Regulation

Lawyers representing the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and Terraform Labs and co-founder Do Kwon sparred in court over information provided by a whistleblower in the securities lawsuit. According to a transcript of court events provided by Inner City Press on Nov. 30, the SEC reiterated its claims that Terra and Kwon “committed fraud”

Australia’s controversial new guidelines for cryptocurrency taxation should be ignored for being unclear and should probably be seen as “toilet paper,” according to an Australian law firm. On Nov. 9, the Australian Tax Office (ATO) released guidance that could impact how investors and traders involved in decentralized finance report their taxes. In a Nov. 27

Crypto exchange Coinbase says it had recorded a 6% rise in requests from law enforcement and government agencies compared to 2022, with the number of jurisdictions issuing requests jumping by 19, according to the exchange’s annual Transparency Report. Four countries — the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Spain — made up nearly three-quarters

Kristin Johnson of the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) said there are many ways of handling cryptocurrencies in the country, but legislating through courts could provide a solid, if slow, path. Speaking at the Blockchain Association’s Policy Summit in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 30, Johnson said the “best outcome” for corporate governance of

Binance’s $4.3 billion settlement with the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) is being hailed as a positive move for the company and the wider cryptocurrency industry, according to Galaxy Digital’s Mike Novogratz. In an interview with Bloomberg on Nov. 29, the CEO of the cryptocurrency investment firm expressed his belief that the high-profile settlement should assuage

Brazilians may soon be required to pay up to 15% tax on income derived from cryptocurrencies held on exchanges outside the country, after new income tax rules were approved by the Brazil Senate on Nov. 29. The bill has already passed in the Chamber of Deputies and is expected to be approved by President Luiz

Wally Adeyemo, Deputy Secretary of the United States Treasury, said his department is looking into new sanctions tools to pursue bad actors in the crypto space, citing a recent settlement with Binance. In prepared remarks for the Blockchain Association’s Policy Summit on Nov. 29, Adeyemo said the U.S. Treasury had called on Congress to allow

A stakeholder in the blockchain and fintech ecosystem has called on the federal government of Nigeria to implement regulations that will foster the widespread integration of the approved blockchain policy in the country. Nigeria’s National Blockchain Policy aims to deliver economic growth, job creation and more financial inclusion.  Obinna Iwuno, the president of the Stakeholders

Bitcoin (BTC) spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the United States now have a “clear runway” to potential simultaneous approvals after an advanced decision to delay the bids of Franklin Templeton and Hashdex ETFs, according to ETF analysts. In a Nov. 28 X (Twitter) post, Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart said the Securities and Exchange Commission

Multi-party computation (MPC) wallet provider Fireblocks has released a new trading system for institutions that use centralized exchanges, according to a Nov. 28 announcement. Called “Off Exchange,” the new system allows institutional traders to swap tokens without first depositing them on the exchange. Fireblocks claimed this system would help to eliminate counterparty risk on centralized

Spanish residents holding any crypto assets on non-Spanish platforms will have to declare them by March 31, 2024, under new laws governing the taxation of virtual assets.  The Spanish Tax Administration Agency, commonly known as Agencia Tributaria, has published form 721, a tax declaration form for virtual assets abroad, which was first announced in the Boletín

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission is still looking for evidence that Binance.US had a backdoor to potentially control customer assets in a similar style to FTX, according to a Nov. 27 report by the Wall Street Journal. In June, the SEC filed a lawsuit against Binance and Binance.US, alleging that the exchange was

Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, who pleaded guilty to one felony charge as part of a settlement with the United States Department of Justice involving crypto exchange Binance, may not be permitted to leave the country as he awaits sentencing. According to a Nov. 27 filing in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington at

According to Japan’s tax authorities, the average value of undeclared income in crypto fell by 19% in 2022. On Nov. 24, the Japanese National Tax Agency (NTA) released its yearly summary of tax investigations. The 13-page document also contains data on the probe into crypto tax evasion. Related: Circle and SBI Holdings partner to boost

Circle, the stablecoin issuer behind USD Coin (USDC), is teaming up with Tokyo-based financial services firm SBI Holdings to boost the adoption of USDC and Web3 services in Japan. Circle said it concluded a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with SBI Holdings on Nov. 27, which will underpin the strategic expansion of USDC into Japan. Circle

A recent court filing suggests that Changpeng “CZ” Zhao’s legal challenges are just beginning, despite pleading guilty to violating the United States Anti-Money Laundering requirements in a settlement with the Department of Justice.  Zhao is expected to be sentenced in February 2024. He is currently challenging the government’s efforts to prevent his return to the

Cryptocurrency exchange Zipmex has announced it is taking immediate action by suspending all digital asset trading in Thailand as part of its efforts to comply with regulations. According to a statement issued on November 25, Zipmex has opted to temporarily halt its operations to align with regulatory requirements with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

Recent events surrounding the crypto exchange Binance sparked significant debate about the United States’ crackdown on crypto firms. According to Omid Malekan, adjunct professor at Columbia Business School and author, the Department of Justice’s approach in the case is very different from what is seen in traditional finance. “People who sincerely believe that crypto is

Top Stories This Week US officials announce $4.3B settlement with Binance, plea deal with CZ Binance and its co-founder, Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, have reached a settlement over criminal and civil cases with the United States Department of Justice. CZ will plead guilty to one felony charge as part of the negotiated agreement. Attorney General Merrick

Former Binance CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao has opposed the United States government’s efforts to block his return to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to be with his family while awaiting sentencing following his guilty plea. In a court filing on November 23, Zhao’s lawyers urged a US District judge to reject the proposed alteration of