Some regulators are starting to look at the bigger picture, particularly where it comes to cross-jurisdictional activities such as trade settlement.  This is great to see, but begs the question whether local regulators can keep up with global changes.Jump to Global

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Global

UN Security Council discovers North Korea’s $670m cryptocurrency, forex theft. More →

Basel Committee on Banking Supervision says banks must report crypto exposure, hire cryptocurrency risk experts. More →

Cryptocurrencies cannot replace ‘real’ money, claims IMF. More →

General Manager of Bank for International Settlements blasts token-based Central Bank Digital Currencies in Dublin speech. More →

Gustuff Android Trojan targets 100+ banks and 32 cryptocurrency exchanges. More →

Europe

EU

European Commission demands new standards on blockchain interoperability. More →

P2P exchange LocalBitcoins takes on EU anti-anonymity rules. More →

Andorra

Autoritat Financera Andorrana issues warning over 20 crypto investment sites suspected of fraud. More →

Finland

LocalBitcoins to be overseen by Financial Supervisory Authority. More →

France

Carrefour supermarket giant debuts QR codes, blockchain to trace milk. More →

National Assembly debates ban on privacy coins. More →

Germany

Justice and Finance Ministry propose blockchain register to regulate financial instruments. More →

Federal migration office publishes blockchain proof-of-concept to improve asylum process. More →

Gibraltar

Crypto options exchange Quedex next in line for Financial Services Commission license. More →

Ireland

Citibank scraps plans for in-house stablecoin. More →

Italy

CONSOB securities regulator to launch regulatory sandbox, licences for cryptocurrency and blockchain businesses. More →

Malta

‘Blockchain Island’ under threat as cryptocurrency firms struggle to get bank accounts. More →

Malta Financial Services Authority appoints Ciphertrace for due diligence on crypto-asset firms. More → 

Report: Binance preparing to offer margin trades as regulators crack down. More →

Netherlands

Royal Dutch Shell ramps up search for blockchain analysts for oil and gas division. More →

Russia

Duma Committee on Financial Markets to require ID for cryptocurrency trading. More →

Duma defers cryptocurrency bill until April. More →

World’s largest palladium producer to launch crypto token for metals trading. More →

Russia’s Facebook challenger Vkontakte preparing cryptocurrency for likes. More →

Spain

Securities regulator clarifies no ICOs have won licenses in light of ‘fake news’. More →

Sweden

Swedbank prevents cryptocurrency deposits even as CEO fired in Danske money laundering raid. More →

Switzerland

Researchers discover critical flaw in blockchain-based SwissPost e-voting. More →

Country’s largest online retailer Digitec Galaxus now accepting BTC, ETH, BSV, BCH. NEO, OMG, TRX, LTC. More →

Swiss Federal Assembly votes to apply existing laws to crypto-assets. More →

Amun debuts AETH, its fourth crypto ETP on SIX exchange. More →

FINMA regulator says Envion crypto-miner’s $90m ICO violated law. More →

Head of Federal Department of Finance says blockchain legislation must be ‘fast and clear’. More →

UK

Challenger bank Revolut launches cryptocurrency ‘auto-exchange’. More →

Only 27% of people in England can identify a cryptocurrency, Financial Conduct Authority consumer survey finds. More →

FCA warns UK investors that Bulgarian crime ring Next Coin Market is claiming to be FCA-regulated. More →

FCA asks public to educate themselves on cryptocurrencies in ‘get rich quick’ warning. More →

Trade body Global Digital Finance ramps up self-regulation with Code of Conduct. More →

UK investors lost £41k a day to crypto scams, Action Fraud says. More →

Global Co Crypto is clone of FCA-regulated firm, regulator warns. More →

Only 14% of largest exchanges globally are regulated, finds analytics firm. More →

Americas

Argentina

Government to co-invest with Binance in local blockchain projects. More →

Crypto adoption could reduce US dollar demand, says Deputy Finance Minister. More →

Brazil

Sao Paulo court orders Banco Santander to return $335,000 to cryptocurrency exchange. More →

Canada

Federal Tax Agency begins auditing cryptocurrency investors. More →

Canadian securities regulators plan cryptoasset trading rules in wake of QuadrigaCX debacle. More →

Ontario town accepts BTC for property tax payments in one-year trial. More →

Mexico

Central bank proposes regulation to ban all cryptocurrency exchanges. More →

United States

California Assembly Bill 953 proposes cannabis industry taxes can be paid in stablecoins. More →

Ex-CFTC chair calls on Congress to close crypto regulation ‘gap’ in Brookings Institute report. More →

JPMorgan, Bank of America still denying basic bank accounts to cryptocurrency companies. More →

Circle wins FINRA approval for SeedInvest takeover amid $250m investment hunt. More →

Nevada State Senate Bills attempt to clarify blockchain. More →

Big Four accounting firm EY launches crypto-asset tax calculator for institutions. More →

New York Attorney’s Office charges OneCoin with multi-billion dollar pyramid scheme. More →

Colorado approves Digital Token Act to exempt cryptocurrencies from securities legislation. More →

Texas House Bill 4371 would require ID for crypto transactions, effectively banning privacy coins. More →

US Treasury sanctions Russian bank for financing Venezuelan Petro cryptocurrency. More →

ETH is not a security, SEC Chairman confirms. More →

Nevada State Senate hears latest reading on Virtual Currency Businesses Act. More →

Congress passes FinCEN Improvement Act targeting terrorist cryptocurrency use. More →

Nasdaq-powered derivatives desk, clearinghouse to go live in H1 2019. More →

Tether refutes mounting allegations it is operating fractional reserve system. More →

Cboe exchange presses pause on new Bitcoin futures contracts. More →

SEC senior advisor for digital assets says stablecoins may be violating securities laws. More →

SEC announces second forum on cryptocurrency and blockchain. More →

Colorado lawmakers introduce blockchain agriculture Bill. More →

VISA hires technical manager for crypto payments team. More →

IBM takes on Ripple with debut of Blockchain World Wire payments. More →

Missoula County will require renewable energy proposals from new crypto-mining operations. More →

Arisebank CEO faces 120 years in jail for $4m crypto fraud. More →

Uniform Law Commission urges states to hold off on individual crypto-asset legislation. More →

CME exchange chief makes case for stablecoins, says regulators will support fiat-backed cryptocurrencies. More →

Financial Industry Regulatory Authority blacklists Colorado trader for $1.5m BTC scam. More →

Facebook hires 22 engineers, lawyers for blockchain division. More →

SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce calls for more innovation in crypto regulation. More →

FBI seizes $4.5m in cryptocurrency in darknet markets sting. More →

Pantera-backed Tagomi cryptocurrency broker wins New York BitLicense. More →

CabbageTech owner charged with $200k crypto scam. More →

Microsoft, T-Mobile join Cascadia Blockchain Council for West Coast US. More →

Universal Protocol Alliance announces plans for Euro-backed stablecoin. More →

Bakkt CEO says company ‘making solid progress’ towards BTC futures listing. More →

CFTC gets crash course in crypto from CoinCenter boss. More →

SEC advertising for new Crypto Specialist attorney to co-ordinate trading and markets. More →

SEC postpones Bitwise and VanEck ETF decisions, again. More →

Regions Financial Corporation joins banks stopping cryptocurrency deposits. More →

Venezuela

46 outlets of country’s largest retail store now take DASH at point of sale. More →

Middle East & North Africa

Iran

PwC special bulletin links SamSam ransomware hacking group to infamous WEX exchange. More →

Israel

Israel Securities Authority recommends creation of cryptocurrency trading platform with enhanced security. More →

District Court rules Union Bank cannot close cryptocurrency firms’ accounts but can refuse deposits. More →

United Arab Emirates

Gang scams Chinese businessman out of $250k in Bitcoin. More →

Investment group seeks to raise $100m in STO. More →

South Asia

India

Dehli police arrest Cashcoin ‘kingpin’ in cryptocurrency fraud crackdown. More →

Private Federal Bank partners Ripple for cross-border remittances. More →

State police shut five offices accused of running cryptocurrency scams. More →

Supreme Court postpones Reserve Bank of India’s decision on cryptocurrency legislation. More →

Coindelta exchange shuts citing India’s regulatory failings. More →

East Asia & Pacific

Australia

Australian Federal Police seize drugs, cash and crypto worth $2m in darknet bust. More →

Government pledges just $100k to blockchain development. More →

Binance launches cash-to-crypto service through 1,300 newsagents. More →

SwissPost e-vote critical flaw extends to Australian blockchain voting system. More →

China

China leads blockchain patents race despite official ban on cryptocurrency. More →

Shunwei Capital adds ‘millions of dollars’ to Coinness crypto analytics Series A round. More →

Hong Kong

Cryptocurrency miner Bitmain allows IPO application to lapse. More →

Securities and Futures Commission clarifies STOs are likely to be securities. More →

Gatecoin exchange begins liquidation after hack, security failings. More →

Japan

Former Mt Gox CEO Mark Karpeles avoids jail time in Tokyo conviction. More →

Regulators crack down on crypto-asset margin trading. More →

Japan Cryptocurrency Business Association launches ICO guidelines. More →

Current tax regime is crippling growth of cryptocurrency industry, says President of Japan Restoration Committee. More →

Cryptocurrencies top Japanese agenda at forthcoming G20 meeting. More → 

Former Mt Gox CEO to appeal data manipulation conviction. More →

Rakuten Wallet, Decurrent win FSA licenses with 140 firms waiting in wings. More →

Country’s largest railway firm lists crypto payment top-up cards. More →

TRON agrees to block Japanese IP addresses to cut access to gambling dApps. More →

Malaysia

22 crypto exchanges seeking licenses, Securities Commission reveals. More →

Securities Commission seeks feedback on ICO regulations. More →

RHB Bank rolls out digital tokens for SMEs. More →

Philippines

Crypto-specialist Cagayan Economic Zone is already at capacity, government minister says. More →

Singapore

DragonEx exchange hacked for $7m. More →

South Korea

Task Force launched to tackle 800% rise in cryptocurrency crimes. More →

High-ranking Democratic Party member proposes Bill to define blockchain, establish high-growth tech zones. More →

‘Inside job’ hack sees Bithumb exchange lose $13m in EOS. More →

Taiwan

National Development Council to form Blockchain Alliance to promote DLT adoption. More →

Thailand

Securities and Exchange Commission bans ICO investments using BCH, ETC or LTC as trading pairs. More →

SEC approves ICO Portal to verify KYC, protect investors. More →

Stock Exchange of Thailand considering foreign partners to help develop three asset-backed digital tokens. More →

Richest Thai company acquires OmiseGo parent firm for $100m+. More →

Vietnam

Country’s first licensed cryptocurrency exchange is on the way. More →

Caribbean

Bermuda

Omega One cryptocurrency brokerage wins digital asset license. More →

Omega Dark, aimed at institutions, becomes Bermuda’s first licensed cryptocurrency exchange. More →

Africa

Botswana

Country’s first Bitcoin ATM opens in capital Gaborone. More →

Ghana

110,000 crypto investors scammed out of $25m in 2018, Bank of Ghana finds. More →

Kenya

Investors lose millions to Brazil-based BTC pyramid scheme. More →