December 2022 Regulator Roundup
100+ regulation and policy updates from December
So here we are, the last month of a highly eventful year. Read on for December's roundup of regulatory updates, which include arrests, CBDC pilots and lawsuits!
Global
17 Dec: International banking regulatory body backtracks on stablecoins. More
Europe
1 Dec: EU crypto framework under scrutiny by policymakers after FTX collapse. More
5 Dec: EU financial regulator to address off-shore crypto companies. More
6 Dec: Crypto taxes could bring in $2.5bn for the EU, leaked draft suggests. More
10 Dec: The European Parliament’s crypto ally Eva Kaili arrested on corruption allegations. More
13 Dec: European Parliament terminates Eva Kaili's term of office. More
16 Dec: FTX wants permission to sell FTX Europe. More
21 Dec: ECB outlines banks' role in CBDC projects. More
22 Dec: European Parliament's NFT push derailed by Qatargate bribery scandal. More
Albania
23 Dec: Authorities in Albania and Italy bust $16m suspected crypto investment scam. More
France
26 Dec: Binance France hit by lawsuit €2.4 million by investors accusing the exchange of violating French law. More
2 Dec: Banque de France and Banque centrale du Luxembourg conduct wholesale CBDC test. More
Italy
1 Dec: Italy to impose 26% capital gains tax on crypto profits. More
30 Dec: Italian parliament approves 26% crypto-gains tax in 2023 budget. More
Netherlands
Malta
5 Dec: Malta seeks to remove NFTs from crypto law. More
Russia
1 Dec: Russia's Sber bank integrates Metamask into its blockchain platform. More
Spain
14 Dec: The Bank of Spain explores collaborative proposals for a CBDC. More
Sweden
16 Dec: Swedish Central Bank "working to prepare for an issuable e-krona" CBDC. More
19 Dec: Crypto investment firm CoinShares debuts trading on Nasdaq Stockholm. More
Turkey
UK
6 Dec: UK finalises plans for regulation of ‘wild west’ crypto sector. More
9 Dec: UK extends crypto tax break for investment managers in financial reforms. More
9 Dec: UK gov accelerates CBDC exploration. More
14 Dec: Incoming FCA chair says crypto firms facilitate money laundering. More
23 Dec: Bank of England backs Sunak’s crypto dreams despite market meltdown. More
23 Dec: FSB ready for rapid rollout of global crypto standards. More
Ukraine
1 Dec: Ukraine pushes ahead with digital currency plans. More
Americas
Brazil
13 Dec: Brazil central bank plans to launch a CBDC in 2024. More
15 Dec: Brazilian governor outlines digital wallet and CBDC plans. More
16 Dec: Crypto.com receives license as a payment institution in Brazil. More
22 Dec: Brazilian president signs crypto bill into law. More
23 Dec: Brazil’s securities regulator allows investment funds to invest in crypto. More
Canada
13 Dec: Canada bans crypto leverage and margin trading after FTX collapse. More
13 Dec: Bank of Canada plans 2023 CBDC consultation as it moves to development. More
El Salvador
Paraguay
6 Dec: Paraguay legislature strikes down crypto mining bill. More
United States
1 Dec: SBF says he ‘never tried to commit fraud’ during an interview at The New York Times Dealbook summit. More
1 Dec: CFTC Chair changes his mindabout Ethereum being a commodity. More
2 Dec: U.S. Trustee asks bankruptcy court to appoint FTX trustee. More
2 Dec: Politicians are giving back their donations from SBF.
2 Dec: Maxine Waters thanks SBF for being 'candid' about FTX collapse. More
5 Dec: Crypto lender Nexo says it's leaving the U.S., cites regulatory 'dead end’.
5 Dec: Chinese court says NFTs are virtual property protected by law. More
6 Dec: Former CFTC Commissioner takes up Head of Policy role at a16z. More
7 Dec: Sam Bankman-Fried hires white-collar attorney who represented Ghislaine Maxwell. More
7 Dec: Crypto consumer protection, proof of reserves bills introduced into US Congress. More
8 Dec: SEC wants firms to disclose if they have crypto exposure. More
8 Dec: Senators question U.S. banking regulators on crypto exposure. More
8 Dec: US lawmakers introduce bill aimed at reporting on crypto miners' potential environmental impact. More
10 Dec: Caroline Ellison hires former SEC crypto regulator as lawyer for FTX probe. More
12 Dec: Sam Bankman-Fried says he will testify before the US House Financial Services Committee remotely. More
13 Dec: US SEC charges Sam Bankman-Fried for defrauding FTX investors. More
14 Dec: Warren, Marshall introduce bill to tighten money laundering rules for crypto. More
15 Dec: FTX used 'weird Korean account' to mask Alameda liabilities, CFTC says. More
15 Dec: New York State issues guidance for banks seeking to engage in activities with crypto. More
15 Dec: Former US president Donald Trump unveils NFT trading card collection. More
16 Dec: US Financial Stability Oversight Council urges congressional action on crypto. More
17 Dec: SEC was 'asleep at the wheel' about FTX - US Rep. Sessions. More
17 Dec: Democrats to reportedly return over $1m of SBF's funding to FTX victims. More
19 Dec: $4bn OneCoin scam co-founder pleads guilty, faces 60 years jail. More
20 Dec: FTX has over $1bn in cash, creditor meeting told. More
21 Dec: `SBF signs extradition papers, set to return to face charges in the US. More
22 Dec: SBF released on $250m bail secured by parents. More
22 Dec: Alameda's Caroline Ellison and FTX co-founder Gary Wang plead guilty to US charges. More
22 Dec: Caroline Ellison escapes potential 110-year prison term via plea deal. More
22 Dec: SEC calls FTX’s native token FTT a security. More
23 Dec: SEC general counsel Dan Berkovitz to step down. More
23 Dec: Caroline Ellison tells court she knowingly misled lenders. More
23 Dec: Judge pulls out of SBF-FTX case citing husband's law firm's advisory link. More
26 Dec: Bitcoin hash rate suffers near 40% drop amid U.S. deadly winter storm. More
27 Dec: New judge assigned in SBF fraud case. More
27 Dec: Bitcoin miner Argo Blockchain suspends Nasdaq trading pending announcement. More
27 Dec: US probes how $372m vanished in hack after FTX bankruptcy. More
28 Dec: FTX customers file class-action lawsuit to get priority reparations. More
28 Dec: Gemini sued by investors over interest-earning program. More
28 Dec: Bankman-Fried arraignment in New York set for next week. More
Caribbean
Bahamas
10 Dec: Bahamian attorneys pursue access to FTX data of international customers. More
13 Dec: Bahamas reportedly asked SBF to mint new coin after FTX collapse. More
14 Dec: SBF denied bail by Bahamas Magistrate Court judge. More
15 Dec: Top FTX group executive tipped off Bahamas authorities about comingling of funds in November. More
30 Dec: FTX debtors will seek return of crypto held by Bahamas regulator. More
Puerto Rico
28 Dec: Mango Markets exploiter arrested in Puerto Rico for alleged market manipulation. More
Middle East & North Africa
Azerbaijan
18 Dec: Binance to help Azerbaijan with crypto regulations. More
Kazakhstan
18 Dec: Kazakhstan central bank recommends a phased CBDC rollout between 2023-25. More
Israel
19 Dec: Israeli court rules authorities can seize crypto in 150 blacklisted wallets. More
South Asia
India
4 Dec: Reserve Bank of India launches country’s first retail CBDC pilot. More
21 Dec: Crypto will ignite the next financial crisis if it's not banned — just look at the FTX fiasco, India's central bank boss says. More
Pakistan
5 Dec: Pakistan launches new laws to expedite CBDC launch by 2025. More
East Asia & Pacific
Australia
6 Dec: A loophole allowed FTX to secure its Aussie license without full checks: ASIC’s Longo. More
8 Dec: Australian CBDC receives unexpected interest but could hurt banks: RBA. More
China
5 Dec: Chinese court says NFTs are virtual property protected by law. More
10 Dec: Chinese authorities break up billion-dollar crypto money laundering ring. More
Hong Kong
2 Dec: Hong Kong working on investor protection regulations, says central bank exec. More
8 Dec: Hong Kong to subject crypto exchanges to same laws governing TradFi. More
15 Dec: First Hong Kong bitcoin, ether ETFs lure nearly $75m with trading set to begin Friday. More
23 Dec: Legislator’s firm to lure 1,000 Web3 start-ups over 3 years. More
24 Dec: Police arrested two men in crypto exchange AAX-related case. More
Indonesia
1 Dec: Bank Indonesia announces CBDC plan. More
19 Dec: Binance to reportedly acquire remaining 40% stake in Indonesian exchange Tokocrypto. More
Japan
7 Dec: Japan recommends against algorithmic backing in stablecoins. More
16 Dec: FTX wants permission to sell FTX Japan. More
28 Dec: Kraken quits Japan as crypto exchange volumes slide. More
Singapore
3 Dec: Three Arrows Capital liquidators seize $35.6m from Singaporean banks, seek $30m more for 'Much Wow' superyacht. More
North Korea
23 Dec: North Korean hackers have stolen $1.2bn in crypto since 2017. More
25 Dec: Suspected North Korean hacker reportedly made $365K from 1,055 stolen NFTs. More
27 Dec: North Korean hackers are pretending to be crypto VCs in new phishing scheme. More
South Korea
7 Dec: South Korea’s central bank wants to oversee stablecoins. More
Africa
8 Dec: Ripple Labs pushes into Africa. More
21 Dec: Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya account for nearly two-thirds of Africa's crypto holders. More
Central African Republic
20 Dec: Sango Coin listing postponed by Central African Republic. More
Nigeria
8 Dec: Central Bank of Nigeria limits cash withdrawals to drive CBDC and digital payments adoption. More
19 Dec: Nigeria set to pass bill recognising Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. More
South Africa
Dec 2: South African gov to add crypto entities to 'list of accountable institutions'. More