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South Korean Banks ‘Sitting on Crypto Plans in Regulatory Limbo’
18.2.2020
South Korean financial institutions have formulated crypto business plans – but cannot go public with them due to a lack of regulatory clarity, claim bankers in the country.
News outlet Hangook Ilbo quotes an unnamed “senior official” at a South Korean bank as stating,
“Banks in South Korea cannot...
Brussels Asks Europeans How to Regulate Bitcoin, Public Consultation Continues Into March
11.2.2020
The European Commission is gathering feedback from EU citizens, businesses, regulators and other interested parties to establish a regulatory framework for crypto assets and markets on a European level. The public consultation which started in December will continue until March 19, 2020, with...
Swiss Financial Watchdog Proposes $1,000 Client Identification Threshold for Crypto Transactions
8.2.2020
Famous for its favorable business climate that has attracted hundreds of crypto companies, Switzerland is now expanding its financial regulatory framework. Some of the upcoming rules will increase oversight in the blockchain industry in compliance with new international standards regarding...
Coinbase and Ripple Push for Regulatory Framework, US Congress Stalls
7.2.2020
Coinbase and Ripple execs co-chair the newly established working group tasked with pushing for a U.S.-wide regulatory framework. What is this unit exactly, and will Congress listen?
Government Think Tank Niti Aayog Identifies Key Blockchain Use Cases for India
4.2.2020
The policy think tank for the government of India, Niti Aayog, has published a strategy document identifying a number of key areas blockchain technology can significantly benefit the country. “By empowering citizens through features of transparency, decentralization and accountability...
Mastercard Left Libra Association Over Regulatory and Viability Concerns, Says CEO
3.2.2020
The credit-card giant pulled out of the Libra Association in October. Now its chief has opened up on why
Another Crypto Exchange Discourages the Use of Bitcoin Mixing Services
30.1.2020
The cryptocurrency exchange Binance was recently scrutinized for flagging a customer’s funds because the individual had used a bitcoin mixing application. Now the platform Paxos Global is discouraging the use of crypto mixers after a customer allegedly sent coins to a mixing service. Also...
India Unveils National Blockchain Strategy, Calling on RBI to Issue Digital Currency
29.1.2020
India’s National Strategy on Blockchain has been published. It recommends, among other things, for the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to issue a central bank digital currency. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology tasked the National Institute for Smart Government with drafting...
Hearing Concluded: Indian Supreme Court Deliberates on Crypto vs RBI Case
28.1.2020
The Indian supreme court has finished hearing the crypto vs. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) case. The hearing concluded on Tuesday with the counsel for the Internet and Mobile Association of India wrapping up his arguments, followed by arguments by the counsel representing crypto exchanges. The court...
Swiss Bank Julius Baer Offers New Digital Asset Services With Licensed Crypto Bank SEBA
28.1.2020
Switzerland, a nation that’s been quite positive towards crypto business, is facilitating the integration between its traditional financial sector and the blockchain industry. With greater regulatory clarity and stability coming, established banks are plucking up the courage to offer digital...
Leading Swiss Stock Exchange Offers 12 Crypto Exchange-Traded Products With One That Shorts Bitcoin
25.1.2020
Switzerland’s principal stock exchange, SIX Swiss Exchange, now has 12 cryptocurrency exchange-traded products listed. The latest addition, the 21shares Short Bitcoin, allows investors to profit from falling prices of the digital currency. Other listed crypto products include those that track...
Iran Issues More Than 1,000 Cryptocurrency Mining Licenses
25.1.2020
The Iranian government has reportedly issued more than 1,000 licenses for cryptocurrency mining since it began regulating the industry. A number of large mining farms have set up in the country, but high electricity tariffs have kept many small investors away. Also read: Regulatory Roundup —...
Regulatory Roundup: New US Crypto Tax Bill, Central Banks Join Forces on Digital Currencies
23.1.2020
In this roundup, we cover an exceptionally busy week for crypto regulations around the globe. We start our coverage with the U.S. Virtual Currency Tax Fairness Act of 2020, actions by the SEC, Ripple’s lawsuit, India’s supreme court hearings, Australia green-lighting a bitcoin retail...
Indian Minister Inaugurates Blockchain Center of Excellence in Bengaluru
21.1.2020
A Centre of Excellence in Blockchain Technology has been inaugurated by Indian Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad in Bengaluru. It will facilitate various government departments in their blockchain work, leading to large scale deployment of blockchain applications. Also read: Regulatory Roundup:...
Developer Proposes Decentralized Bitcoin Hashrate Derivatives
20.1.2020
There’s a new concept called Powswap that lets people speculate on hashrate in order to hedge against price volatility. Powswap was developed by the software engineer Jeremy Rubin who believes hashrate derivatives products allow people to leverage new trading strategies. Also read: Regulatory...
New Bill in Oklahoma Proposes Depository for Cryptocurrencies Used by Government
19.1.2020
A bill has been introduced in the U.S. state of Oklahoma to establish a new type of state-chartered financial institution that will be “the central depository for virtual currency used by governmental agencies in this state.” The new establishment aims to provide financial and technical...
Malaysia Announces Digital Asset Guidelines
19.1.2020
The Securities Commission Malaysia has published the country’s guidelines on digital assets which set out the regulatory framework for token sales. All token offerings must now be carried out only through platforms approved by the commission. The guidelines also detail the obligations...
Crypto Experts Join OECD ‘High Level’ Advisory Board
19.1.2020
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, an intergovernmental body with 36 member countries, has formed “a high-level expert group” which includes executives from the crypto industry. They will provide advice in helping develop international blockchain policy...
Crypto Employment Abounds With More Than 8,000 Jobs in 2020
18.1.2020
During the last year, the cryptoconomy has picked up pace after a drawn out crypto winter. When market prices were low and startups were short on capital, a bunch of firms laid off employees in 2018. A year later, and digital currency companies are hiring. Also read: Regulatory Roundup: EU-Wide...
New Guidelines Subject Canadian Crypto Exchanges to Securities Laws
18.1.2020
Canadian regulators have issued new guidance determining when current securities legislation applies to operations conducted by cryptocurrency exchanges. According to the clarifications in the document, many domestic and foreign entities serving Canadian users, for example those that provide...