The European Parliament voted strongly in favor of regulations, which would deter cryptocurrency-based money laundering and terrorism financing.
<h1>European Parliament Votes for Increased Cryptocurrency Regulation</h1>
<h1>Tezos Co-Founder Arthur Breitman Penalized By FINRA</h1>
In the latest setback to befall the Tezos project, co-founder Arthur Breitman has been sanctioned by FINRA. Breitman is barred from contact with broker-dealers for two years and has been fined $20,000.
<h1>Riot Blockchain Subpoenaed By SEC Amidst Plans To Launch Exchange</h1>
In its 10-K filing, Riot Blockchain shared that the company was recently subpoenaed by the SEC. Despite a myriad of concerns, the Nasdaq-listed company claims to be pushing forward with plans to expand its bitcoin mining operation and to possibly launch a cryptocurrency exchange.
<h1>President Trump To Nominate Dan Berkovitz For Democratic CFTC Commissioner Position</h1>
The president intends to nominate Dan Berkovitz as a commissioner of the CFTC, according to a statement released by the White House on Monday. During the Obama administration, Berkovitz served as the agency’s general counsel from 2009 until 2013.
<h1>Coin Drop Markets CEO Gives Up Defense In Critical CFTC Cryptocurrency Case</h1>
On Wednesday, Patrick McDonnell threw in the towel in his defense against the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
<h1>Tennessee Bill Blocking Certain Crypto Investments Takes U-Turn On Way To Governor’s Desk</h1>
A Tennessee bill that initially sought to restrict the state government’s post-employment funds from being invested in cryptocurrency was amended to remove any mention of cryptocurrency before being signed into law.
<h1>Vietnam PM Calls For More Gov’t ‘Management’ Of Cryptocurrency Following Scam ICOs</h1>
After about 32,000 investors allegedly lost the equivalent of $658 million in two Vietnamese ICO scams, the country’s prime minister called for the proposal of ICO and cryptocurrency regulations.
<h1>J.P. Morgan Hit With Lawsuit Over Cash Advance Fees Related To Cryptocurrency Purchases</h1>
On Tuesday, a Chase credit card customer filed a lawsuit against the company for unexpectedly charging his cryptocurrency investments as high-interest cash advances rather than normal purchases, a possible violation of the federal Truth in Lending Act.
<h1>Alibabacoin Foundation Denies Trademark Infringement</h1>
Alibabacoin (ABBC) Foundation filed a response to Alibaba Group’s complaint, refuting any intentional breach of rights.
<h1>Class Action Suit Against Nano Core Devs Calls For Hard Fork</h1>
XRB investors have sued Nano, the rebranded firm that issued those tokens, and requested that the company be ordered to execute a hard fork in order to restore stolen funds.
<h1>NJ Bill Would Prohibit Certain Uses Of Customer Funds By Cryptocurrency Firms</h1>
A proposed law in New Jersey would make it illegal for firms holding cryptocurrency on the behalf of clients to lend out tokens in its custody.
<h1>Alibaba Sues ICO Firm For Trademark Infringement</h1>
On Monday, Alibaba filed a trademark lawsuit against Alibabacoin Foundation, an unrelated company that seems to have raised $3.5 million through an initial coin offering.
<h1>AUSTRAC Publishes New Rules For Australian Digital Currency Exchanges</h1>
Australia’s financial intelligence agency published new regulatory stipulations today for digital currency exchanges operating within the island nation.
<h1>Reconciling Blockchain Technology With Europe’s GDPR</h1>
Over twenty years of evolving data privacy legislation from across Europe has culminated in a restructuring of individual data privacy rights for the entire European Union. The sweeping new regulations may seem to be at odds with how blockchain technology functions, but they might actually be the catalyst needed to spur mass adoption.
<h1>$1.3 Trillion Spending Bill Contains Last-Minute Data Privacy Legislation, CLOUD Act</h1>
The CLOUD Act was, for all intents and purposes, smuggled into the 2232-page US omnibus spending bill that was passed on Friday. Stipulations will drastically change internet privacy laws.
<h1>Tennessee Establishes Legal Authority Of Blockchain Technology, Smart Contracts</h1>
On Thursday, Tennessee became the latest state to create a legal foundation for the usage of blockchain technology and “smart contracts.”
<h1>American Bar Association Offers IRS Guidance On Rules Around Forked Tokens</h1>
The American Bar Association has recommended that the IRS offer taxpayers temporary safe harbor regarding cryptocurrency that they acquired as the result of a hard fork. It has also begun to explore the possible implications that such tokens might have during future tax seasons.
<h1>Cryptocurrency And ICO Laws Submitted To Russian Legislature</h1>
Two bills relating to cryptocurrencies and ICOs have been submitted to the lower house of Russia’s legislature, the State Duma. The development comes after the country’s Ministry of Finance and central bank reportedly reached a consensus on the topic of whether digital asset trading should be allowed in general, or only in the context of ICOs.
<h1>US Treasury Could Add Cryptocurrency Wallet Addresses To Sanctions List</h1>
The Treasury has laid the groundwork to add specific wallet address to its SDN List, but the efficacy of the department’s approach is questionable.
<h1>CFTC Gives Notice Of Supplemental Authority Related To Virtual Currency</h1>
Just two days after being granted a preliminary injunction in its case against Patrick McDonnell and Coin Drop Markets, the CFTC used that ruling to give notice of supplemental authority in another cryptocurrency-related case.
