The Bank of Russia has backed a potential ban on cryptocurrency payments, according to a state news agency.
German Banks Allowed to Sell and Custody Crypto Assets From 2020: Report
From next year, banks in Germany will be allowed to offer the sale and storage of cryptocurrencies under new legislation.
A Third of Crypto Exchanges Have Little or No KYC, Says CipherTrace
Around one third of the top 120 exchanges are “weak” when it comes to know-your-customer (KYC) verification, while two-thirds “lack strong KYC policies,” the firm said.
ECB Official Says Digital Currency Could Be an Alternative to Cash
A digital currency could ensure that citizens remain able to use central bank money even if cash is eventually no longer used, according to Benoît Cœuré.
Swiss Government Moves to Remove Legal Barriers for Blockchain Development
The Swiss Federal Council has adopted a revised proposal to remove legal hurdles still holding up blockchain innovation, and will pass the legislation to the parliament.
Ghana May Issue Digital Currency in ‘Near Future,’ Says Central Bank Chief
Ghana is joining the ranks of nations eyeing the launch of a central bank digital currency, and is already in talks over a pilot project.
Telegram Founder Durov Should Testify in SEC Case Over Gram Token: Judge
Telegram’s founder and CEO Pavel Durov, plus two other employees, should be deposed to give testimony in the SEC case over whether the gram token is a security, a judge has ordered.
Another Crypto Exchange is Dropping Privacy Coin Monero Over Compliance Risk
BitBay exchange is the latest to delist the privacy-focused monero cryptocurrency over AML concerns.
Crypto Market’s Overreaction to Xi’s Blockchain Remark Prompts Tougher Crackdown
The market’s overreaction to President Xi’s praise of blockchain technology has prompted another crackdown, dashing hopes for a crypto-friendly China.
French Central Banker Advocates For Blockchain-Based Settlements in Europe
The central bank of France wants the eurozone to build a DLT-based settlement system that moves euros faster and more cheaply than existing tech.
25,000 Blockchain Firms in China Tried to Issue Cryptos, Senior Official Claims
Some 25,000 Chinese companies have tried to issue their own tokens over the past few years, a new report authored by five government agencies claims.
Waves and the Tricky Task of Being a Russian Crypto Brand
What if your biggest client is your biggest reputation risk?
Mnuchin’s Number Two Says Private Cryptos Pose Threat to Government Power and Will Be Watched
The deputy secretary of the U.S. Treasury has raised the specter of a not-so-distant future when private digital currencies have stripped some of the power from governments. Policymakers will take a “hard look” at that, he said.
In Wargaming Exercise, a Digital Yuan Neuters US Sanctions and North Korea Buys Nukes
What if China’s digital currency undermined U.S. dominance of global finance? Former top Washington officials gamed out the scenarios Tuesday night.
Too Early to Tell if Libra Is a Security, CFTC Chairman Says
Despite some headlines, CFTC chief Heath Tarbert didn’t actually say Libra is a security, even if it is different from commodity bitcoin.
Singapore Proposes Allowing Bitcoin, Ether Derivatives Trading on Approved Exchanges
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), the city-state’s de facto central bank, may soon allow cryptocurrency-based derivatives to be traded on regulated platforms.
Ukraine Plans to Tax Crypto Gains at Low 5% Rate (for a While, Anyway)
A draft bill setting out how crypto-related income should be taxed in Ukraine would tax gains at 5 percent for the first five years if passed.
FinCEN: Stablecoin Issuers Are Money Transmitters, No Matter What
“Just because you say you are a banana doesn’t make you a banana,” said Director Blanco.
Canada’s Einstein Exchange No Longer Has Bulk of Users’ Claimed CA$16M: Receiver
The exchange, taken over by a Canadian securities regulator two weeks ago, has just CA$45,000 in crypto and cash left.
Brooklyn ICO Promoter Sentenced to 18 Months in Federal Prison
The fraudster used diamonds and real estate to whisk away $300,000 in other people’s money in 2017.