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Bitcoin coins are seen at a stand during the Bitcoin Conference 2023, in Miami Beach, Florida, U.S., May 19, 2023. Crypto companies spent $18.96 million in the first three quarters of 2023 on lobbying, compared with $16.1 million during the same period in 2022. That was despite last year's spectacular meltdown of crypto exchange FTX, which had been a top-ten spender. Coinbase (COIN.O), the largest U.S. crypto exchange, led the pack again, spending $2.16 million, followed by Foris DAX, which operates Crypto.com, the Blockchain Association and Binance Holdings. Although those bills have yet to advance further, crypto lobbyists are not letting up.

Persons: Marco Bello, spender, FTX, Foris DAX, Kristin Smith, Sam Bankman, Fried, Coinbase, Binance, Crypto.com, Hannah Lang, Michelle Price, Matthew Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Blockchain Association, Binance Holdings, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, Thomson Locations: Miami Beach , Florida, U.S, Washington, Manhattan, Binance

Bitcoin coins are seen at a stand during the Bitcoin Conference 2023, in Miami Beach, Florida, U.S., May 19, 2023. REUTERS/Marco Bello/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 29 (Reuters) - The U.S. government will cut off cryptocurrency companies from the broader U.S. economy if they fail to block and report illicit money flows, Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo warned the industry on Wednesday. The Biden administration on Tuesday sent a letter to Congress, requesting new legislation that would grant Treasury the authority to police crypto marketplaces used by actors the U.S. government deems illicit, Adeyemo said. Binance said in response that it had worked hard to make the platform "safer and even more secure." Reporting by Hannah Lang in Washington; Editing by Michelle PriceOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Marco Bello, Wally Adeyemo, Adeyemo, Biden, Changpeng Zhao, Binance, Hannah Lang, Michelle Price Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, Blockchain Association, Treasury, Palestinian, Prosecutors, Islamic, Thomson Locations: Miami Beach , Florida, U.S, Israel, Gaza, al Qaeda, Islamic State, Iraq, Syria, Washington

☆ Here's the bitcoin outlook for September as crypto industry turns focus on Washington
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Bitcoin is poised to end August on a down beat despite the crypto industry scoring a milestone win on the regulation front. Bitcoin recently jumped 7% after a federal appeals court sided with Grayscale over the Securities and Exchange Commission in a key crypto ETF case. While crypto investors have a lot to cheer, it hasn't been reflected in prices, and bitcoin could remain rangebound throughout September. All eyes on Washington September kicks off with an anticipated update from the SEC on at least one spot bitcoin ETF application. On Thursday afternoon the agency delayed its decisions on bitcoin ETF applications from WisdomTree and Invesco.

Persons: Bitcoin, Rob Ginsberg, Will Tamplin, Tamplin, Cantor Fitzgerald's Elliot Han, Han, Kristin Smith, They're, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Metrics, Securities and Exchange Commission, Wolfe Research, SEC, Fidelity Locations: Washington, Bitwise, BlackRock

☆ Blockchain Association CEO on Grayscale court win: A huge win for the broader crypto community
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailBlockchain Association CEO on Grayscale court win: A huge win for the broader crypto communityKristin Smith, Blockchain Association CEO, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss Grayscale's court win after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit sided with the crypto firm in a lawsuit against the SEC which had denied the company’s application to convert the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust to an ETF, the impact for the broader crypto community, and more.

Persons: Kristin Smith Organizations: Blockchain, U.S ., Appeals, SEC

The rule is part of a broader push by Congress and regulatory authorities to crack down on crypto users who may be failing to pay their taxes. It would also subject digital asset brokers to the same information reporting rules as brokers for other financial instruments, such as bonds and stocks, Treasury said. Brokers would need to send the forms to both the IRS and digital asset holders to assist with their tax preparation. The new requirements stem from the $1 trillion 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which included a provision that aimed to increase tax reporting requirements for digital asset brokers. It instructed the IRS to define what firms qualified as crypto brokers and provide forms and instructions for reporting.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Kristin Smith, Miller Whitehouse, Levine, Elizabeth Warren, Hannah Lang, Deepa Babington, Michelle Price Organizations: REUTERS, Internal Revenue Service, Treasury, Treasury Department, IRS, Investment, Jobs, Blockchain, DeFi, Democratic, Thomson Locations: U.S, Washington

☆ Inside Prague's Institute of Crypto Anarchy — where they're plotting to bring down the dollar
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-06 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +19 min

Today, that union of minds finds refuge in Prague in a retrofitted factory building called Paralelní Polis, or "parallel world." The dark stucco of Polis' Prague headquarters is an outlier among the ornate, brightly-colored buildings that tower over it. ETHPrague 2023 was held at Paralelní Polis in the Czech Republic Pavel SinaglThe 'parallel world' concept is sticky. The Vienna branch goes so far as to self-describe as a living example of how "the Paralelní Polis cryptoliberation virus is spreading." The most popular Czech bitcoin YouTuber boasts 90k subscribers, while the annual Czech-only bitcoin conference called Chaincamp attracts around 2000 visitors, even during the bear market."

Persons: Czech Republic Pavel Sinagl, Ztohoven —, Ztohoven, provocateurs, Václav Benda, Dan Ligocký, Ligocký, William Lobkowicz, ethereum, Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum, Pavel Sinagl, Prague MacKenzie Sigalos, Holy, William, Ileana Lobkowicz, Josef Tětek, Tětek, isn't, biohacking, —, Carl Menger, Friedrich Hayek, BTCPrague, Michael Saylor, Satoshi cryptographer, Adam Back, Saifedean Ammous, bitcoin, Gary Gensler, bitcoin maximalist, Vaclav, — Matěj Žák, Jan Čapek, Christoph Kassas, YouTuber Jakub Vejmola, Jameson Lopp, Stephan Livera, Robert Breedlove, Stani Kulechov, Ondrej Polak, Czech Republic Pavel Sinagl Ligocky Organizations: Paralelní, CNBC, European Union, Polis, of Cryptoanarchy, Austrian, Securities, Exchange, Czech Craft, U.S, Treasury, Casa, Ethereum Foundation, Czech Blockchain Association, optimist Locations: Paralelní Polis, Czech Republic, Czech Republic Pavel Sinagl PRAGUE, Czech, Bohemian, Prague, It's, Polis, Polis —, Lobkowicz, Nazi, Vienna, Barcelona, Bratislava, Slovakia, Košice, Austrian, ., Alza, Bohemia, Europe, Old Town, Holešovice

The crypto industry has been in the regulatory crosshairs since investors were burned last year by sudden collapses of Celsius Network, Voyager Digital, FTX and other companies. A handful of Democrats, including Reps. Jim Himes and Ritchie Torres, joined committee Republicans in voting for the bill. The bill has galvanized many in the crypto industry, who say that with Democrats' support, the bill could have a shot in the Senate. But some Democrats, including Representative Maxine Waters, the top Democrat on the Financial Services committee, fiercely oppose the bill. "This bill heeds the calls from the crypto industry while disregarding the views of the administration, the Securities and Exchange Commission and consumer and investor advocates," she said.

Persons: Jim Himes, Ritchie Torres, Patrick McHenry, we've, Kristin Smith, Miller Whitehouse, Levine, Maxine Waters, Waters, Sherrod Brown, Hannah Lang, Matthew Lewis, Mark Porter, Diane Craft Organizations: Capitol, Voyager, House Financial, Trading, Securities, Exchange, Republicans, Agriculture, Financial Services, Blockchain Association, DeFi, Securities and Exchange Commission, Democratic, Banking, SEC, Politico, Thomson Locations: Singapore, Australia, United States, McHenry, Washington

The crypto industry has been in the regulatory crosshairs since investors were burned last year by sudden collapses of Celsius Network, Voyager Digital, FTX and other companies. The markups - where legislation is debated and brought to a vote, paving the way for a full vote by the House of Representatives - are the first time crypto regulatory bills will be put to a vote in Congress, a victory for crypto lobbyists that have pushed lawmakers to provide regulatory clarity for the industry. His committee is expected to consider that bill during a markup on Wednesday, while the House Agriculture Committee will consider the same bill on Thursday. The bill has galvanized many in the crypto industry, who say that with Democrats' support, the bill could have a shot in the Senate. That effort escalated last month when the SEC sued crypto exchanges Coinbase (COIN.O) and Binance for failing to register some crypto tokens.

Persons: we've, Kristin Smith, Sherrod Brown, Patrick McHenry, McHenry, Miller Whitehouse, Levine, Maxine Waters, Waters, Hannah Lang, Matthew Lewis, Mark Porter Organizations: Capitol, Voyager, Financial, U.S ., Representatives, Blockchain Association, Democratic, Banking, Trading, Securities, Exchange, DeFi, SEC, Financial Services, Securities and Exchange Commission, Politico, Thomson Locations: Singapore, Australia, United States, McHenry, Washington

The crypto industry has been in the regulatory crosshairs since investors were burned last year by sudden collapses of Celsius Network, Voyager Digital, FTX and other companies. Still, it remains to be seen if the bills will garner any Democratic support, a factor seen by many as crucial to the bills' ultimate chances of becoming law. His committee is expected to consider that bill during a markup on Wednesday, while the House Agriculture Committee will consider the same bill on Thursday. The bill has galvanized many in the crypto industry, who say that with Democrats' support, the bill could have a shot in the Senate. That effort escalated last month when the SEC sued crypto exchanges Coinbase (COIN.O) and Binance for failing to register some crypto tokens.

Persons: we've, Kristin Smith, Sherrod Brown, Patrick McHenry, Miller Whitehouse, Levine, Maxine Waters, Waters, McHenry, Hannah Lang, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Capitol, Voyager, Financial, U.S ., Representatives, Blockchain Association, Democratic, Banking, Trading, Securities, Exchange, DeFi, SEC, Financial Services, Politico, Thomson Locations: Washington

☆ Analysis: U.S. crypto lobbyists court Democrats in fresh legislative push
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Michelle Price | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

That effort escalated last month when the SEC sued crypto exchanges Coinbase and Binance for failing to register some crypto tokens. Most crypto companies dispute the SEC's jurisdiction. It would expand the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's (CFTC) oversight of the crypto industry, while clarifying the SEC's jurisdiction. With Democrats' support, the bill could have a shot in the Senate. McHenry and Thompson are discussing the proposal with crypto companies, regulators and Democrats, and hope the committees will vote on it before the August recess, senior Republican policy staff said.

Persons: Cody Carbone, Patrick McHenry, Glenn Thompson, Brett Quick, McHenry, Thompson, Maxine Waters, David Scott, Scott, Vicente Gonzalez, Sylvia Garcia, Carbone, Spokespeople, Waters, Gonzalez, Garcia, Sam Bankman, Fried, Kristin Smith, Coinbase, spender, Kara Calvert, It's, Michelle Price, Hannah Lang, Douglas Gillison, Richard Chang Organizations: U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, Capitol, Blockchain Association, Chamber of Digital Commerce, Crypto, Innovation, Coinbase, Financial Services, Agriculture, Trading, Republican, Thomson Locations: Washington, United States

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Monday took aim at Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange. The SEC accuses Binance and its CEO Changpeng Zhao of operating a "web of deception". The SEC said Coinbase traded at least 13 crypto assets that are securities that should have been registered, including tokens such as Solana, Cardano and Polygon. Reuters GraphicsFounded in 2012, Coinbase recently served more than 108 million customers and ended March with $130 billion of customer crypto assets and funds on its balance sheet. Tuesday's SEC lawsuit seeks civil fines, the recouping of ill-gotten gains and injunctive relief.

Persons: Binance, Changpeng Zhao, Kevin O'Brien, Ford O'Brien Landy, Coinbase, Nansen, Paul Grewal, Coinbase's, Ed Moya, bitcoin, Oanda's Moya, Dado Ruvic, Gary Gensler, Gensler, Kristin Smith, Jonathan Stempel, Hannah Lang, Michelle Price, Kevin Buckland, Leslie Adler, Christopher Cushing Organizations: YORK, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, Global Inc, Exchange, REUTERS, Securities, Supreme, Beaxy Digital, Bittrex Global, CNBC, Blockchain Association, Reuters Graphics, U.S, Binance's U.S, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, Solana, Cardano, bitcoin, Binance, Binance.US, Binance's, Cayman Islands, New York, Washington, Tokyo

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday took aim at Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange. The SEC said Coinbase traded at least 13 crypto assets that are securities that should have been registered, including tokens such as Solana, Cardano and Polygon. More recently, it has taken aim at unregistered crypto broker dealer, exchange trading and clearing activity. Reuters GraphicsFounded in 2012, Coinbase recently served more than 108 million customers and ended March with $130 billion of customer crypto assets and funds on its balance sheet. Tuesday's SEC lawsuit seeks civil fines, the recouping of ill-gotten gains and injunctive relief.

Persons: Binance, Changpeng Zhao, Kevin O’Brien, Ford O’Brien Landy, Coinbase, Nansen, Paul Grewal, Coinbase's, Gary Gensler, Dado Ruvic, Gensler, Kristin Smith, Jonathan Stempel, Hannah Lang, Michelle Price, Lisa Shumaker, Leslie Adler Organizations: YORK, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, Global, Securities, Supreme, Exchange, REUTERS, Beaxy Digital, Bittrex Global, CNBC, Blockchain Association, Reuters Graphics, U.S, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, Solana, Cardano, U.S, Binance, New York, Washington

The lawsuit is the SEC's second in two days against a major crypto exchange, following its case against Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, and founder Changpeng Zhao. Crypto companies including Coinbase have said SEC rules are unclear, and the regulator is overreaching by asserting oversight of their industry. Coinbase customers pulled more than $57 million from the exchange within a couple of hours of the filing, according to data firm Nansen. The SEC said Coinbase traded at least 13 crypto assets that are securities that should have been registered, including tokens such as Solana, Cardano and Polygon. The case is SEC v Coinbase Inc et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No.

Persons: Coinbase, Binance, Changpeng Zhao, Gary Gensler's, Gensler, Paul Grewal, Coinbase's, Nansen, Dado Ruvic, Gurbir Grewal, Kristin Smith, Jonathan Stempel, Hannah Lang, Michelle Price, Manya, Jason Neely, Louise Heavens, Chizu Nomiyama, Nick Zieminski Organizations: YORK, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, CNBC, Global Inc, Reuters Graphics, REUTERS, Coinbase, New, Blockchain Association, Court, Southern District of, Manya Saini, Thomson Locations: U.S, California, Manhattan, Solana, Cardano, New Jersey, Southern District, Southern District of New York, New York, Washington ,, Bengaluru

☆ Coinbase, crypto industry hope new Supreme Court doctrine is silver bullet
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Alison Frankel | Thomson Reuters | Alison Frankel Has Covered High-Stakes Commercial Litigation As A Columnist For Reuters Since A Dartmouth College Graduate | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

But the agency will have to provide a more detailed response if Ripple, Coinbase or crypto groups that have filed friend-of-the-court briefs pushing major questions doctrine arguments manage to pique a judge’s interest. Former Coinbase manager Ishan Wahi expanded on the major questions theory last February in his motion to dismiss the SEC’s insider trading case. Under the major questions doctrine, they said, the SEC does not have the requisite Congressional authority to regulate digital assets. Coinbase’s contention in that paper, released last Thursday, is all-encompassing: The major questions doctrine, according to Coinbase counsel at Sullivan & Cromwell, “forecloses” regulation of the trillion-dollar crypto industry. But if the SEC moves ahead with a case against Coinbase, the major questions doctrine could turn out to be, well, a major question.

Discussions between the SEC and Coinbase broke down in recent weeks, with one source saying the two sides had moved "further apart." The crypto industry believes it operates in a regulatory gray area not governed by existing U.S. securities laws - and that new legislation is needed to regulate the industry. "But if necessary, we welcome the opportunity for Coinbase and the broader crypto community to get clarity in court." Prior to Gensler's arrival, the SEC engaged in targeted enforcement, but the Democratic chair has ratcheted up focus on crypto platforms themselves. "There couldn't be a more significant development for crypto markets and crypto investors," said Philip Moustakis, former SEC enforcement lawyer and partner with Seward and Kissel LLP in New York.

☆ An odd benefit of the Silvergate fallout is the outlook for stablecoins has just gotten rosier
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Stablecoins have been touted as one of the biggest beneficiaries of the end of Silvergate and Signature . The problem is, though, that stablecoin issuers still need access to a crypto bank, so the risk is now further concentrated." The legislation — the Pennsylvania Republican's second effort that year — would have required stablecoins to be fully backed by reserves. De-risked from the banking system Some stablecoins may offer an on-ramp into crypto, but they won't take the place of bank accounts . Some in crypto have been pointing out that although Silvergate and Signature were the biggest crypto banks, they weren't the only ones.

☆ Trade group argues U.S. SEC case unfairly labels crypto as securities
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Hannah Lang | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Feb 22 (Reuters) - Cryptocurrency trade association Chamber of Digital Commerce is urging a federal court to dismiss a case brought by the U.S. securities regulator against ex-Coinbase (COIN.O) employees accused of insider trading, arguing that the case unfairly labeled several crypto assets as securities. The Blockchain Association also filed an amicus brief in the case earlier this month. The crypto industry has previously criticized the SEC for bringing enforcement cases against digital asset companies, arguing that the regulator should instead engage in formal rulemaking specific to cryptocurrency. The SEC has maintained that pre-existing securities laws also apply to digital assets, and that many crypto tokens meet the definition of a security. The move would also likely hurt the value of those tokens, which could harm retail investors, the group said.

☆ Congress will have to step in to fill the gaps in crypto regulation, says Blockchain Association's Kristin Smith
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailCongress will have to step in to fill the gaps in crypto regulation, says Blockchain Association's Kristin SmithBlockchain Association CEO Kristin Smith joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss existing structures to regulate crypto exchanges, confusion in the crypto space, and the need for Congress to enact crypto regulation.

The checking is not done by individuals, but by computers in the blockchain network, often via third-party staking services. Nearly all of the major crypto exchanges offer staking services to their customers for a variety of tokens, including Coinbase (COIN.O), Binance, Crypto.com, Gemini, Huobi and OKX. The SEC has said most staking providers fail to provide customers proper disclosures about how their cryptocurrency will be used and should register their staking services with the agency. In its settlement with the SEC on Feb. 9, Kraken neither admitted nor denied the SEC's claim that its staking service should have been registered. Kraken said it would continue to offer staking to customers based outside of the United States.

☆ Apple ramped up lobbying spending in 2022, outpacing tech peers
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Apple ramped up its lobbying spending last year, increasing its total for the year by 44% compared to 2021, according to public disclosures. Though Apple's lobbying spending grew the most in the past year compared to peers in the industry, it still spends far below other tech giants. For Amazon, that was a roughly 2% increase in spend compared to 2021 and it was a 4.6% decrease for Meta. In 2022, tech giants faced the prospect of bipartisan legislation that would be highly disruptive to their business models. Other tech companies engaged on many of the same issues, though some also lobbied on topics more specific to their businesses.

☆ Proper crypto regulation could attract more consumers, Blockchain Association says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailProper crypto regulation could attract more consumers, Blockchain Association saysKristin Smith of the association says that would make consumers more comfortable transacting with cryptocurrency and could also bring institutions into the industry.

☆ Brazil crypto law back on agenda as FTX collapse sends shockwaves
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Isabel Woodford | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"If there is a good side (to the FTX disaster), it would be that it gets the law prioritized," he told Reuters on Tuesday. Brazil is one of the top 10 active markets globally for crypto, according to 2022 Chainalysis data. "If it's good for Brazilian investors, then it's a good law," he added. FTX filed for bankruptcy last week and is facing scrutiny from U.S. authorities, amid reports that $10 billion in customer assets were shifted from the crypto exchange to FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried's trading company Alameda Research. Dagnoni told Reuters that Mercado Bitcoin, mainly active in Brazil and Portugal, had no exposure to FTX, having developed its own custody solution to store customer assets.

☆ Cryptocurrency is going to be rocky in the short term, says Blockchain Association
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailCryptocurrency is going to be rocky in the short term, says Blockchain AssociationKristin Smith of the association discusses Binance's withdrawal of its plans to acquire FTX and the regulatory outlook of the industry.

☆ Crypto is going to come out the other side of this, says Blockchain Association executive director
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailCrypto is going to come out the other side of this, says Blockchain Association executive directorKristen Smith, Blockchain Association executive director, joins Eamon Javers and the ‘CNBC Special: Taking stock’ to discuss the drama surrounding the abandoned FTX-Binance deal and the impact it’s had on the cryptocurrency markets.

☆ Bitcoin investors are in it for the long run, says Blockchain Association's Kristin Smith
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailBitcoin investors are in it for the long run, says Blockchain Association's Kristin SmithKristin Smith, Blockchain Association executive director, joins CNBC's 'Squawk Box' to discuss bitcoin prices, which are hovering below $20,000 as of Friday morning.

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