Thailand Taking Steps to Regulate ICOs

As part of its balanced approach, Thailand is taking further steps to regulate initial coin offerings by expanding current guidelines. Discussions on the framework between relevant institutions have already started, with a public hearing to be conducted soon. The first ICO to be carried out by a locally registered company is scheduled for March. The … Read more

U.S. Agency ICE Conducts Investigations That Exploit Blockchain Activity

On January 25 the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deputy assistant director, Greg Nevano, explained in a testimony that the agency was using “blockchain exploitation tools” to combat cryptocurrency use in illicit markets. Nevano’s testimony revolved around the growing opioid addiction problem in the U.S., and how the law enforcement organization is fighting the … Read more

Bill Submitted to Make Cryptoruble Legal Tender in Russia

A bill has been submitted to the Russian parliament to make the country’s national “cryptocurrency,” the cryptoruble, legal tender in Russia. This bill was introduced as the finance ministry published a different bill for the regulation of cryptocurrencies and initial coin offerings in Russia. Also read: Russia Finalizes Federal Law on Cryptocurrency Regulation Cryptoruble as Legal Tender … Read more

Vietnam Imported More Mining Rigs in 3 Weeks This Month Than All of Last Year

The Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department has revealed that in the first 3 weeks of this month almost 8,000 mining rigs were imported into the city. This number exceeds the entire count of mining rigs imported into Vietnam last year. Also read: South Korean Officials Caught Trading On Insider Knowledge of Crypto Regulations Nearly 8000 … Read more

Chairmen of SEC and CFTC Co-Author Article on Crypto Regulations

Jay Clayton, the chairman of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and J. Christopher Giancarlo, the chairman of the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), have co-authored an opinion piece recently published by The Wall Street Journal. The article outlines a number of perceived problems facing the cryptocurrency sphere from the perspective … Read more

Bank of Japan: No Big Problems With Bitcoin So Far

It’s not the sexiest headline in the world, but so far things with bitcoin seem to be going relatively well in Japan, according to a Bank of Japan (BOJ) Director-General. With increasing calls from world leaders to unite and devise a global regulatory regime for cryptocurrencies, Japan has taken a strikingly different approach. Also read: Tezos … Read more

Malta Extends Scope of Proposed Virtual Currency Regulations

The Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) has published a ”feedback statement” regarding its proposal for regulatory guidelines governing collective investment schemes involving virtual currencies (VCs) operating in the European archipelago nation. The statement has been issued following a consultation period from the 23rd of October 2017 to the 17th of November – in which the … Read more

Russia Finalizes Federal Law on Cryptocurrency Regulation

The Russian government is in the process of finalizing the federal law for the regulation of cryptocurrencies and initial coin offerings. The draft law has now been officially published. It regulates the creation, issuance, storage, and circulation of cryptocurrencies. Also read: Russian Regulators Draft Law to Restrict Crypto Mining, Payments, and Token Sales Legal Crypto Definitions The … Read more

CFTC Files Against ‘My Big Coin’ for Scamming $6 Million USD

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has filed a lawsuit against “a virtual currency know as My Big Coin (MBC).” The CFTC alleges that the company raised more than $6 million USD by making false and misleading claims regarding the cryptocurrency’s utility and backing. Also Read: Vouching Bitfinex and Tether’s Bank Accounts Hold Nearly $3 Billion … Read more

All Major Korean Cryptocurrency Exchanges Fail Privacy Tests – 30 Days to Improve

The South Korean Communications Commission has conducted a survey of major cryptocurrency exchanges in the country and found them to have insufficient customer data protection. Eight exchanges have been sanctioned, with 30 days to resolve their issues and safeguard their systems. Also read: Cryptocurrency Activities Will Be Legal and Tax Free in Belarus Starting in March … Read more