1. Home
  2. United States

United States

Ripple and SEC agree to stay $125M judgment, hinting at appeal

Though the SEC may choose not to appeal the Aug. 7 decision, Ripple’s lawyers requested that 111% of the monetary judgment be placed into a bank account to obtain a stay.

The legal team defending Ripple Labs against a case filed by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has requested to stay the monetary portion of an Aug. 7 judgment requiring the firm to pay $125 million.

In a Sept. 4 filing in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, Ripple’s lawyers said the SEC had agreed to a request to delay payment of the judgment after Sept. 6. The legal team proposed that Ripple place 111% of the judgment amount — roughly $139 million — into a bank account until 30 days “after the time to appeal expires or the resolution of any appeal.”

Source: SDNY

Read more

SEC Chief: Bitcoin Clear but 15,000 Crypto Tokens Face Uncertain Fate

Looser Fed policy, global macro trends point to bullish outlook for Bitcoin — Analysts

Bitcoin may be decoupling from concerns about a US recession and aligning more closely with the US dollar’s performance and signs of easing monetary policy, according to ETC Group. 

The bearish environment that dominated the crypto markets in early August may have set the conditions for a “tactical bottom for Bitcoin,” supported by expectations of looser monetary policy in the United States.

According to an analysis from asset manager ETC Group, sentiment around crypto assets dropped in August to its lowest point since the FTX collapse in November 2022, driven by rising concerns over a recession in the US and a sudden appreciation of the Japanese yen.

Recession fears, however, quickly evolved into expectations of a reversal in the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy. If the Fed begins easing its policy, meaning lowering interest rates or injecting more money into the economy, it could create a more favorable environment for Bitcoin (BTC), as a looser monetary policy generally encourages more risk-taking and investment in assets like cryptocurrencies.

Read more

SEC Chief: Bitcoin Clear but 15,000 Crypto Tokens Face Uncertain Fate

Crypto dominates biggest 2024 ETF launches: The ETF Store

Crypto exchange-traded funds make up 13 of the top 25 fund launches, the investment adviser said.

Cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs) accounted for 13 of the 25 largest ETF launches in 2024 by year-to-date inflows, according to a post on the X platform by Nate Geraci, president of The ETF Store, an investment adviser specializing in ETFs. 

Of the approximately 400 new ETFs launched in 2024, the four biggest launches by inflows have all been spot Bitcoin (BTC) ETFs, Geraci said. 

BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) tops the charts, with almost $21 billion in inflows to date. It is followed by Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC), with nearly $10 billion in net inflows, and ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB) and Bitwise Bitcoin ETF Trust (BITB), each with roughly $2 billion in net inflows, according to the post. 

Read more

SEC Chief: Bitcoin Clear but 15,000 Crypto Tokens Face Uncertain Fate

Crypto execs plan to raise $100K for Harris at fundraiser: Report

A group of crypto industry players wants to sway Kamala Harris to soften on crypto as she maintains a slight lead in national polling over Donald Trump.

Crypto executives and industry advocate groups are reportedly planning to raise $100,000 for United States Vice President Kamala Harris in a bid to sway her toward a relaxed stance on crypto if she wins the presidency in November.

The group, which includes industry advocate body the Blockchain Foundation, is planning the fundraiser for Sept. 13 in Washington with tickets priced between $500 to $5,000, Reuters reported on Aug. 30.

The effort shows some in the industry are backing Harris over rival Donald Trump despite Harris being relatively quiet on her crypto stance compared to Trump.

Read more

SEC Chief: Bitcoin Clear but 15,000 Crypto Tokens Face Uncertain Fate

Area 51 for AI? US gov secures early access to cutting edge models

It’s unclear whether the government would be required to inform the general public in the event an AI model becomes sentient.

Artificial intelligence firms OpenAI and Anthropic recently agreed to give the US AI Safety Institute early access to any “major” new AI models developed by their respective firms. 

While the deal was purportedly signed over mutual safety concerns, it’s unclear exactly what the government’s role would be in the event of a technology breakthrough with significant safety implications. 

OpenAI CEO and cofounder Sam Altman regarded the deal as a necessary step in a recent post on the X social media platform. 

Read more

SEC Chief: Bitcoin Clear but 15,000 Crypto Tokens Face Uncertain Fate

OpenAI supports California bill on marking AI content — Report

After previously opposing another AI-related bill, SB 1047, OpenAI has expressed support for AB 3211, which would require watermarks on AI-generated content.

The artificial intelligence startup OpenAI, which is behind the ChatGPT chatbot, reportedly supports a new bill that proposes labeling content generated with AI.

OpenAI chief strategy officer Jason Kwon has expressed support for the bill AB 3211, which would require watermarks in the metadata of AI-generated photos, videos and audio clips, Reuters reported on Aug. 26.

According to the source, Kwon believes that marking AI-made material will help users differentiate such content from human-made content. The report noted that the enforcement of the bill would particularly be helpful amid growing misinformation about political candidates.

Read more

SEC Chief: Bitcoin Clear but 15,000 Crypto Tokens Face Uncertain Fate

US lawmaker reports AERO, GRT and VELO investments in 2024

Georgia Representative Mike Collins previously disclosed purchasing up to $65,000 in ETH, but seems to have moved onto altcoin investments.

Mike Collins, who has represented Georgia’s 10th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives since 2023, disclosed three altcoin investments while in Congress. 

In financial disclosure reports filed with the House of Representatives from July to August, Representative Collins revealed purchases of up to $15,000 in Velodrome (VELO), up to $15,000 in The Graph (GRT), and up to $115,000 in Aerodrome Finance (AERO). The same disclosures showed the US lawmaker partially sold his AERO holdings on Aug. 4 before making another purchase between $15,001 and $50,000 on Aug. 5. 

Rep. Mike Collins’ financial disclosures. Source: Clerk, US House of Representatives.

Read more

SEC Chief: Bitcoin Clear but 15,000 Crypto Tokens Face Uncertain Fate

Abra settles with SEC over unregistered securities charges

The SEC announced securities charges against the lending platform over its Abra Earn service but also said the firm had settled with pending civil penalties and an injunction.

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission announced that cryptocurrency platform Abra had agreed to a settlement over allegations the firm did not register the offers and sales of its lending product.

In an Aug. 26 notice, the regulator said Plutus Lending, doing business as Abra, “without admitting or denying the SEC’s allegations,” had agreed to pay civil penalties to be determined by a court and an injunction prohibiting the firm from violating securities laws. The SEC filed charges against the lending platform for failing to register the offers and sales of Abra Earn and operating as an unregistered investment company.

“Abra allegedly sold its own securities while skirting applicable Investment Company Act provisions that provide a number of important protections to investors, including minimizing conflicts of interest,” said SEC Enforcement Associate Director Stacy Bogert. “This matter reflects yet again, that in conducting enforcement investigations, we are governed by economic realities, not cosmetic labels.”

Read more

SEC Chief: Bitcoin Clear but 15,000 Crypto Tokens Face Uncertain Fate

Kamala Harris campaign may focus on highlighting innovation over crypto

Many in the industry don’t expect the Vice President to mention digital assets at the DNC, but her views on technology and regulation could signal a shift from Biden-era policies.

On Aug. 21, reports broke that an aide to Kamala Harris’ campaign said the Democratic nominee would “support policies that ensure that emerging technologies and that sort of industry can continue to grow,” referring to the crypto industry. 

Though seemingly light on substantive policy, the reported move could signal a shift from the Harris campaign, which has previously stayed silent on digital assets. The aide who spoke to Bloomberg at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) was Brian Nelson, who left his position as the Department of the Treasury’s Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence to join the campaign. 

Though the comments did not come directly from Vice President Harris, many advocates took to social media to speculate whether the statement could suggest her campaign — 31 days old as of Aug. 21 — would be more proactive in addressing concerns related to crypto and blockchain before the November election. Though Republican nominee Donald Trump previously called Bitcoin (BTC) a “scam” and “based on thin air,” in 2024, he moved to personally claim he would defend BTC miners, denounce central bank digital currencies, and spoke at the Bitcoin 2024 conference.

Read more

SEC Chief: Bitcoin Clear but 15,000 Crypto Tokens Face Uncertain Fate

Harris aide suggests VP will ‘support policies’ for crypto industry growth

The Democratic presidential candidate has been largely silent on digital assets since launching her campaign on July 21.

An aide to Kamala Harris has reportedly said the Democratic presidential nominee will support policies favoring the digital asset industry if she wins the November election.

According to an Aug. 21 Bloomberg report, Harris senior campaign adviser Brian Nelson said the Democratic candidate would “support policies that ensure that emerging technologies and that sort of industry can continue to grow” in response to questions on engaging the crypto community. Nelson added that the industry needed “rules of the road” following the collapse of some firms, hinting at the cryptocurrency exchange FTX.

The comments from the Harris aide came during a roundtable event at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. At the event, the Vice President will officially accept her party’s nomination for president in 2024 after Joe Biden’s departure. 

Read more

SEC Chief: Bitcoin Clear but 15,000 Crypto Tokens Face Uncertain Fate