Government policy, laws and regulation shaping digital assets and the future of money.
On January 10, 2025, Kenya’s Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi announced the introduction of a new bill aimed at regulating virtual assets (VAs) and Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs). This move is seen as a significant pivot from the country’s previous stance on cryptocurrencies, which has been marked by caution and regulatory uncertainty. The bill … Read more
On January 10, 2025, Kenya’s Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi announced the introduction of a new bill aimed at regulating virtual assets (VAs) and Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs). This move is seen as a significant pivot from the country’s previous stance on cryptocurrencies, which has been marked by caution and regulatory uncertainty. The bill … Read more
Telegram, the popular messaging app, has disclosed that it fulfilled 900 requests for user information from U.S. authorities in 2024, a significant increase following the arrest of its CEO, Pavel Durov, in France. While Telegram has acknowledged sharing user data with authorities since 2018, the recent surge in requests highlights the increasing pressure the … Read more
Bitfinex Derivatives, the derivatives arm of the cryptocurrency exchange Bitfinex, has obtained a Digital Asset Service Providers (DASP) license in El Salvador. This approval will see the firm relocate its operations from Seychelles to the Central American nation. In a statement released on January 7th, Bitfinex Derivatives emphasized that this move aligns with its strategic … Read more
Coinbase has secured a significant victory in its ongoing legal battle with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). On January 7, U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla granted Coinbase’s request for an interlocutory appeal to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. The SEC sued Coinbase in June 2023, alleging the cryptocurrency exchange operated as … Read more
Hong Kong-based cryptocurrency exchange HashKey has secured a significant milestone by obtaining a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) license from the Central Bank of Ireland. This development, announced on January 7, 2025, through HashKey Europe Limited, marks the company’s entry into the European market. The Irish license authorizes HashKey to engage in a wide … Read more
Crypto exchange Gemini has agreed to pay a $5 million fine to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to settle allegations of providing misleading information. The settlement avoids a courtroom showdown that could have drawn significant public attention, especially given the Winklevoss twins’ vocal support for pro-crypto political candidates. The CFTC had accused Gemini … Read more
The European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, which took effect in December 2023, is prompting a significant exodus of crypto firms, particularly stablecoin issuers, from the bloc. MiCA’s Impact: Stringent Requirements: MiCA imposes strict licensing and supervisory regimes on crypto-assets, exchanges, and service providers. Reserve Mandates: A key challenge is the requirement for stablecoin … Read more
As 2025 unfolds, the cryptocurrency sector is on the cusp of a major transformation in U.S. regulation, thanks to significant changes at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These shifts are part of a broader political and regulatory landscape reshaped by Donald Trump’s re-election and his appointments of pro-crypto leaders like Paul Atkins and David … Read more
Coinbase, the leading cryptocurrency exchange in the US, is considering offering tokenized shares of its own stock (COIN) to domestic users through its Ethereum Layer-2 network, Base. This move could revolutionize equity markets by combining traditional stocks with blockchain technology, potentially putting Coinbase at the forefront of financial innovation. Regulatory Hurdles While Coinbase is … Read more