Category: Economy & Regulation
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Bahrain’s Central Bank Issues Draft Crypto Regulations
The Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) has prepared draft rules designed to regulate digital assets and certain aspects of the country’s crypto industry. The move aims to establish Bahrain as a regional leader in the fintech sector and restore its role as a major banking hub in the Persian Gulf. Also read: New Bitcoin…
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French Lawmakers Propose Lower Electricity Rates for Cryptocurrency Miners
Two French legislators have made a number of proposals aimed at turning France into a leading force in the development of the industry built around cryptocurrencies. One of the ideas is to allow crypto mining companies to take advantage of preferential electricity prices. Also read: Ukrainian Village Distributes Dividends From Crypto Investment ‘France Must Have…
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Netherlands to Regulate Cryptocurrencies in Bid to Curb Money Laundering
The Netherlands is seeking to regulate cryptocurrency companies, supposedly in a bid to prevent money laundering and alleged terrorist financing. All virtual currency businesses will now be required to obtain an operating license from De Nederlandsche Bank, the country’s central bank, under draft legislation designed to prevent crypto assets such as BTC from being used…
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Malaysian Financial Regulators to Intensify Scrutiny of ICOs, Cryptocurrencies
Malaysia’s securities regulator and central bank are to strengthen their scrutiny of initial coin offerings (ICOs) through new rules meant to eliminate issues of unfair trade practices and alleged risk of money laundering and terrorism financing. The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) and Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) said they will also tighten regulation in the trade…
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Bipartisan Bitcoin Bills to Step up Consumer Protection in the U.S.
Two United States congressmen have introduced two pieces of legislation to help prevent alleged cryptocurrency price manipulation while aiming to position the U.S. at the forefront of innovation within the digital asset industry. Also read: Chilean Court Rules in Favor of Closing Bank Accounts of Crypto Exchange Orionx Protection From Price Manipulation The Virtual Currency Consumer…
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Chilean Court Rules in Favor of Closing Bank Accounts of Crypto Exchange Orionx
In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court of Chile has ruled that state-owned Bancoestado was justified in closing the accounts of cryptocurrency exchange Orionx without explanation. The judges ruled that the bank acted in compliance with laws on money laundering and terrorist financing, a threat allegedly posed by censorship-resistant, decentralized cryptocurrencies. Also read: Finma: Crypto Startups…
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Finma: Crypto Startups Can Handle up to $100M of Deposits in Switzerland
Crypto-asset companies can now apply for licenses to handle as much as 100 million Swiss francs ($100 million) in public deposits under new regulations published on Dec. 3 by Switzerland’s Financial Market Supervisory Authority (Finma). The development underscores the European country’s efforts to promote technological innovation, as in the past only commercial banks were allowed to receive…
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Swiss Crypto Valley Association Leadership Steps Down After Governance Review
More than half of the members of Switzerland’s Crypto Valley Association (CVA) board have announced their decision to step down in January. The news comes after reports about governance issues and allegations of conflicts of interest in the leadership of the growing organization. Also read: Estonia to Tighten Rules for Licensed Crypto Companies Four CVA…
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A Cashless Society – Utopia or Dystopia?
From Stockholm to New York, major global hubs are ditching cash for cards. As contactless payment devices including smartphones and smartwatches proliferate, hard currency is falling out of favor. But for all the convenience that touch payments bring, the cashless transition has major ramifications for the most underserved segments of society. Also read: Russian Marketplace Allows…
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Bitcoin Mining Startup Envion Ordered to Close by Swiss Court
A court in Switzerland has ordered the closure of bitcoin mining startup Envion AG over concerns of poor corporate governance. The company raised $100 million in an initial coin offering (ICO) in January, but a succession of boardroom wrangles have led to a breakdown in its corporate structure, bringing operations to a halt. Also read: Canadian…