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☆ Bitcoin ETFs could open floodgates to $30 trillion wealth management market
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

SEC Chair Gary Gensler continues to issue stern warnings when it comes to crypto investments, but that's not holding back activity. For the $30 trillion advised wealth management industry, the floodgates could be about to open. "For the vast majority of people, a low-cost bitcoin ETF is going to be the easiest way to do that," Hougan said. According to data from Robinhood , 81% of bitcoin ETF trading volume in the first week was in individual accounts, with the rest in retirement accounts. In a report on its website in October, Galaxy Digital said the "strongest marginal improvement" occurred when portfolios moved from a 0% to 1% bitcoin allocation.

Persons: Gary Gensler, that's, Jan van Eck, Anthony Pompliano, Pompliano, Matt Hougan, wirehouses, they've, Hougan, WisdomTree, bitcoin, Matt Walsh, Walsh Organizations: Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Investments, Chartered, Fund, Management, VettaFi, CFA, Investor Trust, Galaxy Digital, Fidelity, Island Ventures, Fidelity Investments Locations: U.S, Robinhood

☆ Crypto firms introduce risk assessments and finance tests in response to strict new rules in UK
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-05 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

It comes ahead of tough new rules on the advertising of digital asset products in the country. If a customer fails to complete the tasks successfully, they will be prevented from trading with their crypto account. Coinbase said the changes were made "to ensure we are meeting UK investor protection standards, which require our users to have the necessary knowledge to make informed investment decisions." "We do not expect this to impact user activity in the UK and as always our customer service team is on hand to help with any queries," George Tucker, U.K. general manager of Crypto.com, told CNBC via email. "As an authorised Electronic Money Institution and registered cryptoasset business in the U.K., Crypto.com supports and complies with the FCA's rules and will continue to work with the regulator as we expand our product offering here," Tucker added.

Persons: Brian Armstrong, Daniel LEAL, DANIEL LEAL, Coinbase, George Tucker, Crypto.com, Tucker Organizations: Global Investment, Getty, Financial Services, Markets, Authority, FCA, CNBC Locations: London, Britain, cryptocurrency

☆ Spanish regulator opens first cryptoasset advertising case
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMADRID, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Spain's stock market supervisor said on Wednesday it had opened its first case relating to a possible infringement of recent rules governing mass advertising campaigns of cryptoassets. The CNMV said on Wednesday that it had opened disciplinary proceedings against Spanish technology provider Miolos S.L. over two mass campaigns advertising cryptoassets. Advertisers and companies that market cryptoassets must inform the CNMV at least 10 days beforehand about the content of campaigns targeting more than 100,000 people. Spain's rules also apply to cryptoasset service providers when advertising their activities and to any person advertising on their own or on behalf of third parties.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Madrid, CNMV, Miolos, Rodrigo Buenaventura, Buenaventura, Jesús Aguado, Emma Pinedo, Inti Landauro, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Spanish, Miolos, Thomson Locations: Rights MADRID, cryptoassets

☆ PayPal gets crypto green light in UK as sets up post-Brexit base
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Huw Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A smartphone with the PayPal logo is placed on a laptop in this illustration taken on July 14, 2021. The regulator has also brought in tougher safeguards on marketing cryptoassets, which have snarled rivals like Binance. PayPal said on Wednesday that the FCA has approved the company as an authorised electronic money institution and consumer credit firm, as well as its registration as a cryptoasset business, although the pause in UK crypto services would continue as previously announced. The approvals mean that from Nov. 1 PayPal's UK customers will be transferred to a new entity based in Britain from PayPal Europe, which had hitherto served UK customers, reflecting Britain's departure from the European Union. "PayPal continues to offer our customers the same products and services in the United Kingdom," it said.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, PayPal, Huw Jones, Jonathan Oatis, Alexander Smith Organizations: PayPal, REUTERS, Financial, Authority, PayPal Europe, European Union, Thomson Locations: Britain, United Kingdom

☆ UK confirms plans to regulate crypto industry with formal legislation
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The U.K. government on Monday confirmed plans to regulate the cryptocurrency industry, announcing in a consultation paper that it will look to bring in formal legislation for crypto activities by 2024. The government published its response to a consultation paper issued earlier this year, which outlined recommendations on regulating the crypto industry. The government aims to introduce laws for the crypto industry before Parliament by 2024, according to the paper. It is not immediately clear at this stage what U.K. laws on crypto will look like. Numerous bills are going through Congress, but the U.S. is far behind others when it comes to bringing about formal federal laws for the crypto industry.

Persons: Andrew Griffith Organizations: Government Locations: EU, Crypto, U.S

☆ Britain to push ahead with rules for cryptoassets
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Huw Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Britain said on Monday it would legislate to implement its first set of rules to regulate the crypto sector, requiring market participants to be authorised before they can offer services to consumers. The European Union has already approved the world's first set of comprehensive rules for cryptoasset markets, which are already attracting crypto firms to set up base in the bloc. Britain's finance ministry said it would move ahead as proposed in a February public consultation, requiring firms undertaking cryptoasset activities to be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. The rules focus on cryptoassets, such as bitcoin, and the underlying distributed ledger technology (DLT) or blockchain that underpins the sector. Crypto firms currently face only requirements to have safeguards against money laundering.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, bitcoin, Crypto, Huw Jones, Andrew Cawthorne, Peter Graff Organizations: REUTERS, European Union, Financial, Authority, Thomson Locations: Britain, United States

☆ Crypto firms failing to spell out risks, says UK watchdog
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Signage is seen for the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority), the UK's financial regulatory body, at their head offices in London, Britain March 10, 2022. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Britain's financial watchdog said on Wednesday that firms marketing cryptoassets are failing to highlight risks properly to consumers, such as by publishing warnings that are too hard to read. "We expect authorised firms approving the financial promotions of cryptoasset firms to take their regulatory obligations seriously," the FCA said in a statement. "Where this is not happening, we will take action and have already placed restrictions on an authorised firm to restrict it from approving cryptoasset financial promotions." The FCA said on Oct. 10 it was stopping peer-to-peer platform rebuildingsociety.com from approving financial promotions for Binance and other cryptoasset firms.

Persons: Toby Melville, cryptoassets, Huw Jones, David Evans, Jason Neely Organizations: FCA, Financial, Authority, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: London, Britain

☆ EU securities watchdog warns investors over crypto market protections
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Huw Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Regulating crypto has become more urgent for regulators after the collapse of crypto exchange FTX and with huge volatility in bitcoin prices. "Even with the implementation of MiCA, retail investors must be aware that there will be no such thing as a ‘safe’ cryptoasset," the EU watchdog said in a statement. Full protections may not be available in EU states that grant an 18-month transitional period for crypto firms to operate without an EU licence, meaning customers may not be covered until July 2026. A significant number of crypto firms would probably continue to offer their services under the transitional terms until mid-2026, ESMA said. Crypto firms from non-EU countries will be allowed to provide services to customers in the bloc that have specifically requested them, and even then only on a "strictly limited" basis.

Persons: Bitcoin, Dado, ESMA, Crypto, Huw Jones, Emelia Sithole Organizations: REUTERS, Union, EU, European Securities and Markets Authority, Thomson

☆ Crypto exchange Binance to stop accepting new users in UK
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 16 (Reuters) - Cryptocurrency exchange Binance said on Monday it will stop accepting new customers in the United Kingdom, in compliance with new regulation restricting promotions from overseas digital asset firms in the country. The Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) new rules around cryptoasset promotions came into effect on Oct. 8. Last week, Britain's financial regulator said it was stopping peer-to-peer platform rebuildingsociety.com from approving financial promotions for Binance and other crypto asset firms, days after Binance announced it had partnered with the company. The FCA in its decision notice had said unregistered cryptoasset firms must not promote cryptoassets to UK consumers unless they have an authorized company to approve the promotions. "We are working closely with the FCA ... are looking to find another suitable FCA-authorised firm to approve our financial promotions as soon as possible," Binance said.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Binance, Manya Saini, Devika Organizations: REUTERS, FCA, Thomson Locations: United Kingdom, Bengaluru

They’re opportunistic and adaptive,” said former CIA analyst Yaya Fanusie, now an adjunct senior fellow with the Center for a New American Security. It’s unclear how much money Hamas has received in cryptocurrency, but there’s evidence they have amassed significant amounts. Another $94 million was allegedly held by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a militant partner of Hamas, according to Elliptic, another analytics firm. Hamas additionally raises funds through informal taxes and smuggling, according to a Congressional Research Service report from May. Investigators were able to seize 150 cryptocurrency accounts “that laundered funds to and from” Hamas accounts, according to a DOJ news release.

Persons: launderers, European Union –, “ There’s, ”, Yaya Fanusie, –, Dmitry Machikhin, Arda Akartuna, Akartuna, Jake Sullivan, Iran “, Sullivan, Asher Perlin, Yitzchak Weinstock, Weinstock, “, al, Perlin Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Justice, Justice Department, European Union, Center, New, New American Security, Department of Homeland Security, ’, Reuters, Wall Street, Brigades, Palestine Islamic, US State Department, US Treasury Department, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Treasury, US Treasury, White, National, Congressional Research Service, US Justice Department, ”, Investigators, DOJ Locations: Iran, cryptocurrency, Israel, Washington ,, United States, New American, New Jersey, bitcoin, Jihad, Palestine, Turkey, Lebanon, Lebanese, Syria, Tehran, Jerusalem

Signage for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the Britain's financial regulatory body, is seen at their head offices in London, Britain March 10, 2022. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Britain's financial regulator on Tuesday said it was stopping peer-to-peer platform rebuildingsociety.com from approving financial promotions for Binance and other crypto asset firms, days after Binance announced it had partnered with the company. A Binance spokesperson via email on Tuesday said that the company had invested "an enormous amount of time and resources" in ensuring that it is compliant with the Financial Conduct Authority's rules. "We shared our agreement with Rebuildingsociety.com with the FCA on Oct. 2, almost a full week before the requirements of the updated Financial Promotions Regime came into effect," the Binance spokesperson said. Under the FCA's rules, a firm it has authorised can approve promotions of companies it does not regulate, a system that is being tightened from February by the watchdog.

Persons: Toby Melville, Binance, Elizabeth Howcroft, Huw Jones, Mark Porter Organizations: Financial, Authority, REUTERS, FCA, Rebuildingsociety.com, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, cryptoassets, Leeds, UK

☆ Cryptoassets increase risk in developing economies, study says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The report's guidelines for regulating and supervising cryptoasset markets include bans, containment and regulation. "Given the offshore and pseudo-anonymous nature of cryptoasset markets, an outright ban might not prove enforceable," read the BIS paper. "On the contrary, policymakers would lose all sight of these markets, making these markets even less transparent and predictable. In addition, all potential innovation gains from cryptoasset markets would be lost." Keeping control on the flows between traditional financial systems and cryptomarket assets, or containment, hits similar hurdles as a ban as "controlling funds might not be feasible in practice."

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Rodrigo Campos, Nick Zieminski Organizations: REUTERS, Bank for International, BIS, European Union, Thomson

☆ Crypto memes could land you in prison or with an unlimited fine for breaching financial promotion rules, UK regulator warns ‘finfluencers’
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The UK's financial regulator is proposing new rules for social media promotions. It specifically highlights memes promoting crypto investment as potential rule-breakers. Crypto memes could break financial promotion rules and land people in prison, the UK's Financial Conduct Authority said Monday. The regulator is proposing new rules for social media, cracking down on "finfluencers" or financial influencers who promote financial services online. It follows a joint initiative with the UK's advertising regulator in April, designed to help influencers know which financial promotions are illegal.

Persons: —, Lucy Castledine, cryptoassets Organizations: Authority, Financial Services, Investments Locations: cryptoasset

☆ Global rules leave crypto firms with no place to hide, says G20 watchdog
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Huw Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, July 17 (Reuters) - Globally agreed rules leave crypto firms with no option but to introduce basic safeguards to prevent the blow-ups seen at FTX exchange and other crypto casualties, the G20's Financial Stability Board said on Monday. The FSB published on Monday final recommendations requested by the G20 on supervising firms that trade cryptoassets such as bitcoin. The watchdog also revised its existing recommendations for stablecoins in light of the demise of TerraUSD/Luna coins. The collapse of FTX in November 2022 highlighted vulnerabilities from crypto firms and the FSB said that all countries should apply the recommendations, even those that are not members of the watchdog. "Therefore, cryptoasset players need to stop operating outside the regulatory perimeter or in non-compliance with existing rules," FSB Secretary General John Schindler told reporters.

Persons: FTX, John Schindler, Schindler, Bitcoin, IOSCO, Huw Jones, Louise Heavens Organizations: Ripple Labs, European Union, FSB, Thomson Locations: FTX, Bahamas, Basel

☆ EU watchdog calls for early adoption of stablecoin standards
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Huw Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, July 12 (Reuters) - The European Union's banking watchdog urged stablecoin issuers on Wednesday to voluntarily comply with 'guiding principles' on managing risks and protecting consumers ahead of mandatory rules due in a year's time. The European Banking Authority (EBA) published on Wednesday for public consultation its first batch of measures to flesh out MiCAR requirements for issuing a stablecoin that would come into force on June 30, 2024. Separately the EU's European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) set out draft rules for so-called crypto asset service providers (CASPs) who trade cryptocurrencies. EBA will issue a second batch of draft rules in October that focus on capital requirements for stablecoin issuers, and how firms should deal with stablecoin redemptions in stressed markets. Reporting by Huw Jones; Editing by Paul SimaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: stablecoin, Huw Jones, Paul Simao Organizations: EU, Crypto, European Banking Authority, European Securities and Markets Authority, unbacked, Thomson Locations: unbacked cryptoassets

☆ Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Twitter target of EU crypto advertising complaint
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, June 8 (Reuters) - Meta Platforms' (META.O) Instagram, Alphabet's (GOOGL.O) YouTube, TikTok and Twitter could face regulatory action after European consumer group BEUC complained to the European Commission and consumer authorities that the online platforms allegedly facilitate the misleading promotion of crypto assets. U.S. regulators suing crypto platforms Coinbase COIN.O and Binance, along with last year's collapse of FTX, have sparked concerns over consumer protection related to crypto assets such as bitcoin and ether. It urged the Consumer Protection Cooperation Network to require the online platforms to adopt stricter advertising policies on crypto and take measures to prevent influencers from misleading consumers. The group called on European consumer authorities to cooperate with European Supervisory Authorities for financial services to ensure the platforms adapt their advertising policies to prevent the misleading promotion of crypto. "This is why we are turning to the authorities in charge of protecting consumers to ensure Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Twitter fulfil their duty to protect consumers against crypto scams and false promises," she said.

Persons: BEUC, Monique Goyens, Foo Yun Chee, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: YouTube, Twitter, European Commission, European Union, Consumer Protection Cooperation Network, Commission, European, Authorities, Crypto, Consumer, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain

☆ Cryptos have no intrinsic value and trading in them should be regulated like gambling, UK lawmakers say
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Trading in cryptocurrencies is akin to gambling and should be treated as such, British lawmakers said. Unbacked tokens like bitcoin and ether aren't underpinned by underlying assets and have "no intrinsic value," lawmakers on the U.K. Treasury Select Committee said in a report published Tuesday. The Treasury committee said it was concerned by government proposals to regulate consumer crypto trading as a financial service. This, lawmakers said, would create a "halo" effect that leads people to believe crypto trading is safe and protected, when this is not the case. Blair Halliday, U.K. managing director for top U.S. crypto exchange Kraken, said: "We fundamentally disagree with the Treasury Select Committee's conclusion that cryptoassets have no intrinsic value.

☆ EU states approve world's first comprehensive crypto rules
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Huw Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

(Reuters) - European Union states on Tuesday gave the final nod to the world’s first comprehensive set of rules to regulate cryptoassets on Tuesday, piling pressure on countries such as Britain and the United States to play catch up. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/IllustrationAn EU finance minister meeting in Brussels approved rules that were thrashed out with the European Parliament, which gave its approval in April. Regulating crypto has become more urgent for regulators after the collapse of crypto exchange FTX. Crypto firms say they want certainty in regulation, putting pressure on countries to copy the EU rules, and on regulators to come up with global norms for a cross-border activity. The United States has focused on using existing securities rules for enforcement action in the sector while it decides on whether to introduce bespoke new rules and who would apply them.

☆ Crypto should be regulated as gambling, UK lawmakers say
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Huw Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, May 17 (Reuters) - Bitcoin , ether and other cryptocurrencies should be regulated as gambling given they are potentially used by fraudsters and pose significant risks to consumers, a panel of UK lawmakers said in a report on Wednesday. Britain is planning its first rules for cryptoassets, which currently only comply with anti-money laundering safeguards. Around 10% of UK adults hold or have held cryptoassets, according to official figures. The European Union approved the world's first set of comprehensive rules for crypto markets on Tuesday. The underlying technology used by cryptoassets has the potential to improve efficiency in payments, the report said.

☆ Global securities watchdog to propose rules for cryptoassets
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, May 16 (Reuters) - Global regulators will shortly propose the first set of international rules for cryptoassets, including how existing norms could apply to the sector, a top regulator said on Tuesday. The European Union on Tuesday approved a first set of comprehensive rules, a step firms said would attract them to set up shop in the bloc. "Once finalised the recommendations will deliver a first globally coordinated set of rules for crypto-assets," Jean-Paul Servais, chair of global securities regulatory body IOSCO told an event held by the Managed Funds Association in Paris. IOSCO members, such as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Japan's Financial Services Authority and regulators in Britain, Germany and France commit to applying the body's recommendations. Servais, who also chairs Belgium's securities watchdog, also said that private finance will be a new priority for IOSCO's work this year.

☆ Crypto firms call for global consensus instead of "fire hose" of rules
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Huw Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Apart from compliance with rules to stop money laundering and terrorist financing, crypto firms are largely unregulated in many parts of the world. "If we built a good regulatory regime, people would come. We are shooting ourselves in the foot by not having a regulatory regime in the U.S.," Peirce said. U.S. Congress needed to decide which regulatory body has authority over crypto, Peirce added. Global standards and harmonisation as much as possible are key, said Sarah Pritchard, executive director for supervision at Britain's Financial Conduct Authority.

☆ EU parliament backs world's first comprehensive rules for cryptoassets
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Huw Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, April 20 (Reuters) - The European Parliament on Thursday overwhelmingly backed the European Union's first set of rules to regulate cryptoasset markets. Parliament voted by 517 in favour and 38 against to approve the world's first comprehensive set of regulations for issuing and trading cryptoassets such as bitcoin. "This regulation brings a competitive advantage for the EU," said Stefan Berger, the lawmaker who steered the rules through parliament. "The European crypto-asset industry has regulatory clarity that does not exist in countries like the U.S.," Berger said. Parliament also backed new rules for tracing transfers of cryptoassets like bitcoins and electronic money tokens.

☆ Britain not behind other central banks in digital currency plans, says BoE
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Huw Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Britain is not lagging other central banks in issuing a digital version of its currency for day-to day-payments, Bank of England Deputy Governor Jon Cunliffe said on Tuesday. Central banks across the world are studying digital versions of their currencies to avoid leaving digital payments to the private sector as the decline of cash has accelerated in some cases due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Financial sector officials also say a digital pound would help stay abreast of advances in payments and help keep London a competitive global financial centre. "It's more likely than not," Cunliffe said, when pressed by lawmakers on whether a digital pound would go ahead. "This is not about here is a particular thing that needs to be done, but about opening a new frontier for people to improve payments," Cunliffe.

☆ UK watchdog warns crypto firms to prepare for tougher rules on adverts
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

LONDON, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Britain's financial watchdog warned crypto businesses on Monday to get ready for tighter rules on advertising later in the year, warning that any breaches could mean up to two years in prison. "All cryptoasset firms marketing to UK consumers, including firms based overseas, will soon need to comply with the new UK financial promotions regime," the Financial Conduct Authority said in a statement. "Firms must start preparing now for this regime. We will take robust action against firms breaching these requirements." Reporting by Huw Jones, Editing by Louise HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Britain sets out plans to regulate crypto industry in wake of FTX collapse
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

In a widely-anticipated industry consultation launched Tuesday, the government proposed a number of measures aimed at bringing regulation of crypto asset businesses in line with that of traditional financial firms. A big theme that emerged in 2022 was the rise of risky loans made between multiple crypto firms and a lack of due diligence done on the counterparties involved in those transactions. The collapse of FTX has added urgency to global regulators' attempts to govern the regulation-averse crypto space. The regulatory move comes as crypto firms in both the U.K. and beyond are feeling the chill of a deep downturn known as "crypto winter." Global crypto hub ambitionsThe U.K. wants to become a leader in crypto and blockchain technology on the global stage.

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