On Jan. 25, 2024, the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Division of Financial Institutions (DFI) and the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation (collectively, the “Agencies”) jointly issued a press
Continue Reading Hawaii’s Money Transmitters Modernization Act Will No Longer Apply to Cryptocurrency ActivitiesBlockchain
California Enacts Digital Assets Licensing Law
On Oct. 13, 2023, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed CA AB39, the Digital Financial Assets Law (DFAL), which is the first comprehensive framework to regulate the digital asset market…
Continue Reading California Enacts Digital Assets Licensing LawFinCEN Proposes Rule to Address Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Risks Associated with CVC Mixing
On Oct. 23, 2023, FinCEN published an NPRM that identifies international CVC mixing as “a class of transactions of primary money laundering concern,” and finds that imposing additional recordkeeping and…
Continue Reading FinCEN Proposes Rule to Address Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Risks Associated with CVC MixingFederal Reserve, FDIC, and OCC Issue 2nd Joint Statement Highlighting Liquidity Risks to Banks Engaged in Crypto-Asset-Related Activities
On Feb. 23, 2023, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Federal Reserve), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) (collectively…
Continue Reading Federal Reserve, FDIC, and OCC Issue 2nd Joint Statement Highlighting Liquidity Risks to Banks Engaged in Crypto-Asset-Related Activities5 Trends to Watch: 2023 UK Contentious Financial Regulation
1. Non-financial misconduct – FCA guidance expected
It is anticipated that in 2023 the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will provide further guidance on the increasingly uncertain question of what kinds…
Continue Reading 5 Trends to Watch: 2023 UK Contentious Financial RegulationFINRA Targeting Crypto Asset Retail Communications
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in November 2022 released a targeted exam letter pertaining to communications for crypto products and services. The relevant period for this exam is July…
Continue Reading FINRA Targeting Crypto Asset Retail CommunicationsCrypto Exchange Bittrex Settles $53 Million in Fines with Treasury Department for Sanctions, Anti-Money-Laundering Violations
On Oct. 11, 2022, the U.S. Treasury Department announced that cryptocurrency exchange Bittrex Inc. had agreed to settle $53 million total in fines over allegations it violated sanctions and anti-money-laundering…
Continue Reading Crypto Exchange Bittrex Settles $53 Million in Fines with Treasury Department for Sanctions, Anti-Money-Laundering ViolationsDigital Assets: Financial Stability Oversight Council Risk Report Assesses Regulatory Gaps; Offers Recommendations
On Oct. 3, the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) took another step in identifying, assessing, and responding to the risks various types of digital assets pose to the financial system…
Continue Reading Digital Assets: Financial Stability Oversight Council Risk Report Assesses Regulatory Gaps; Offers RecommendationsRegulatory Scrutiny on the Rise of Bank and Crypto Company Dealings
Federal regulatory agencies are closely monitoring crypto-asset developments and banking organizations’ participation in the crypto-asset industry. This GT Alert covers the guidance issued by the FDIC, CFPB, and the Federal…
Continue Reading Regulatory Scrutiny on the Rise of Bank and Crypto Company Dealings
Florida Gov. Signs Bill that Defines ‘Virtual Currency’ and Eases Licensing Restrictions on Certain Virtual Currency Transactions in the State
On May 12, 2022, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed bill CS/HB 273 (the Bill), amending Florida’s money services business (MSB) laws (i.e., Chapter 560 of the Florida Statutes) to, among other…
Continue Reading Florida Gov. Signs Bill that Defines ‘Virtual Currency’ and Eases Licensing Restrictions on Certain Virtual Currency Transactions in the State