UAE Launches ‘Financial Infrastructure Transformation’ Program; CBDC Among 9 Key Objectives

On Feb. 12, 2023, the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE) announced the launch of a new initiative called the “Financial Infrastructure Transformation Program,” which has nine key objectives. One of these objectives is the research and development of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) designed to address both cross-border payments and domestic … Read more

House Republicans Demand Answers From SEC Over FTX Co-Founder’s Arrest

On Feb. 10, 2023, Republicans Patrick McHenry of North Carolina and Bill Huizenga of Michigan, both members of the U.S. House of Representatives, sent a letter to Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chairman Gary Gensler seeking answers about the arrest of FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried prior to his scheduled testimony before the House Financial Services … Read more

Fed’s Outgoing Vice Chair Richard Clarida’s ‘Rebalancing’ Trades Ignite Fed Trading Ethics Scandal

Members of the U.S. Federal Reserve are getting criticized this week after the central bank published its minutes report from the policy meeting on December 14-15. Following the update, the outgoing vice chair of the Federal Reserve’s trading activities has reignited ethics conversations. Richard Clarida’s Trades Under Scrutiny The U.S. central bank can shake up … Read more

Russia’s Federation Council to Set Up Working Group on Crypto Regulations

The Federation Council of the Russian legislature is forming a working group expected to propose comprehensive regulations for cryptocurrencies. Officials from several ministries and government agencies, as well as members of the country’s expanding crypto industry, will join the body. Federation Council to Prepare New Regulations for Cryptocurrencies in Russia The Federation Council, the upper … Read more

Russia’s Constitutional Court Expects to Face Crypto-Related Cases

The Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation is going to have to deal more and more often with cases involving new kinds of individual rights, its head has recently admitted. Some of them will be related to cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology, the official believes. Constitutional Court of Russia to Defend Rights Related to Cryptocurrencies Constitutional … Read more

Russian Parliament to Consider Restrictions for Non-Qualified Crypto Investors

Cryptocurrency can be quite complicated for some and lawmakers in Russia think they need to contemplate restrictions for private investors. According to a high-ranking representative of the legislature, the Russian parliament needs to provide them with “maximum protection” against the risks. Members of Russian Parliament to Seek Protection for Citizens Investing in Cryptocurrency Deputies in … Read more

After Fed Members Disclose Million-Dollar Stock Trades Fed’s Powell Initiates Ethics Inquiry

The Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell has directed his staff to start an ethics inquiry into the financial activities of Fed members, as a number of senior central bank officials are being questioned for their investments. Reports indicated last week that the president of the Dallas Federal Reserve branch, Robert Kaplan, benefitted from “multiple million-dollar-plus … Read more

Regulatory Roundup: Trump’s Cryptocurrency Proposals, IRS Changes Rule, China Quarantines Cash

In this roundup, we cover numerous cryptocurrency regulatory developments in the U.S., including President Trump’s crypto proposals, testimonies by the Federal Reserve chairman and the Treasury secretary, a crypto-friendly SEC proposal, and the IRS changing a crypto tax rule. We also cover China quarantining yuan bills, its central bank filing 84 digital currency patents, 40 … Read more

Fed Chair Powell Reveals US Response to China’s Digital Yuan, Libra, Public Payments Ledger

In his testimony before the House Financial Services Committee, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell answered a number of questions regarding digital currencies. While stating that “a ledger where you know everybody’s payments” is not a problem in China, he believes it is not attractive for the U.S. Admitting that Facebook’s Libra project was a wake-up … Read more