In the Securities Era, ICOs Pleading Ignorance Have No Place to Hide

ICOs seeking to crowdfund their big idea have a quandary: should they register their token as a security, complete with the expense, delays, and paperwork this entails, or should they brand it a utility and hope the SEC doesn’t come after them? Last year, virtually everything was labeled a utility and SEC-compliant crowdsales were almost … Read more

Indian Exchange Takes Central Bank to Court Over Bank Ban

The Indian bitcoin community keeps fighting for their rights to operate freely in the country like any other industry. The latest show of defiance is a petition to the court against the actions of the Reserve Bank of India by the operators of a local exchange. Also Read: SPI Solar to Host 5,000 Bitcoin Miners … Read more

South Korea Planning to Formally Allow ICOs

Regional news sources report South Korea’s financial authorities are working on legislation to formally allow initial coin offerings (ICOs) in an effort to appear more welcoming to the larger financial technology community. Also read: Québec Premier: We’re Not Really Interested in Bitcoin Mining South Korea Plans to Make ICOs Legit Online news source The Korean Times reported this … Read more

Dutch Finance Minister Advocates Changes to European Crypto Laws

Wopke Hoekstra, the Dutch finance minister, has issued a letter to Holland’s parliament describing the current regulatory framework pertaining to cryptocurrencies as “insufficiently equipped.” The minister advocates the development regional and international regulatory efforts in response to the burgeoning digital currency phenomenon. Also Read: Excessive Crypto Regulation Not Optimal, EU Banking Authority Says Dutch Cryptocurrency Investment … Read more

EU Losing Patiencen – Urges Global Crypto Regulation

Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union, Valdis Dombrovskis of the European Union (EU), is urging a broader regulatory regime upon cryptocurrencies, and is threatening an EU move especially if there appears to be no global consensus on how to address the decentralized currency phenomenon.  Also read: Bitcoin Futures Regulator Allows Employees to … Read more

Germany Treads Lightly on Bitcoin Taxation

Germany is taking a lead within European Union established economies, deciding upon slow regulation when it comes to the world’s most popular cryptocurrency, bitcoin. It will not tax the digital asset as a form of payment, miner rewards escape the sting as well, and even some exchanges will receive exemptions.   Also read: Bitcoin Futures Regulator … Read more

US Bitcoin Futures Regulator Allows Employees to Trade Crypto

While private businesses all over the world struggle with employees so much as possessing cryptocurrency, the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has reportedly given the full go-ahead to its employees trading crypto.    Also read: How To Regain Control From Nanny Zuck CFTC Allows Employees to Trade Cryptocurrency Robert Schmidt reports that bitcoin futures regulator CFTC … Read more

France Cracks Down on Bitcoin Derivatives

Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF), the independent regulatory body governing France’s stock market, issued two statements today, one on initial coin offerings (ICOs) and another on the prospect of bitcoin derivatives. Both point to more oversight to come for crypto in France, including everything from formal authorizations to a ban on advertisements.   Also read: How … Read more

Russia to “Tame and Test” Crypto Technologies in Crimea

A proposal to “tame” crypto technologies in Crimea has been made in Russia’s parliament this week. A local representative of the Russian Association of Cryptocurrencies and Blockchain told deputies the republic’s jurisdiction can be used to “test the new phenomenon”. RACIB has been working on a roadmap to implement the “Crypto-Crimea” plan and set up … Read more

FBI Arrests Exchange Operator for Lying About 6000 Bitcoin Hack

Jon E. Montroll, a 37 year old from Texas, is now facing up to 30 years in jail for perjury and obstruction of justice. The operator of Weexchange and Bitfunder is accused of repeatedly lying to the SEC under testimony in an effort cover up massive client losses after being hacked.  Also Read: US Federal … Read more