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Thai authorities raid illegal Bitcoin mine behind local power outages

Illegal Bitcoin mining has been a growing problem in Southeast Asia, with operators exploiting the region’s relatively low electricity costs

Thailand authorities have raided an illegal Bitcoin mining operation in Ratchaburi, a town west of Bangkok, following numerous complaints from residents about persistent power outages. 

According to the South China Morning Post, the raid took place on Aug. 23 and revealed that the illegal mining activities were likely the cause of blackouts that had plagued the area for over a month.

An investigation was started after residents reported unexplained power failures that began in mid-July. 

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BNB Hits New All Time High to Briefly Surpass Solana as 4th Largest Cryptocurrency

CZ and Binance face new lawsuit for alleged laundering of stolen crypto

One legal expert says if the class-action lawsuit progresses, it could put the “efficacy of blockchain analytics itself” on trial. 

Binance and its former CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao are facing a new class-action lawsuit from three crypto investors who say they couldn’t recover their stolen assets because the exchange failed to prevent money laundering.

In an Aug. 16 class action complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, Seattle, the plaintiffs allege their crypto was stolen, and those funds were sent to Binance by the thieves to “remove the connection between the ledger and their digital assets,” making them untraceable. 

Three plaintiffs have filed a civil action complaint against Binance and former CEO CZ. Source: PacerMonitor

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BNB Hits New All Time High to Briefly Surpass Solana as 4th Largest Cryptocurrency

Nigeria Aims to Include Cryptocurrencies in Tax System Overhaul

Nigeria Aims to Include Cryptocurrencies in Tax System OverhaulThe Nigerian government is looking to impose taxes on the cryptocurrency industry. The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) plans to introduce a new tax law to achieve this. Despite being a major crypto market, Nigeria currently receives minimal tax income from crypto-related activities. The FIRS is seeking support from the Nigerian National Assembly to implement […]

BNB Hits New All Time High to Briefly Surpass Solana as 4th Largest Cryptocurrency

Nigeria’s tax watchdog proposes comprehensive crypto bill

The Federal Inland Revenue Service’s initiative to regulate cryptocurrency and update tax laws reflects a broader trend in Nigeria toward embracing and managing digital assets.

Nigeria’s tax authority, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), plans to seek the National Assembly’s support for a comprehensive new law to regulate cryptocurrency in the country. 

According to local news, FIRS Executive Chairman Zacch Adedeji made the announcement during a recent stakeholder engagement session with the National Assembly’s Finance Committees. The proposed legislation, which FIRS aims to introduce in September, is part of a broader effort to overhaul Nigeria’s tax system. 

According to Adedeji, the new bill will address the growing cryptocurrency industry, ensuring that its benefits are harnessed for Nigeria’s economy while mitigating potential risks. This regulatory push is a response to the rapidly expanding digital economy and the need for updated legal frameworks to keep pace with technological advancements.

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BNB Hits New All Time High to Briefly Surpass Solana as 4th Largest Cryptocurrency

Coinbase, KuCoin, others file crypto license applications in Turkey

As the Turkish Capital Markets Board continues to update the list and companies work to meet regulatory requirements, the Turkish crypto market is poised for significant changes.

The Turkish cryptocurrency landscape is experiencing a major transformation as prominent companies like Coinbase and KuCoin compete to obtain business licenses in the country.

This surge in applications follows regulatory updates by the Turkish Capital Markets Board (CMB), marking a critical juncture for the nation’s burgeoning crypto sector.

On Aug. 9, the CMB announced that 47 cryptocurrency companies had initially applied for licenses under new regulatory frameworks. This list, however, has now expanded to 76, with notable additions such as Coinbase, KuCoin and Gate.io. 

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BNB Hits New All Time High to Briefly Surpass Solana as 4th Largest Cryptocurrency

Coinshares Weighs Trump and Harris’ Impact on Bitcoin Ahead of 2024 Election

Coinshares Weighs Trump and Harris’ Impact on Bitcoin Ahead of 2024 ElectionIn a recent report, Coinshares and author Max Shannon examine the potential impact of the 2024 U.S. presidential election on bitcoin, with a focus on the policies and positions of former President Donald Trump and current Vice President Kamala Harris. Coinshares’ analysis suggests that the outcome could significantly influence the regulatory landscape for digital assets. […]

BNB Hits New All Time High to Briefly Surpass Solana as 4th Largest Cryptocurrency

Coinbase finds flawed analysis in SEC’s proposed exchange definition

In its third letter to the SEC, the crypto exchange said it would withdraw the proposal, which was first released in 2022, and start over again.

Coinbase has submitted a new letter to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on that agency’s proposed changes to the definitions of a national securities exchange. This is the third comment letter from Coinbase and addresses the SEC’s cost-benefit analysis of its proposed changes.

The SEC lacks the necessary information to conduct a cost-benefit analysis and depends on irrational arguments in its place, Coinbase argues. The SEC should at least withdraw the proposal and start over again after it has done its research, the letter’s author, Coinbase chief legal officer Paul Grewal said.

A cost-benefit analysis is required for the proposal under the Administrative Procedure Act and Exchange Act of 1934, Grewal said. The letter went on to list the information that the SEC admits to not knowing, starting with the definition of a “crypto asset security” and the number of exchanges operating on the market, and concludes:

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BNB Hits New All Time High to Briefly Surpass Solana as 4th Largest Cryptocurrency

Federal Reserve Cites Significant Deficiencies in Customers Bancorp’s AML Compliance

Federal Reserve Cites Significant Deficiencies in Customers Bancorp’s AML ComplianceThe U.S. Federal Reserve Board has found “significant deficiencies” in Customers Bancorp, Inc.’s management of risk and adherence to anti-money laundering (AML) regulations. These issues, particularly troubling for the bank known for its crypto-friendly stance, were detailed in an enforcement action filed on Thursday. Kamala’s Crypto Reset: Still Loading… Please Wait The Federal Reserve’s action […]

BNB Hits New All Time High to Briefly Surpass Solana as 4th Largest Cryptocurrency

French regulator accepting CASP applications ahead of MiCA rollout

The AMF is giving firms registered under its current DASP rules ample time to transition, too.

France's financial markets regulator, Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF), has begun accepting applications for crypto asset service providers (CASPs), six months ahead of Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulations coming into force.

Beginning on Dec. 30, firms that provide any of ten crypto-related services will be required to have CASP authorization that will impose uniform rules for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism, cybersecurity and other aspects of doing business.

The MiCA requirements will replace France’s PACTE (Action Plan for Business Growth and Transformation) regime. Firms whose activities were not previously subject to regulation or that have digital asset service provider authorization under PACTE will have until July 1, 2026, to transition to CASP authorization. There are over 100 such firms.

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BNB Hits New All Time High to Briefly Surpass Solana as 4th Largest Cryptocurrency

Australian stablecoin startup Stables expands to Europe

Stables co-founder Bernado Bilotta says stablecoins are starting to break free of “crypto-native” applications and make their way into the mainstream.

Australian stablecoin payments startup Stables has announced its expansion to Europe in partnership with Mastercard, which co-founder Bernado Billota says indicates a wider trend of the dollar-pegged assets breaking into the mainstream. 

Speaking to Cointelegraph, Bilotta said the expansion marked an important step for his firm, noting an increase in the size of the total addressable market of new customers in Europe, which he said was roughly twenty times the size of Australia.

The new partnership will allow Stables users to make purchases with Circle’s USD Coin (USDC) in 27 countries throughout Europe wherever MasterCard is accepted and through digital vendors like Apple and Google Pay. 

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BNB Hits New All Time High to Briefly Surpass Solana as 4th Largest Cryptocurrency