SEC challenged Kik’s compliance with the federal securities laws in … Continue Reading

Crypto Study Published, Bahamas To Launch CBDC, New Ethereum Solutions Announced, ATS Settlement Process Approved, SEC Defeats Kik, Singapore Exchange Hacked

By Robert A. Musiala, Jordan R. Silversmith and Joanna F. Wasick on October 2, 2020 Posted in Cryptocurrency, Securities & Exchange Commission

In this issue: • Cryptoasset Study Published, Bahamas Launches CBDC, Zcash Service Announced • Ethereum Enterprise Solutions Announced, US Air Force Expands Blockchain Initiative • SEC Approves Digital Asset Settlement Process, Crypto Brokerage Registers in Canada • Court Rules in Favor of SEC in Kik Case, SEC Settles with Two More ICO Issuers • CFTC … Continue Reading

U.S. Crypto Exchange Approved as Wyoming Bank; Firms Integrate Blockchain for Data Management; Multiple Enforcement Actions by Treasury, SEC, DOJ and CFTC

By Robert A. Musiala, Jordan R. Silversmith and Marc Powers on September 18, 2020 Posted in Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, ICOs, Securities & Exchange Commission

In this issue: • U.S. Crypto Exchange Approved as Wyoming Bank, MSB Regulations to be Simplified • Auto, Mining and Financial Firms Integrate Blockchain for Data Management • OFAC, DOJ, IRS and FATF Take Various Actions Against Cryptocurrency Crimes • SEC Charges ICO Issuers, DOJ and CFTC Charge Defendants in Crypto Fraud Schemes • DOJ, … Continue Reading