Analysis Today TheBitTimes.com

The European Council and Parliament have provisionally agreed on stricter regulations for cryptocurrency firms to enhance anti-money laundering measures in the sector. The European Council and Parliament have agreed on new rules that will make cryptocurrency firms follow stricter guidelines. These rules are part of the anti-money laundering efforts and were announced on Thursday. Crypto firms will now have to check their customers more closely, particularly on transactions of €1,000 or, $1,090, or more. The aim is to make sure crypto currencies aren’t used for illegal activities. The rules also have a special focus on self-hosted wallets, which are managed by the users themselves, not a company. This agreement isn’t final yet. It needs to be approved by the European Parliament. Once approved, the Council and Parliament have to adopt it officially, then the rules will be published and start to apply. You might also like: Former US president Trump proposes ban on...

Decentralized exchange Mango Markets is responding to scrutiny from U.S. regulatory bodies by allocating $250,000 worth of USD Coin (USDC) to its course. This move comes on the heels of recent woes, including a hack and ongoing legal proceedings that have led the DAO, or decentralized autonomous organization, to hire an intermediary who will guide the project through its regulatory battles. Allocating resources for a solution Mango Market’s DAO is responding to regulatory inquiries by approving a budget of $250,000 in USD Coin (USDC). This allocation, set for approval on Jan. 6, aims to hire a representative who will assist in addressing concerns raised by U.S. regulators. If approved, Poland-based company Cyberbyte, owned by Mango Markets contributor Adrian Brzeziński, will represent MangoDAO for a one-year term. Responsibilities include engaging legal counsel and working towards resolutions to regulatory matters. The hack and its aftermath Over a year ago, Mango Market...

Representatives from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission also met with Grayscale on Nov. 20 in the asset manager’s bid for listing a Bitcoin ETF. Representatives from BlackRock and the Nasdaq met with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission to discuss the proposed rule allowing the listing of a spot Bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded fund, or ETF. According to a Nov. 20 SEC memo, BlackRock provided a presentation detailing how the firm could use an in-kind or in-cash redemption model for its iShares Bitcoin Trust. It’s unclear how SEC officials responded to the two proposed models or if they intend to approve a spot BTC ETF after numerous delays and rejections. Looks like @BlackRock also met with SEC! There’s a couple slides in relation to in-kind vs cash creation. Based on this it looks like BlackRock prefers in-kind for their #bitcoin ETF (makes sense as its probably cleanest structure for them & end investors) h/t @btcNLNico https://t.co/AK0XspL4zJ pic.twitter...

Crypto exchange Bitget has abandoned plans for a crypto license in Hong Kong, asking users to withdraw their assets by Dec. 13. Cryptocurrency trading platform Bitget has dropped plans to obtain a Virtual Asset Trading Platform (VATP) license in Hong Kong, citing business and market-related considerations. Bitget officially announced on Nov. 13 that its Hong Kong division, BitgetX, accessible by the domain BitgetX.hk, will cease operations by Dec. 13, 2023. As Bitget decided not to apply for a VATP license , the firm will have to permanently withdraw from the Hong Kong market, the announcement notes. The company has strongly encouraged users to withdraw crypto assets from BitgetX before Dec. 13. “After this date, the BitgetX website will no longer be accessible and you will not be able to manage or access your assets on BitgetX,” the statement noted. This is a developing story, and further information will be added as it becomes available. Source: https://thebittimes.com/bitget...

The IRS proposed the new crypto tax reporting rules in August earlier this year and if approved the new crypto tax regime will come into effect from January 2026. Coinbase crypto exchange chief legal officer Paul Singh Grewal called upon the crypto community to join the movement against the United States Treasury’s proposed tax reporting regulations on crypto currencies. Grewal urged the community to oppose the proposed regulations as it could set a dangerous precedent for surveillance. Grewal took to X (formerly Twitter) to address the concerns associated with the proposed crypto tax reporting rules and claimed that the proposed regulations go beyond the congressional mandate to establish tax reporting rules. He added that if the proposed regulations become a law, it would put the “digital assets at a disadvantage and threaten to harm a nascent industry when it's just getting started. “ Everyone who cares about fairness and supports American innovation should chime in on Tre...

UK consumers are no longer financially protected when dealing with crypto exchanges Houbi and KuCoin after they were among 146 new names added to the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) unauthorized firms ‘warning list.’  The list, which the FCA says shows “details of unauthorized firms and individuals that we’re aware of, that aren’t allowed to operate in the UK,” was updated to take into account new regulations that came into effect on Sunday. Under the new rules, firms wanting to promote crypto assets in the UK, regardless of the country they’re headquartered in, must be authorized or registered with the FCA. New promotions must be “clear, fair and not misleading, labeled with prominent risk warnings, and must not inappropriately incentivize people to invest.” According to the FCA, customers dealing with any so-called ‘unauthorized firms’ won’t be covered by the UK’s financial ombudsman or Financial Services Compensation Scheme . A...

The Philippine SEC is now collaborating with the U.S. SEC and the Asian Development Bank to better combat crypto-related crime. The Philippines Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has teamed up with its United States counterpart, as well as the Asian Development Bank to crack down on criminals using cryptocurrencies to commit fraud and other financial crimes. According to a Sept. 15 press release, the three institutions conducted an International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) Investigation and Enforcement Training workshop last month, in a bid to upskill their combined fraud and scam prevention toolkit when it came to crypto -related crimes. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Philippines collaborating with international organizations to further its mandate of protecting the public from securities fraud and other forms of investment scams. Read more at https://t.co/TzdieiKRSp#SECupdates pic.twitter.com/3ANDH9yrwC — SEC Philippines (@SEC_Philippines) Se...

In a statement to crypto.news, Coinbase has denied leaving the Indian market in September. Crypto.news has contacted Coinbase to understand the company’s current rumors about leaving the Indian market that were initially reported by the local newspaper, Economic Times. Coinbase spokesperson explained that the company is not ceasing operations in India. Instead, on Sept.9, Coinbase sent an email to some of Indian users entering the platform from other jurisdictions worldwide. The spokesperson further stated that in a recent system review, they found some Indian accounts that didn’t align with their updated standards. As a result, those accounts will be disabled, but customers will get a chance to update their details in the future. The platform reassured that the funds of affected users are safe and they can still make withdrawals or send to other crypto services until Sept. 25. They emphasized their commitment to maintaining high standards for the Indian crypto communi...

Stuart Alderoty says that an appeal by the Securities and Exchange Commission could see Ripple consolidate its victory over the regulator even further. Concerns of a potential appeal by the United States securities regulator to the landmark Ripple ruling earlier this month were shrugged off by Ripple’s chief legal officer. Stuart Alderoty believes that if the SEC takes the case to an appeal , the court could move to consolidate Ripple Labs’ partial victory over the financial regulator even further. Speaking on a July 26 TechCrunch podcast, Alderoty reiterated his position that the XRP (XRP) token does not constitute an investment contract and that the Ripple team would not shy away from any appeal brought to the courts by the SEC. “We think the judge got that right, and we think that was a faithful application of the law, and I think a court of appeals will not only affirm that but maybe even amplify that to even a greater extent.” On July 13, Judge Analisa Torres ruled XRP was no...

The Law Commission’s recommendations highlight the need to clarify whether cryptocurrency lending falls under existing financial collateral regulations. A lawyer leading the United Kingdom’s Law Commission’s review of the application of British laws toward digital assets has stressed the need for further clarity around crypto currency lending . Laura Burgoyne unpacked the details of the organization’s four major recommendations to the U.K. government in an interview with Cointelegraph. This comes after a lengthy review process of existing legal frameworks in the country and how they’ve been applied to the digital asset sector to date. As reported by Cointelegraph on July 3, the Law Commission is calling for the creation of a distinct category of personal property for crypto currencies and digital assets. In addition, the body recommended the establishment of an industry-specific panel and a legal framework for crypto -related assets, as well as legal reforms to clarify whether the ass...

The motion to dismiss argues that even if all the allegations in the lawsuit are true, the plaintiff does not have a valid legal claim. In the ongoing legal battle between Coinbase and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the American cryptocurrency exchange has filed a motion to dismiss the SEC’s complaint. In a legal document filed on Thursday, June 29 with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Coinbase raised concerns about the SEC’s interpretation of securities laws, suggesting the agency was reaching beyond its legal authority. This move underscores Coinbase’s determination to challenge the SEC’s lawsuit. The motion to dismiss argues that even if all the allegations in the lawsuit are true, the plaintiff does not have a valid legal claim . Coinbase’s legal team stated in the filing: “Even if the SEC were correct that the assets and services it identifies are within the scope of its existing regulatory authority, this [legal] actio...

Singapore's Crypto.com expands its regulatory achievements by securing MPI license for DPT services from MAS. The Singapore-based cryptocurrency exchange, Crypto.com, announced on June 1 that it has been granted a Major Payment Institution (MPI) license for Digital Payment Token (DPT) services by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).  The announcement comes after Crypto.com received its in-principle approval from MAS in June 2022. With the MPI licence, Crypto.com is now authorized to offer its DPT services to customers in Singapore. The Monetary Authority of Singapore serves as the central bank and primary financial regulatory authority in Singapore. It is responsible for overseeing and implementing legislation related to money, banking, insurance, securities, and the overall financial industry, including the issuance of currency. This latest announcement adds to Crypto.com's track record of securing regulatory license s. Crypto.com has also achieved registration as a Di...

Prosecutors claimed Nathaniel Chastain profited from inside information as to which NFTs would be featured on the marketplace. The former OpenSea manager who was accused of insider trading of NFTs has been convicted on May 3 of wire fraud and money laundering in a New York federal court, according to a report from Reuters. According to prosecutors, Nathaniel Chastain, a former Product Manager at OpenSea, was in charge of choosing which NFTs would be featured on the website’s non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace. After making these decisions, he frequently purchased these NFTs and then resold them after they had been featured, prosecutors said. He was charged with wire Fraud and money laundering on June 1 in connection with these alleged transactions.  OpenSea's home page displaying featured NFTs. Source: OpenSea The trial began on April 24 and has been watched closely by lawyers specializing in crypto-related issues. Some legal experts have argued that the outcome of the case may ...

Although no official date is mentioned for the launch of Binance Japan, the notice stated that the exchange could start after June. Crypto exchange Binance is set to reenter Japan after acquiring the regulated crypto exchange platform Sakura Exchange Bitcoin (SEBC). Binance acquired the exchange  — a  Japan Financial Services Agency-licensed business — in November 2022, intending to reenter the Japanese crypto market. According to a report published in a local daily, SEBC would terminate its current crypto exchange and brokerage services by May 31 and reopen as Binance Japan after June 2023. The SEBC notice didn’t announce any official launch date. Users of the SEBC exchange must withdraw their funds before the deadline of May 28. Any funds remaining in these accounts will be automatically converted to Japanese yen by June 5 and transferred to users’ bank accounts. The users of Binance Japan would have to carry out new identity verification and Know Your Customer checks. Binance...

Bitcoin proponents accused New York Times of overstating emissions by mining companies and omitting the facts about the growing adoption of renewable energy sources for BTC mining. New York Times's latest report on Bitcoin (BTC) mining , titled “The Real-World Costs of the Digital Race for Bitcoin,” has irked many BTC proponent s. A number of Bitcoin proponent s took to Twitter to call out certain aspects of the report calling it "cheery picking data." The NYT article calls Bitcoin mining a “voracious" appetite and claims BTC mining uses as much energy as all residences in New York City. Daniel Batten, a Bitcoin environmental, social, and governance (ESG) analyst, pointed towards two major instances of cherry-picking data and neglecting the increased use of renewable energy in the mining sector. Batten noted that the NYT article overstates actual fossil fuel use for mentioned BTC miners by multi-folds and the mentioned emission levels for these miners are oversta...

Under the Future Finance Act, the German government is pushing for more welcoming regulations for startups working with financial innovation. The German government is pushing for more welcoming regulations for startups working with financial innovation in the country, according to the newly drafted legislation of the "Future Finance Act" introduced by the finance ministry on April 5.  Key goals of the legislation include capital markets digitalization through the issuance of electronic securities on a Blockchain and improved portability of crypto assets. According to a translated version of the draft bill, Germany's "capital market should become more modern and efficient in order to mobilize more private capital for future investments." Among the government's targets is to create a favorable environment for startups and investors in the country. The legislation reduces the minimum market capital for initial public offerings (IPOs) from 1.25 million euros ...

On this week’s episode of The Market Report, Cointelegraph’s resident experts discuss the impact of the Silvergate collapse on crypto. This week on The Market Report, the resident experts at Cointelegraph discuss all the details regarding Silvergate and its impact on the crypto market so far. We kick things off with this week’s top stories Bitcoin traders eye $19K BTC price bottom, warn of ‘hot’ February CPI It could be a testing few weeks for Bitcoin and risk assets, market commentators say, with Fed Chair Jerome Powell due to kick off the triggers on March 8. Historically, March has not been a great month for Bitcoin (BTC), and 2023 seems to be following that trend. After an uneventful weekend, which offered few trading opportunities, the current concern seems to be around the forthcoming macroeconomic data from the United States. Specifically, the February print of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), due March 14, is expected to be “hot,” or above expectations. Is a sub-$20,000 Bitcoi...

Stablecoins may have suffered an identity crisis in 2022, but Tether CTO Paolo Ardoino is bullish about the utility the sector provides. Stablecoins have been under much scrutiny after the implosion of the third-largest Stablecoin by market cap, TerraUSD (UST), in May 2022. The UST saga led to a lot of skepticism that caused consumers to question the safety of stablecoins.  In the seventh episode of Hashing It Out, Cointelegraph's Elisha Owusu Akyaw (GhCryptoGuy) interviewed Paolo Ardoino, Tether's chief technology officer, about how stablecoins work alongside a discussion on frequently asked questions about stable tokens. Fear, uncertainty and doubt (FUD) rocked the boats of Stablecoin issuers after the third most popular stablecoin, TerraUSD, depegged in 2022. Tether was one of such issuers at the receiving end of the FUD. Paolo Ardoino claimed that some of the FUD was being spread privately and publicly by competitors. Nevertheless, the Tether CTO said that the FUD only ser...

The professor said a “Programming Bitcoin” course will follow the first Bitcoin course, where students will learn how to “build a Bitcoin library from scratch.” Classroom adoption of Bitcoin and cryptocurrency courses continue to skyrocket, with Texas A&M now being the latest U.S. College to offer a Bitcoin course to some of its 74,000+ students. The news was announced on Jan. 13 by Associate Professor Korok Ray of Mays Business School at Texas A&M, who will be teaching the “Bitcoin Protocol” course to students in the College of Engineering and Mays Business School when the Spring Semester starts on Jan. 17. I will be teaching the first ever Bitcoin class at Texas A&M this spring! — Korok Ray (@KorokRay) January 12, 2023 Ray stated in the 4-part Twitter thread that “Programming Bitcoin” will follow Bitcoin Protocol, where students will learn to “build a Bitcoin library from scratch.” The professor added that it was no easy feat to receive approval from the school’s ...

According to the FEC, DataVault will receive “reasonable compensation” for each NFT issued to contributors, as well as track all tokens issued for its own records. The United States Federal Election Commission (FEC) has issued an advisory opinion stating DataVault Holdings may use nonfungible tokens for fundraising efforts. In a Dec. 15 notice, the FEC said it was “permissible” for DataVault holdings to send nonfungible tokens, or NFTs, to political campaign contributors without violating rules on corporate contributions. According to the election agency, DataVault will receive “reasonable compensation” for each NFT issued to contributors, as well as track all tokens issued for its own records. “The Commission concludes that DataVault’s proposals to provide political committees with NFTs on the same terms that it regularly offers its non-political clients would be a permissible extension of credit by DataVault in the ordinary course of business,” said FEC chair Allen Dickerson. “Unde...