Search
European Union Seeks Strict Regulation of Crypto and Stablecoins in New Draft Law
12.9.2020
The European Commission, the executive arm of the E.U., has drawn up regulation to tightly monitor cryptocurrencies it considers “significant”, including asset-backed stablecoins like Facebook’s libra. Euractiv, a European news outlet, first reported the news on Sept.10, citing...
UK Digital Bank Ziglu Launches P2P Payments for Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash
7.9.2020
London-based challenger bank Ziglu said Monday that it has been licensed as an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) by the U.K.’s Financial Conduct Authority. After receiving the permit, the fintech start-up immediately launched peer-to-peer (P2P) payments for both crypto and fiat currencies....
South African Regulator Pressures Bitcoin Investment Company, Urges Clients to Request Refunds
19.8.2020
An embattled bitcoin investment company, Mirror Trading International (MTI)’s troubles took another twist August 18 after the South African regulator, Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) said that it is investigating the investment company. MTI’s latest conflict with the regulator...
Germany Begins Closing Down All Unlicensed Bitcoin ATMs
9.8.2020
Germany’s Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), the country’s top financial regulator responsible for regulating crypto service providers, has begun actively closing down unauthorized bitcoin ATMs, a BaFin spokesperson has confirmed to news.Bitcoin.com. All Unauthorized...
New Kenyan Digital Tax to Affect Crypto Platforms
8.8.2020
Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has announced new regulations that compel users of digital marketplaces to pay digital tax. At a rate of 1.5% on gross transaction value, the new tax is expected to take effect on Jan. 1, 2021. According to a report, the KRA will create a special tax unit to track...
Reports Claim UK’s Financial Conduct Authority ‘Pressurized’ to Remove Onecoin Scam Warning
8.8.2020
A recent episode of the popular BBC Sounds podcast the “Missing Cryptoqueen” has shown the public a very interesting view of the powerful Onecoin Ponzi. According to two witnesses the BBC interviewed, a London law firm and a reputation management company allegedly managed to get...
Crypto Hardware Wallet Firm Ledger Hacked, One Million Customer Emails Exposed
29.7.2020
Ledger said on Wednesday that its e-commerce database was hacked in late June, compromising about one million email addresses. No user funds were affected by the breach. In a blog post, the French bitcoin hardware wallet company revealed that contact and order information for customers was also...
Grayscale Investments’ Bitcoin Cash Trust Approved for Public Trading
21.7.2020
Grayscale Investments’ Bitcoin Cash Trust and Litecoin Trust have been approved by the U.S. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for public quotations. The two add to Grayscale’s four existing publicly traded investment products: Bitcoin Trust, Ethereum Trust, Ethereum...
Wirex Approved to Issue Mastercard-Backed Bitcoin Debit Cards
20.7.2020
Mastercard said Monday it had granted Wirex principal membership status, becoming the “first” native cryptocurrency outfit to do so. The membership allows Wirex, a London-based digital payments firm, to issue payment cards directly to consumers, making it easier for people to buy, hold...
Bank of Thailand Enters Third Phase of CBDC Development; Now “Using CBDC with Big Businesses”
17.7.2020
The Bank of Thailand (BOT) announced Wednesday that is has entered third-phase development of its central bank digital currency (CBDC). BOT is planning to expand the use of the CBDC among large businesses. The report by The Nation of Thailand quotes Vachira Arromdee, BOT assistant governor saying...
Crypto Facilities Gets FCA Nod to Set up Crypto Futures Venue
8.7.2020
Crypto Facilities, a subsidiary of Kraken cryptocurrency exchange, has obtained a Multilateral Trading Facility (MTF) license from the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). An MTF is a European regulatory term for a self-regulated financial trading venue. MTFs are an alternative to...
Kraken-Owned Crypto Facilities Wins UK License to Offer Derivatives Trading
6.7.2020
The subsidiary of cryptocurrency exchange Kraken has obtained a U.K. license allowing it to operate its derivatives platform in the EU
A ‘Significant Increase’: UK Regulator Says 2.6 Million Residents Have Bought Cryptocurrencies
2.7.2020
The UK’s top financial regulator has conducted a survey and found a “significant increase” in the number of crypto owners and awareness of cryptocurrencies. The regulator estimates that 2.6 million people in the country have bought cryptocurrencies, most of which were from non-UK...
Wirecard: Crypto Card Users’ Funds Locked as UK Regulator Suspends Subsidiary
27.6.2020
UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) on Friday suspended the license of Wirecard Card Solutions (WCS), a unit of troubled Wirecard AG, which is responsible for issuing Visa cryptocurrency debit cards. It means some users of cards such as Crypto.com’s Mco visa debit card and Tenx’s visa...
Singapore Begins Crackdown on Unlicensed Bitcoin Sellers
24.6.2020
Singapore authorities charged a 23-year-old woman with breaking the city-state’s months-old ban on unlicensed bitcoin sales
London’s ETC Group to List Centrally Cleared Bitcoin ETP on Deutsche Börse’s Xetra
10.6.2020
A UK-based financial services company will list a centrally cleared bitcoin exchange-traded product (ETP) on Deutsche Börse’s Xetra electronic trading market later this month. In a statement released on June 9, Etc Group said the contract, known as Bitcoin Exchange Traded Crypto (BTCE)...
Chinese Authority Freezes Thousands of Cryptocurrency Traders’ Bank Accounts
9.6.2020
Several thousands of bank accounts belonging to cryptocurrency traders have reportedly been frozen by Chinese police as a result of an extensive crackdown on illicit activities. Frozen accounts are not necessarily involved in wrongdoing and can be unfrozen if the authority finds no evidence...
Saudi Monetary Authority Pumped Some of $13B Bank Infusion Using Blockchain
9.6.2020
The central bank claims to have distributed 'part' of a recent $13 billion bank "liquidity enhancement" using blockchain tech
Malta’s ‘Blockchain Island’ Dream Deferred as 70% Entities Shun Licensing
25.4.2020
Malta’s futuristic design to be the “Blockchain Island” has suffered a setback as 70% of companies in the sector have not sought licensing. Six months after the deadline, only 26 companies have applied for licensing and none has been granted one. Malta initiated legislation...
Spain’s Tax Authority Sending Notices to 66,000 Cryptocurrency Owners
2.4.2020
The Spanish tax authority has reportedly started sending notices to about 66,000 cryptocurrency owners in the country. This number represents a massive increase from the 14,700 tax letters the agency sent to crypto owners last year. The letters will continue to be sent until the end of June despite...