Market Insights

October Regulator Roundup 2018

Last month the Copper team tracked 99 updates to the regulatory landscape. Some are evolving stories, like the growing prevelance of self-regulatory bodies. Others, like the FCA’s promise of greater clarity, are fresh of the press.

Copper

01.11.2018

Aggressive moves from regional regulators to entice crytpo businesses makes for an increasingly busy and incomprehensible space. Add to the mix self-regulatory bodies and it's a wonder anything at all is progressing.  But progressing we are, and with promises from the FCA that there will be more clarity on their position by the end of the year.

Jump to Europe

Jump to Americas

Jump to Middle East & North Africa

Jump to South Asia

Jump to East Asia & the Pacific

Jump to the Caribbean

Jump to Africa

 

Europe

EU

European Securities and Markets Authority budgets 1.1m EUR to study crypto assets. Read more

European Securities and Markets Authority studying ICOs on case by case basis. Read more

Albania

Legislators drafting cryptocurrency-friendly laws ‘to become regional hub’. Read more

Belgium

Financial Services and Markets Authority blacklists 21 crypto trading websites. Read more

South Korean subsidiary NXMH buys Bitstamp exchange in all-cash deal. Read more

France

Global financial watchdog to create cryptocurrency, ICO standards by June 2019. Read more

Gibraltar

UK’s Coinfloor exchange becomes first to win country’s trading licence. Read more

Germany

Central bank and Deutsche Börse complete securities settlements on blockchain. Read more

Ireland

Coinbase opens Dublin office as hard Brexit looms. Read more

Italy

14 banks complete interbank payments on R3’s Corda blockchain. Read more

Russia

State Duma plans to adopt nine digital economy laws by end of 2018. Read more

Cryptocurrrency ‘fever’ on the wane, says central bank head. Read more

Lawmakers remove definitions of cryptocurrency, mining from digital assets bill. Read more

Mining giant Norisk Nickel plans metals-backed stablecoin for 2019. Read more

Rosfinmonitoring watchdog asks for official reporting on cryptocurrency transactions over 600,000 roubles. Read more

Financial regulator calls for global rules on crypto exchanges. Read more

Spain

Ministry of Finance closes legal loophole, all citizens must now declare crypto assets. Read more

Sweden

Riksbank central bank accelerating e-krona as cash payments fall away. Read more

Malta

Cryptocurrency ‘inevitable future of money’, says PM Muscat at United Nations. Read more

Malta Financial Services Authority drafting laws to patch vulnerabilities in cryptocurrency industry. Read more

Zebpay exchange renamed Awlencan, moves to Malta after hostility from Indian central bank. Read more

Switzerland

FINMA regulator gives crypto funds greenlight to sell blockchain-based assets to institutions. Read more

Smart Valor working on first Franc-backed stablecoin. Read more

UK

London Block Exchange launches GBP-pegged stablecoin. Read more

Ofcom telecoms regulator gets £700,000 for blockchain telephone numbers project. Read more

Cryptocurrency laws may take two years to draft, admit legal experts. Read more

Barclays cryptocurrency project ‘put on ice’. Read more

Financial Conduct Authortiy announces intention to clarify position on cryptocurrency derivatives by end of 2018. Read more

Treasury Select Committee member Stephen Hammond MP joins IronX exchange in advsory role. Read more

Government blocks Royal Mint from issuing gold token, trading on cryptocurrency exchanges. Read more

Regulation could backfire and break crypto market, MPs warned. Read more

UK Cryptoassets Taskforce says crypto tax guidance will be updated in 2019. Read more

Government considering ban on selling cryptocurrency futures. Read more

Ukraine

Legislator proposes 10-year tax holiday for cryptocurrency traders, miners. Read more

Cryptocurrencies will be legalised in 2019, policy developed on crypto assets by 2021. Read more

 

Americas

Argentina

Cryptocurrency ATMs open to exploit peso volatility. Read more

Brazil

Securities regulator Comissão de Valores Mobiliários gives investment funds right to buy crypto assets. Read more

Banks can close cryptocurrency accounts without prior notification in landmark ruling. Read more

Canada

Supreme Court of British Columbia rules firm can chase 530ETH sent to wrong wallet address. Read more

Bank of Canada blockchain trial successfully clears stocks settlements. Read more

Marshall Islands

SEC shuts down 1Broker exchange. Read more

United States

Wyoming state senators push forward with bank to fund crypto companies. Read more

CFTC chairman: Bitcoin could be main currency in unstable economies. Read more

Federal Election Commission reviewing requests to mine cryptocurrency for political campaigns. Read more

SEC sets November 5 deadline to review nine rejected Bitcoin ETFs. Read more

Poloniex exchange pulls margin trading for US customers. Read more

Fidelity launches trading platform for Bitcoin and Ethereum. Read more

CFTC: Smart contract developers ‘liable under law’ for how dApps used. Read more

SEC fintech ‘Finhub’ launches to help startups navigate ICO rules. Read more

New York state regulators give Coinbase right to offer crypto custody. Read more

Coinbase USDC stablecoin launches. Read more

IRS urged to clear up cryptocurrency transactions rules. Read more

California court drops insider trading case against Coinbase Bitcoin Cash listing. Read more

New SEC head: Accurate valuations key for Bitcoin ETF approval. Read more

Venezuela

National Petro cryptocurrency is ‘blatant cut and paste of Dash’, claim researchers. Read more

Public sale of Petro to begin on 5 November. Read more

Citizens now forced to pay passport fees in Petro. Read more

Fiat currency Bolivar facing inflation of 1.4 million percent, IMF report finds. Read more

 

Middle East & North Africa

Israel

Israel Securities Regulator adds blockchain system for secure messaging. Read more

UAE

Emirates Securities and Commodities Authority planning ICO regulations for Q2 2019. Read more

 

South Asia

India

Reserve Bank of India denies creating ‘official blockchain research unit'. Read more

Securities and Exchange Board of India cites ‘confidentiality’ in not answering 68 legal position questions on cryptocurrency. Read more

Internet and Mobile Association of India forms Blockchain Unit. Read more

Economic Affairs committee preparing to illegalise unregulated cryptoassets. Read more

Authorities shut down country’s first Bitcoin ATM, arrest co-founder. Read more

Indian Supreme Court asks Reserve Bank of India to explain why it effectively banned cryptocurrencies without a formal ban. Read more

Hitachi partners State Bank of India in digital payments model. Read more

Maldives

Central bank denies issuing permits for crypto transactions. Read more

 

East Asia & the Pacific

Australia

Disability insurance payments being trialled on blockchain. Read more

Australian Stock Exchange to roll out blockchain settlements in 2021. Read more

China

Ethereum protected under property laws, Shanghai court rules. Read more

Alibaba seeks blockchain patent with ‘administrator override’. Read more

December 2018 will see blockchain technical standards for privacy, smart contracts, deposits. Read more

People’s Bank of China recruiting cryptography experts for own digital currency. Read more

Blockchain startups must store user data, use real names, rules internet regulator. Read more

Civil court rules Bitcoin protected as property under existing laws. Read more

Merchants can accept Bitcoin for payments after Shenzen International Court ruling. Read more

Hong Kong

Total ban on crypto exchanges unnecessary, says regulator. Read more

Hong Kong Stock Exchange puts forward first framework for regulating cryptocurrencies. Read more

Japan

Tech giant GMO Internet to launch yen-pegged stablecoin. Read more

Cryptocurrency taxation to be heavily simplified in legal overhaul. Read more

No plans for Bank of Japan cryptocurrency, says Deputy Governor. Read more

Cryptocurrency industry can self-regulate, Financial Services Agency agrees. Read more

Financial Services Agency mulls leverage caps on cryptocurrency margin trading. Read more

Phillipines

9 crypto trading firms win offshore licences in Cagayan Economic Zone Authority. Read more

Singapore

Monetary Authority of Singapore pledges to bridge bank account gap for cryptocurrency firms. Read more

Financial Services Agency regulator says stablecoins are not cryptocurrencies. Read more

South Korea

Chair of National Policy Committee urges government to legalise ICOs. Read more

Government rejects giving crypto exchanges same status as gambling industry - corporate and income taxes to double. Read more

Financial Services Commission doubles down on ICO ban. Read more

Taiwan

Financial Supervisory Commission regulator preparing ICO laws. Read more

Thailand

Securities and Exchange Commission warns public over unregistered ICOs. Read more

New Zealand

Financial Markets Authority positive on cryptocurrencies in year-end report. Read more

 

Caribbean

Bermuda

Premier David Burt pledges to solve cryptocurrency banking crisis. Read more

 

Africa

Kenya

Blockchain taskforce head urges central bank to tokenise entire economy. Read more

Tanzania

Government invites academics to develop ‘blockchain-friendly’ regulatory framework. Read more

Uganda

Binance now accepts deposits in Ugandan Shilling. Read more

Zambia

Central bank declares Bitcoin is not legal tender. Read more

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