The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the United States Department of the Treasury has placed sanctions on cryptocurrency mixing service Sinbad, alleging that the mixer served as a money laundering channel for the notorious North Korean hackers Lazarus Group. According to the enforcement agency, Sinbad has been used to launder millions of dollars worth of stolen crypto assets from high-profile hacks. Lazarus Group Preferred Sinbad to Launder Stolen Crypto Funds In a...
Read More »Coinbase Reports Threefold Surge in Law Enforcement Requests, Totalling 13,079 in 2023
The largest US-based crypto exchange experienced a threefold increase in law enforcement requests in the current year compared to 2020, as revealed in its latest transparency report. The total number of requests during the reporting period amounted to 13,079, marking approximately a 6% rise from the previous year. Notably, the United States maintained its position as the leading country in both 2022 and 2023, with a slight uptick in the number of requests in 2023. Coinbase...
Read More »Brazilian Lawmakers Approve 15% Tax for Cryptocurrencies on Offshore Exchanges
The Brazil Senate has approved new rules that will mandate locals to pay up to 15% tax on income generated from cryptocurrencies on offshore exchanges. According to a live recording from the Federal Senate, the new rule applies to crypto users with assets worth more than R$6,000 ($1,200) on all offshore exchanges. Brazilian Crypto Users to Pay 15% Tax The proposed bill has gained approval from the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate’s Economic Affairs Committee. It is on its...
Read More »Hong Kong Regulators Speed up Crypto Products Approval Following JPEX Fiasco
BC Technology Group, the parent company of Hong Kong’s publicly listed crypto exchange platform OSL, noted that Hong Kong regulators were swiftly approving cryptocurrency products after the scandal that rocked the digital asset exchange JPEX. Another fintech provider stated that the participation of banks in the virtual assets sector in Hong Kong will facilitate mass adoption and development. Crypto Approvals Improve After JPEX, Says OSL Executive While Hong Kong authorities...
Read More »US CFTC Cracks Down on Crypto Exchanges Violating Trading Laws
Following the conclusion of the extensive investigation and pursuit of cryptocurrency exchange giant Binance, reports suggest that the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) now intends to pursue other platforms that violate trading laws. Despite experiencing a significant unforeseen event, the cryptocurrency industry has effectively mitigated the impact and is now observing signs of price recovery. CFTC to Intensify Crypto Crackdown Binance, the world’s largest...
Read More »SEC Records Second-Highest Financial Remedies of Nearly $5 Billion in FY 2023
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in its latest report revealed that the number of enforcement actions filed in the fiscal year 2023 (FY2023) increased by three percent from the previous record in the financial year of 2022. Some of the enforcement actions involved heavyweights in the crypto industry, with various accusations against cryptocurrency businesses and executives ranging from fraud to securities violations. Nearly $1 Billion Distributed to Harmed...
Read More »Former SEC General Counsel Denies Regulatory Discord Between Agency and CFTC in Crypto Oversight
The United States has persistently stumbled in delivering clear regulatory guidance for digital assets. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) presides over instruments and assets deemed as securities, while the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) regulates the trading of derivatives on commodities. This landscape leaves a regulatory gap for digital assets that defy the categorization of securities or commodity-based derivatives. Amid this regulatory chaos,...
Read More »NYDFS Releases Guidance on Listing and Delisting of Crypto Assets
The New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) has published a set of new rules guiding the listing and delisting of digital assets to ensure the activities of crypto firms protect investors from financial harm. According to an official post from the department, the new guidance is effective immediately and will replace older standards issued in 2020. All virtual asset firms are expected to incorporate the latest standards into their coin listing and delisting...
Read More »Opyn Co-Founders Step Down Amid Regulatory Pressures
The co-founders of Opyn, a prominent DeFi options protocol, have announced their departure from the company and the crypto industry. This decision comes in the wake of charges filed against Opyn by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in September. Opyn’s Co-founders Announce Departure from Crypto Opyn co-founders CEO Zubin Koticha and Alexis Gauba recently announced their departure from the crypto world. Koticha, in a post on X, stated, “After the regulatory...
Read More »Potential Implication of SBF Verdict on Crypto Leaders
The recent conviction of Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) marks a pivotal moment in the cryptocurrency industry, carrying significant implications for its leaders and stakeholders. As the founder of the now-defunct FTX crypto exchange, SBF held a prominent position in the sector, making his fall from grace a broad industry concern. His conviction on fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering is a stark reminder of the need for accountability and transparency in the crypto space. This...
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