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Deutsche Bank logo is seen in this illustration taken March 12, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Deutsche Bank has partnered with Swiss crypto firm Taurus to provide custody services for institutional clients' cryptocurrencies and tokenised assets, Taurus said in a statement on Thursday. The partnership means Deutsche Bank will, for the first time, be able to hold a limited number of cryptocurrencies for its clients, as well as tokenised versions of traditional financial assets, a Deutsche Bank spokesperson said. Deutsche Bank said it aimed to offer crypto trading in a World Economic Forum paper back in 2020. Maley said Deutsche Bank is proceeding "cautiously and in line with the spirit and the letter of the regulations governing this asset class."

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Taurus, Crypto, Paul Maley, Maley, Elizabeth Howcroft, Christina Fincher Organizations: Deutsche Bank, REUTERS, Taurus, Standard Chartered, BNY Mellon, Societe Generale, Deutsche, Thomson Locations: Swiss, U.S

☆ A key question as a true bitcoin ETF gets closer to reality: How much will it cost?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Jesse Pound | In Jesse-Pound | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Many crypto and asset management industry professionals now expect the first so-called spot bitcoin funds to launch in 2024 . The number of firms jockeying for a spot bitcoin ETF has already broken into double digits, and it's still growing. The largest bitcoin futures ETF, the ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) , has an expense ratio of 0.95%. Valkyrie has a Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BTF) that holds futures and has also applied to launch a spot product. He pointed to a Roundhill Ether Futures ETF filing with a proposed 0.19% fee as a more realistic target.

Persons: Franklin Templeton, Steven McClurg, we're, else's, McClurg, Ric Edelman, Bryan Armour, Armour Organizations: Securities, Exchange Commission, BlackRock, Valkyrie Investments, Digital Assets, Financial Professionals, North America, Morningstar, Fidelity Locations: BlackRock, Invesco

[1/2] The headquarters of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is seen in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 12, 2021. Picture taken May 12, 2021. A lawyer for Stoner Cats did not respond immediately to requests for comment. Stoner Cats is an adult animated series about house cats that become sentient after being exposed to their owner's medical marijuana, which is used to alleviate early Alzheimer's symptoms. The NFTs provided holders with exclusive access to watch "Stoner Cats" online.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, NFTs, Jane Fonda, Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, Seth MacFarlane, Chris Rock, Stoner, Carolyn Welshans, Jonathan Stempel, Chris Prentice, Deepa Babington Organizations: U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, Washington , D.C, REUTERS, Stoner, U.S, Securities, SEC, Investors, Stoner Cats, Thomson Locations: Washington ,, New York

☆ Senate Republicans Grill S.E.C. Chair on Pace of Rule Making
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Matthew Goldstein | More About Matthew Goldstein | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Mr. Gensler said the S.E.C. A rule governing climate change disclosures has been delayed, Mr. Gensler said, partly because the S.E.C. “We’re updating our rules to promote the efficiency, integrity and resiliency of the markets,” said Mr. Gensler, who appeared before the committee for about two hours. In response to questions about digital assets, Mr. Gensler said the cryptocurrency market faced “significant noncompliance” and was “rife for fraud.”The most heated moment of the hearing came when Senator J.D. “Have you ever spoken to anyone at the White House about your investigation of Donald Trump’s Truth Social?” Mr. Vance asked Mr. Gensler.

Persons: Gensler, ”, J.D, Vance, Mr, Donald J, “, Donald Trump’s Organizations: Republican, Truth, Trump, White House Locations: Ohio

☆ Standard Chartered-owned crypto firm Zodia launches in Singapore
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Zodia Custody, a company that helps large institutions store their crypto, launched in Singapore on Tuesday in a bid to tap into the country's rapidly growing digital asset market. The development makes Zodia the first entity that is owned by and partnered with banks to provide digital asset custody services for financial institutions in Singapore, Zodia said in a news release. Zodia is also part-owned by SBI Digital Asset Holdings, the crypto division of Japanese bank SBI. "Singapore is a market that has been no stranger to the crypto world for a long time," Sawyer said. Standard Chartered has a "fantastic brand" in Singapore, Sawyer said, adding that the backing of such a large institution has helped boost its conversations with major financial firms.

Persons: Zodia, StanChart, Julian Sawyer, Sawyer, blockchain, Crypto, Zodia's, Coinbase Organizations: Standard Chartered, Northern Trust, SBI Digital Asset Holdings, SBI, CNBC, Starling, Chartered, Arrows, United, United Arab Emirates Locations: Singapore, British, Asia, Africa, Japan, Pacific, Abu Dhabi, United Arab, India

☆ What it's like in Europe's popular crypto haven Portugal as the U.S. cracks down
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +19 min

They understood the importance of self custody of bitcoin, bitcoin on bitcoin blockchain, not on other chains." Sunrise over Lisbon, Portugal Alexander Spatari | Moment | Getty ImagesThe San Francisco of EuropeA walk through Portugal's capital feels eerily similar to a stroll in San Francisco. "This makes Portugal a really attractive place for crypto users to live," explained Shehan Chandrasekera, a CPA and head of tax strategy at crypto tax software company CoinTracker.io. The only exception to the country's generous crypto scheme relates to companies registered in Portugal that deal in crypto. Cyclists photographed in Lisbon, Portugal, in October 2018.

Persons: Alexander Spatari, PORTUGAL —, maximalists, Lorenzo Primiterra, He's, Peter Pan, Primiterra, Terra Luna, bitcoin, solana, Greenfield, Portugal Alexander Spatari, Jemson Chan, Chan, CNBC Guy Young, Seb True, CNBC Seb, True, That's, it's, bitcoiners, I've, Stephen Knowles, cryptocurrencies, Shehan Chandrasekera, Katie Ananina, Ethena's Young, —, Deley, Deley doesn't, that's, Didi Taihuttu, They've, Taihuttu Organizations: Campo Pequeno, maxis, CNBC Software, CNBC, titans, Securities and Exchange Commission, British, Abril, European, CPA, Cyclists, European Union, D7, Companies, Algarve Locations: LISBON, PORTUGAL, Lisbon, Italy, Portugal, Almada, Lisboa Region, outranking New York, Berlin, Singapore, European, Sunrise, San Francisco of Europe, San Francisco, bitcoin, Europe, Crypto, U.S, Egypt, Asia, Switzerland, it's, Puerto Rico, Australia, Canada, Ghent, Belgium, cryptocurrency, Cryptocurrencies, Lisbon's, Lagos, Angeles, Algarve

REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 8 (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve's top regulatory official said on Friday the central bank is "a long way" from any decision on whether it would issue its own digital currency, and added it would not do so without official support in Washington. Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Michael Barr said while officials are investigating a central bank digital currency (CBDC), the Fed was far from any decision. "Of course, investigation and research are very different from decision-making about next steps in terms of payments system development, and we are a long way from that." Barr's comments echo those of Fed Chair Jerome Powell, who also has said the Fed would not move to issue a digital currency without explicit authorization from Congress. It is important to get the legislative and regulatory framework right before significant risks emerge," he said.

Persons: Michael Barr, Evelyn Hockstein, Barr, Jerome Powell, Pete Schroeder, Hugh Lawson, Andrea Ricci Organizations: Banking, Housing, Urban Affairs Committee, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, Federal, U.S ., Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Washington, Philadelphia

☆ Bakkt CEO Gavin Michael breaks down the crypto company's operations amid U.S. regulatory uncertainty
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Talia Kaplan | Kaan Oguz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailBakkt CEO Gavin Michael breaks down the crypto company's operations amid U.S. regulatory uncertaintyBakkt CEO Gavin Michael sat down with CNBC Crypto World to discuss the digital asset company's international expansion plans, latest earnings and more.

Persons: Gavin Michael Organizations: CNBC

☆ Global regulators seek to crack down on decentralised finance
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Huw Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Global securities regulators set out on Thursday their first blueprint to make participants in "decentralised finance" (DeFi)accountable for their actions and safeguard market stability. Such events have seen DeFi shrink from about $180 billion in late 2021 to about $40 billion currently, and the sector is also being used for moneylaundering, IOSCO said. Stakeholders in DeFi and their roles, and the organizational, technological, and communication mechanisms they use, tend to mimic those in traditional finance. Regulators have little standardised data on DeFI, a situation made worse by market participants using multiple pseudonymous addresses to obfuscate their activities, IOSCO said. Regulators should use existing laws or introduce new ones where needed to get a full picture of DeFI, including the identities of people and companies involved, IOSCO said.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, IOSCO, Tuang Lee Lim, Lim, Huw Jones, Frances Kerry Organizations: REUTERS, Terra, Regulators, DeFi, Thomson Locations: DeFi, IOSCO, United States

☆ Crypto has minted tens of thousands of new millionaires, but they're still only 0.02% of everyone who's ever bought digital currency, a new wealth report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

At least 88,200 people have $1 million or more in cryptocurrencies, a new wealth report said. That's out of 425 million total crypto users around the world, according to Henley & Partners. A fortunate few — 182 users — have cryptocurrencies worth more than $100 million, the report said. Crypto-millionaires are defined as people who have at least $1 million in cryptocurrency assets, per the firm's Crypto Wealth Report 2023. But the world's wealthy crypto users are starting to outnumber the number of high-net-worth individuals in entire countries, such as Russia, which has 65,000 millionaires, and Saudi Arabia, which has 52,000 millionaires, per Amoils' estimate.

Persons: That's, Andrew Amoils, Dominic Volek, Volek, — Organizations: Henley & Partners, Service Locations: cryptocurrencies, Wall, Silicon, London, Russia, Saudi Arabia, cryptocurrency

☆ Ex-FTX executive Salame agrees to plead guilty to US criminal charges, lawyer says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Luc Cohen | Thomson Reuters | Reports On The New York Federal Courts. Previously Worked As A Correspondent In Venezuela | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Salame appeared before U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan in Manhattan less than one month before Bankman-Fried's scheduled Oct. 3 trial on fraud and conspiracy charges stemming from now-bankrupt FTX's November 2022 collapse. Salame said that he had agreed to forfeit more than $1.5 billion in connection with the plea deal. Salame had worked for Ernst & Young and Circle Internet Financial before joining FTX Digital Markets. Salame was not charged at the time, and his lawyer told prosecutors he would invoke his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination if called to testify. Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Mark PorterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ryan Salame, Sam Bankman, Salame, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, Kaplan, Fried, Caroline Ellison, Gary Wang, Nishad Singh, Singh, Luc Cohen, Emelia Sithole, Mark Porter Organizations: FTX's, U.S, District, Prosecutors, Alameda Research, Former Alameda, Bankman, Ernst & Young, Circle, FTX Digital, Republican, Democratic, Securities Commission, FTX, New York Times, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, Bahamas, Caribbean, Alameda, New York

Salame also pleaded guilty to conspiring to operate an unlicensed money-transmitting business. But there was no indication that he was cooperating with the prosecution or would testify against Bankman-Fried at trial. Former Alameda Chief Executive Officer Caroline Ellison, former FTX technology chief Gary Wang and former FTX engineering chief Nishad Singh previously pleaded guilty and are expected to testify against Bankman-Fried. Bankman-Fried has pleaded not guilty. His lawyer told prosecutors that if called to testify Salame would invoke his right under the U.S. Constitution's Fifth Amendment against self-incrimination.

Persons: Ryan Salame, Sam Bankman, Fried, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, Kaplan, Salame, Jason Linder, Caroline Ellison, Gary Wang, Nishad Singh, Singh, Luc Cohen, Will Dunham, Emelia, Mark Porter Organizations: FTX's, U.S, District, Bankman, Alameda, Porsche, Alameda Research, Prosecutors, Ernst & Young, Circle, FTX Digital, Republican, Democratic, Constitution's, Securities Commission, FTX, New York Times, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, Massachusetts, Salame, Bahamas, Caribbean, Alameda, New York

In a complaint filed in Manhattan bankruptcy court, Genesis is seeking to recoup $500 million that DCG borrowed under four loans. In a statement on Wednesday, DCG said it expects to file a settlement with the bankruptcy court soon. Genesis filed for Chapter 11 protection from creditors in January, two months after halting withdrawals. The cases are Genesis Global Capital LLC v. Digital Currency Group Inc, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of New York, No. 23-ap-01168; and Genesis Global Capital LLC v. DCG International Investments Ltd in the same court, No.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Genesis, DCG, Barry Silbert, Jonathan Stempel, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Group, Genesis Global Capital, Digital Currency Group International, Arrows Capital, Alameda Research, Genesis Global, LLC, Digital Currency Group Inc, Bankruptcy, Southern District of, DCG, Investments Ltd, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, Southern District, Southern District of New York, New York

☆ North Korean hackers have allegedly stolen hundreds of millions in crypto to fund nuclear programs
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The FBI claims North Korea-linked hackers were behind a $100 million crypto heist on the so-called Horizon bridge in 2022. Budrul Chukrut | Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty ImagesNorth Korea-linked hackers have stolen hundreds of millions of crypto to fund the regime's nuclear weapons programs, research shows. "In recent years, there has been a marked rise in the size and scale of cyber attacks against cryptocurrency-related businesses by North Korea. And this is just obviously a much more efficient way for North Korea to make money. North Korean hackers' exploitsNorth Korea-affiliated hackers exploit vulnerabilities in the crypto ecosystem in a variety of ways.

Persons: Budrul Chukrut, TRM, Chainalysis, Nick Carlsen, Carlsen, cybercriminals, Mavis Organizations: FBI, Getty, TRM Labs, cryptocurrency, Labs, North, United Nations, UN, Democratic People's, CNBC, Korean, Street Journal, Sky Locations: North Korea, North, New York, Democratic People's Republic, Korea, Chainalysis

☆ Coinbase to launch new lending platform aimed at large institutional investors
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Jaiveer Shekhawat | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Employees of Coinbase Global Inc, the biggest U.S. cryptocurrency exchange, watch as their listing is displayed on the Nasdaq MarketSite jumbotron at Times Square in New York, U.S., April 14, 2021. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton Acquire Licensing RightsSept 5 (Reuters) - Crytocurrency exchange Coinbase Global (COIN.O) is launching a digital asset lending platform aimed at large institutional investors, a company spokesperson told Reuters on Tuesday. Coinbase has raised $57 million for its new crypto-lending platform, a regulatory filing showed. Coinbase last month had secured approval to offer cryptocurrency futures to U.S. retail customers, scoring a major regulatory win. Reporting by Jaiveer Singh Shekhawat in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh KuberOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Shannon Stapleton, Coinbase, Grayscale's, Jaiveer Singh, Shailesh Organizations: Coinbase Global Inc, Nasdaq, REUTERS, Reuters, Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ Bitcoin and crypto are about to embark on a 'much stronger fundamental' rally, Bernstein predicts
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

"The existing crypto market remains a low liquidity market, with limited new capital entering the space. Investors remain optimistic about the recent developments and what they could mean for the crypto market over the long term, however. The agency for years has maintained that various attempts at a bitcoin ETF didn't satisfy concerns about fraud and manipulation in the market. The ruling shot that down, noting that "bitcoin futures prices are ultimately based on spot market prices." "The industry push for Ethereum spot ETF follows immediately after, given ETH also has a similar market structure of a traded CME futures market ( > 2 years) and a spot market," he added.

Persons: Bernstein, Gautam Chhugani, bitcoin, Chhugani, Michael Bloom Organizations: U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, U.S ., Appeals, SEC, ETH, BTC Locations: U.S, Solana

☆ LSE Group draws up plans for blockchain-based digital assets business - FT
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Signage for the London Stock Exchange Group is seen outside of offices in Canary Wharf in London, Britain, August 3, 2023. REUTERS/Toby Melville/file photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 4 (Reuters) - The London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG.L) has drawn up plans for a new digital markets business to offer extensive trading of traditional financial assets on the blockchain technology known for powering cryptocurrency, the Financial Times reported. LSEG is considering using a separate legal entity for the digital markets business, the report said on Monday, adding that it hoped to have it running within the next year, subject to regulatory approvals. The London Stock Exchange Group did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The reported move comes at a time when a number of mainstream financial institutions are talking about the potential for blockchain to streamline the process of issuing and trading financial assets.

Persons: Toby Melville, Murray Roos, Blockchain, Roos, Akanksha, Savio D'Souza, Rashmi Organizations: London Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Financial Times, LSE Group, LSE, Treasury, London Stock Exchange Group, Thomson Reuters, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Canary Wharf, London, Britain, LSEG, Bengaluru

☆ SEC's Gary Gensler is waging war against crypto. Here's a look at how his views on the industry have evolved over the years
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Joseph Wilkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The SEC has waged war against the cryptocurrency industry this year with a string of lawsuits. At the heart of it is SEC chief Gary Gensler – who has railed against crypto since taking office. Amid his regulatory battle against crypto, Insider maps the evolution of his views on the sector. AdvertisementAdvertisementAs 2023 progresses, Gensler has become more hardline on crypto – waging lawsuits not just against FTX, but also the Binance and Ripple platforms. Lawsuit fatigueAfter almost six months of attrition warfare, Gary Gensler had crypto on the ropes.

Persons: Gary Gensler –, Gary Gensler, messier, Gensler, Satoshi's, Bitcoin, Sam Bankman, Ritchie Torres, Fortune Crypto Organizations: SEC, Service, Securities and Exchange Commission, Investments, CoinDesk, Goldman, Bloomberg TV Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ Gemini tries to line up other creditors in new Genesis bankruptcy plan -The Information
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A man walks past the logo of Gemini Trust, a digital currency exchange and custodian, during the Bitcoin Conference 2022 in Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. April 6, 2022. REUTERS/Marco Bello Acquire Licensing RightsSept 1 (Reuters) - Cryptocurrency exchange Gemini is trying to rally other creditors behind a plan to wring more money out of bankrupt crypto lending firm Genesis' parent company, Digital Currency Group (DCG), The Information reported on Friday. DCG, Genesis and Gemini did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. Genesis filed for bankruptcy in January owing at least $3.4 billion to creditors and reached an agreement in principle on a restructuring plan, supported by DCG, and its primary creditors, including Gemini, in February. Genesis and DCG on Tuesday reached an in-principle agreement with Genesis' creditors to resolve claims brought during the crypto lender's bankruptcy.

Persons: Marco Bello, Gemini, DCG, Genesis, Kanjyik Ghosh, Sandra Maler, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Gemini Trust, REUTERS, Digital Currency Group, DCG, Gemini, Thomson Locations: Miami Beach , Florida, U.S, Bengaluru

REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 1 (Reuters) - Robinhood (HOOD.O) said on Friday it had entered into a share repurchase agreement with the United States Marshal Service (USMS) for $605.7 million to buy back stock from Sam Bankman-Fried's Emergent Fidelity Technologies. The shares of Robinhood were seized and subsequently transferred to the custody of the U.S. government after Bankman-Fried's FTX and Emergent filed for bankruptcy protection last year. Robinhood shares climbed more than 3% in premarket trading on the news. The online brokerage said the sale of the 55.3 million shares at $10.96 apiece had been approved by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Robinhood first disclosed its intention to buy back the stake in February and said the company's board had authorized it to pursue purchasing most or all of the stock.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Sam Bankman, Robinhood, Fried, FTX, Palo, Manya Saini, Hannah Lang, Devika Syamnath, Mark Potter Organizations: Inc, REUTERS, United States Marshal Service, Emergent Fidelity Technologies, U.S, Southern, of, Reuters, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Robinhood, of New York, United States, Manhattan, Palo Alto , California, Bengaluru, Washington

☆ Analysis-Grayscale victory big boost for decade-long spot bitcoin ETF push
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Hannah Lang | Chris Prentice | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

FILE PHOTO: Representations of cryptocurrency Bitcoin are placed on a PC motherboard, in this illustration taken June 16, 2023. A spot bitcoin ETF would give investors exposure to the world’s largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization without having to own it. The SEC has denied all spot bitcoin ETF applications, saying applicants have not shown they can protect investors from market manipulation. Grayscale argued the same setup should be satisfactory for its spot ETF, since both products rely on bitcoin’s underlying price. Other firms have spot bitcoin ETF applications with the SEC, including asset management giant BlackRock, Fidelity and WisdomTree.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Grayscale’s, It’s, ”, Christopher LaVigne, Withers, “, Michael Sonnenshein, Bitcoin, Sui Chung, Joseph Toner, Seth Hertlein, Ryan Louvar, Paul Grewal, ” Coinbase, Withers ’ LaVigne Organizations: WASHINGTON, REUTERS, District of Columbia, Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, CNBC, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Fidelity, Coinbase, BlackRock, Supreme Locations: Washington, New York, WilmerHale, BlackRock

Representations of cryptocurrency Bitcoin are placed on a PC motherboard, in this illustration taken June 16, 2023. A spot bitcoin ETF would give investors exposure to the world's largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization without having to own it. The SEC has denied all spot bitcoin ETF applications, saying applicants have not shown they can protect investors from market manipulation. Grayscale argued the same setup should be satisfactory for its spot ETF, since both products rely on bitcoin's underlying price. Other firms have spot bitcoin ETF applications with the SEC, including asset management giant BlackRock (BLK.N), Fidelity and WisdomTree (WT.N).

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Grayscale's, It's, Christopher LaVigne, Withers, Michael Sonnenshein, Bitcoin, Sui Chung, Joseph Toner, Seth Hertlein, Ryan Louvar, Paul Grewal, Coinbase, LaVigne, Carolina Mandl, Tom Wilson, Michelle Price, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, District of Columbia, Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, CNBC, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Fidelity, Coinbase, CME, BlackRock, Supreme, Thomson Locations: Washington, New York, WilmerHale, London

☆ What Grayscale’s bitcoin ETF victory over the SEC means for the cryptocurrency and an exhausted market
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Bitcoin jumped 7% on investor hopes that the ruling will pave the way for approval of one or more spot bitcoin ETFs from BlackRock, Fidelity, Invesco and others. Yet the SEC's commitment to regulation by enforcement under Gensler, rather than laying out clear rules, has left companies struggling and hindered new bitcoin investors. If Tuesday's ruling does open the door to the first spot bitcoin ETF in the U.S., that could eventually push crypto prices higher. Owen Lau, an analyst at Oppenheimer, cautioned that Grayscale's court victory "doesn't necessarily mean the SEC will approve Grayscale's conversion, or that there will be a floodgate of spot bitcoin ETF approvals in the near term." Regardless, Tuesday's court decision "is not enough" to bust the market out of its summer stupor, Lau added.

Persons: Bitcoin, it's, Ric Edelman, Gary Gensler, Edelman, Owen Lau, Oppenheimer, Lau Organizations: SEC, ., Appeals, Securities and Exchange Commission, Fidelity, Digital Assets, Financial Professionals Locations: BlackRock, U.S

☆ Sam Bankman-Fried wants to pay 7 expert witnesses up to $1,200 an hour to testify on his behalf
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Sam Bankman-Fried is trying to build his legal defense with seven expert witnesses. AdvertisementAdvertisementSam Bankman-Fried wants to pay seven expert witnesses up to $1,200 an hour as part of his upcoming trial. Four of the other proposed expert witnesses are charging between $400 and $720 an hour, while one didn't specify their fee. AdvertisementAdvertisementBut prosecutors aren't happy with the choice of proposed witnesses and are trying to exclude all of them from testifying. And because Akka's court filing outlining his opinion is based on English case law, prosecutors say this could confuse the jury as it's a different legal system.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Fried, Bradley Smith, Lawrence Akka, Smith, That's, Prosecutors Organizations: FEC, Capital University Law School, Commission, Bankman

☆ Swiss SEBA Bank gets approval-in-principle for Hong Kong crypto services
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Georgina Lee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsHONG KONG, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Swiss crypto-focused SEBA Bank on Wednesday said it has received an approval-in-principle from Hong Kong's securities regulator that takes it only one step away from offering virtual asset services in the Asian financial hub. SEBA (Hong Kong), in a statement, said the Securities and Futures Commission will grant licences once it meets conditions for final approval. It will then be able to engage in securities dealing, including crypto-related structured products, and advise on and manage digital assets and traditional securities. Hong Kong is the third market in which the Zug-headquartered bank has sought a licence after Switzerland and Abu Dhabi. The approval-in-principle allows SEBA to prepare for operations as soon as it is licensed.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, HONG KONG, Georgina Lee, Christopher Cushing Organizations: REUTERS, Bank, Securities, Futures, Thomson Locations: HONG, Swiss, Hong Kong, cryptocurrencies, Zug, Switzerland, Abu Dhabi

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