The Nigerian government has slammed the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, with four counts of tax evasion charges as the saga between the entities deepens. According to a report from local media Premium Times, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) filed the charges at a Federal High Court in the nation’s capital, Abuja, on March 22, the same day Nadeem Anjarwalla, one of the Binance executives detained since February, escaped from the custody of the...
Read More »Chamber of Digital Commerce Backs Kraken in SEC Lawsuit
The Chamber of Digital Commerce (CDC) has filed an amicus curiae to defend Kraken in a lawsuit the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) initiated in 2023. Notably, the CDC supported the crypto exchange’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit in its latest filing. Chamber of Digital Commerce Argues for Kraken In a February 27 filing, the Chamber explained that the amicus brief aims to address and counter the SEC’s current approach to digital asset industry regulation. 1/...
Read More »HTX Withdraws Hong Kong License Application
The Virtual Asset Trading Platform (VATP) is a license provided by the government of Hong Kong that allows crypto exchanges to operate within the bounds of the region. Although the license has been available for several years now, only two exchanges – HashKey and OSL – are currently in possession of one. A number of applicants have been on the waitlist for a while – including HTX, formerly known as Huobi, until yesterday, when the firm withdrew its application. Earlier Plans...
Read More »Here’s by How Much Robinhood’s Crypto Revenues Increased in Q4 23
Robinhood’s quarterly results are in – and they have once again beaten expectations, if only by a marginal amount. Although Robinhood has by no means been spared the aftershocks felt throughout the crypto market and the larger economic sector, things are looking up for the popular trading firm. Revenues Are Up, Costs Are Down Overall, in the fourth quarter of 2023, Robinhood saw a 24% increase in net revenues year-over-year, adding up to a total of $471 million and beating...
Read More »Life Imprisonment for Korean Crypto Criminals Who Steal More than This Amount?
The South Korean government is taking extra steps to ensure the protection of crypto investors from unfair market activities and criminals by imposing higher fines and punishments for violations of certain provisions. According to a press release, crypto criminals face jail terms of more than a year or a fine equal to three to five times the stolen amount. Depending on the weight of the offense, individuals who make illegal profits of more than five billion won ($3.8 million)...
Read More »US Lawmakers Urge Treasury Secretary to ‘Fill Gaps’ in Crypto Regulations, Call for CFTC Oversight
On Feb. 6, House Financial Services and Agriculture Committee leaders sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen regarding the lack of regulation in the spot market for digital assets that are not securities. The letter was sent from Patrick McHenry, Glenn Thompson, French Hill, and Dusty Johnson, all chairmen of various House committees. They requested that Janet Yellen, in her capacity as Chair of the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC), provide answers to...
Read More »Korean Authorities to Investigate OKX Over Improper Registration Complaints: Report
Authorities in South Korea are looking to investigate major cryptocurrency exchange OKX over complaints of the platform’s improper registration in the country. According to a report by News1 Media, South Korea’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) received complaints from the country’s Digital Asset Exchange Association (DAXA). OKX Under Regulatory Probe DAXA, an alliance of South Korea’s five major crypto trading platforms, including Upbit, Bithumb, Coinone, Korbit, and Gopax,...
Read More »Change of Heart: South Korea to Discuss Spot Bitcoin ETFs With US SEC (Report)
Speculation about the South Korean government rethinking its hostile stance on spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) may be true, as the country’s financial regulator has officially indicated interest in the products. A report from local media outlet Hankyung has revealed that the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) of South Korea intends to meet with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to discuss the crypto industry and spot Bitcoin ETFs. FSS to...
Read More »EU Drafts Paper Regarding Exceptions to MiCA Regulation
Last year, the European Union unanimously voted for the Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) bill, considered by most to be the first comprehensive piece of legislation addressing the crypto industry as a whole. MiCA is, in itself, part of a larger set of financial laws known as DORA – but it has also given many crypto companies a reason to consider moving the bulk of their operations across the ocean. Several Adjustments to The Bill Although MiCA was published back in June 2023,...
Read More »Crypto Mom Disagrees With SEC’s Denial of Petition to Amend Gag Rule
Hester Peirce, a commissioner for the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), has expressed her disagreement with the agency’s denial of a petition to amend a rule that prevents defendants from denying any allegations in settlement enforcement actions. According to an official statement from the commissioner, popularly known in the digital asset community as “Crypto Mom,” the prohibition of denials from defendants prohibits the American public from lodging...
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