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Trump Vs Biden Election Outcome Unlikely To Deter Bipartisan Support For Crypto

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In a recent interview, the CEOs of the Blockchain Association and the Crypto Council for Innovation shared their insights on crypto regulation after the Trump vs. Biden election outcome. Kristen Smith, CEO of the Blockchain Association, and Sheila Warren, CEO of the Crypto Council for Innovation, both attended a significant roundtable discussion led by Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna.

The meeting, held across the street from the White House, saw the participation of several industry leaders and members of the Biden administration. It aimed to bridge the gap between crypto advocates and federal regulators. Smith highlighted the productive nature of the meeting, acknowledging Congressman Khanna’s efforts in organizing the event. “It was a really productive meeting,” she said.

Smith added, “For a long time, the crypto industry has felt like they haven’t been treated fairly by the Biden Administration, and I think this was a really important step towards increasing the dialogue between the agencies and us. We’re really excited to be a part of the discussion.”

Will Trump Vs. Biden Election Result Impact Crypto?

Moreover, recent political developments indicate a growing bipartisan interest in crypto. The Republican Party’s newly adopted policy platform explicitly supports crypto innovation. In addition, former President Donald Trump recently announced that he’ll speak at Bitcoin 2024 Conference.

This stance is resonating with voters, as Smith noted: “There was a poll from about two months ago that said one in five swing state voters considers cryptocurrency an important issue in the upcoming election. Of the Republican voters who were not planning to vote for Donald Trump, 33% are considering doing so because of his new pro-crypto stance.”

In addition, she noted that remarkable bipartisan support was noted for the FIT21 Act and SAB 121 revocation bill. Hence, Smith believes that the Trump vs. Biden election result won’t hinted the support garnered. She remarked, “We should have fairly strong bipartisan support in the House and the Senate and the White House regardless of which party is in charge.”

Furthermore, Warren echoed Smith’s sentiments on the increasing bipartisan support for crypto. Additionally, she emphasized the technology’s global nature and the need for the U.S. to keep pace with other nations. “This is a global technology. Other countries have not waited for the United States to act,” she said. “It’s about really architecting an internet for everybody.”

Both CEOs stressed that the interest in cryptocurrency transcends party lines. “Crypto tech is nonpartisan,” Smith asserted. “The issues and values of crypto align very well with those of the Democratic Party. It’s a very democratizing technology.” She also pointed out that despite the vocal anti-crypto stance of figures like Senator Elizabeth Warren and SEC Chair Gary Gensler, there is substantial support for crypto within the Democratic ranks.

Also Read: SEC SAB 121 Stands as House Upholds Presidential Veto

Insights Into The Roundtable Discussion

The roundtable discussion revealed key areas where the industry seeks progress. The points in highlight were market structure and stablecoin regulation. Moreover, Smith pointed out the promising legislative discussions around market structure.

She said, “The House’s version of this market structure legislation, FIT 21, was passed with overwhelming bipartisan support earlier this spring. The ball is now in the Senate’s court.” She also emphasized the importance of stablecoin regulation, noting the bipartisan interest in creating a regulatory framework for this sector.

Additionally, the Crypto Council CEO highlighted the industry’s challenges with regulatory clarity and the SEC’s aggressive stance under Gary Gensler‘s leadership. “It’s not just the lack of regulatory clarity that the industry has been talking about for many years now, which really hasn’t been changed or fixed,” she said.

Warren added, “It’s what that lack of clarity and the lack of congressional action has actually led to – namely, regulation by enforcement by the SEC.” Despite these challenges, both CEOs remain optimistic about the future of crypto regulation in the U.S.

The Crypto Council CEO noted the increasing interest from lawmakers outside the core committees of jurisdiction, which she views as forward progress. She stated, “We’re seeing folks in other committees of jurisdiction expressing a lot of interest. I think that’s forward progress and movement that we’re happy to see.”

Furthermore, the meeting also underscored the nonpartisan nature of the technology, with both sides expressing openness and eagerness to learn more. Warren was pleased with the tone of the discussion. She said, “I was really pleased tonally with how it went on both sides. I felt that it was a very productive and constructive conversation.”

Also Read: 5 Things To Know About Upcoming SAB 121 Bill Vote

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Kritika boasts over 2 years of experience in the financial news sector. Currently working as a crypto journalist at Coingape, she has consistently shown a knack for blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies. Kritika combines insightful analysis with a deep understanding of market trends. With a keen interest in technical analysis, she brings a nuanced perspective to her reporting, exploring the intersection of finance, technology, and emerging trends in the crypto space.

The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.





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CFTC Appeals Decision Favoring Kalshi On Election Betting Contracts

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The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is challenging a recent court decision that would allow prediction market platform Kalshi to offer contracts related to U.S. election outcomes. The ongoing legal battle has raised concerns about the integrity of election betting and the extent of the CFTC’s regulatory authority.

Court Hearing Pits CFTC Against Kalshi

At a hearing before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, CFTC General Counsel Rob Schwartz and Kalshi’s counsel Yaakov Roth argued as to why the firm should be allowed to operate political prediction markets. The hearing was held after a district court decision that said the CFTC cannot stop it from offering contracts based on which party will control both the houses of the Congress.

Soon after the decision, the CFTC went for an application for a temporary stay which was granted by the appeals court.

The three judges, Patricia Millett, Cornelia Pillard and Florence Pan, challenged both the arguments and appeared rather skeptical of the reasoning provided. The judges questioned the CFTC about its view on the Commodity Exchange Act, as well as the consequences of permitting the opportunity to place a bet on the electoral outcome.

Concerns Over Market Manipulation and Election Integrity

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s concerns included threats to market integrity and manipulation of election-related prediction markets. Schwartz pointed out that the political prediction markets are more susceptible to false information and manipulation as compared to other event markets.

He stated that permitting these contracts could lead to misperceptions among the public and thus erode the already weak confidence in the U. S. elections, particularly during a time when more citizens doubt the validity of the electoral system.

Schwartz also noted that while traditional futures contracts are based on factual and accurate information, political markets could be skewed by fake polls, fake news, and other agenda-driven media. He noted that the CFTC cannot adequately monitor these underlying events and therefore it remains challenging to promote fairness and transparency in the markets.

Kalshi Defends Market Viability and Regulatory Compliance

Kalshi’s attorney, Yaakov Roth, pushed back against the concerns surrounding Kalshi’s compliance measures, noting that regulated prediction markets are more transparent and provide more oversight than less regulated foreign platforms. Roth argued that markets that are supported by a robust and comprehensive legal regime are less likely to be manipulated than the unregulated foreign markets that Kalshi seeks to compete with, while operating in a regulated environment.

According to Roth, the firm has also incorporated ‘Know Your Customer’ measures to ascertain that only approved market players transact and recommended that there should be a local regulated market to overcome the dependency on overseas markets with less transparency. He maintained that permitting these regulated prediction markets would offer better protection to the participants and minimize the chances of distortion by foreign elements.

Hence, in the upcoming 2024 U. S. elections, the appeals court is expected to make a ruling as soon as possible. The CFTC has been working on a regulation that is likely to prohibit the trading on political events as the commission says that such contracts are detrimental to the public interest. Legal experts have argued that the courts or the legislature may have to step in and offer guidance on the future of election-related prediction markets.

CFTC Chairperson Rostin Behnam has also expressed concerns over the likelihood of the financial regulator being involved in election contracts, saying that such actions may be outside the scope of the agency.

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Kelvin is a distinguished writer with expertise in crypto and finance, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Actuarial Science. Known for his incisive analysis and insightful content, he possesses a strong command of English and excels in conducting thorough research and delivering timely cryptocurrency market updates.

Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.





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Coinbase CLO Debunks SEC Crypto Asset Security Claims Before Gensler Hearing

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Coinbase CLO Paul Grewal and Ripple CLO have challenged the SEC’s terminology of “crypto asset security,” a term increasingly used by the regulatory agency. His criticism comes at a time when the SEC is under pressure for coming up with this term yet there is no law in the United States that supports it.

The issue has gained much attention especially given that the SEC Chair, Gary Gensler and all the five SEC Commissioners are expected to appear before the House Financial Services Committee in a hearing.

Coinbase CLO Questions SEC’s Use of “Crypto Asset Security” 

Grewal posted on X to comment that the term “crypto asset security” is not uniform or well-established in the SEC enforcement measures. The Coinbase CLO also noted that the SEC has been inconsistent in its treatment of tokens as securities and as investment contracts in different legal contexts.

Such allegations come as Rep. Ritchie Torres, a New York Congressman, has made similar concerns earlier this month during a congressional hearing and challenged the SEC’sterminology.

The term ‘digital asset security’ or ‘crypto asset security’ is also not found in any law, regulation or Supreme Court judgement which adds to the criticism from the proponents of blockchain and lawmakers. Some of the legal scholars have also opined that the SEC made up the term without any statutory backing, including Daniel Gallagher, the Chief Legal Officer at Robinhood.

Ripple’s Legal Officer Joins the Criticism

Ripple CLO, Stuart Alderoty, also shared similar sentiments with the Coinbase CLO, saying that the SEC is taking advantage of the terminology used in the court. Alderoty noted that the SEC’s continued reference to “crypto asset security” in legal documents has begun to raise pushback.

For instance, the SEC recently apologized for using the term in the complaint against Binance, acknowledging that its use was misleading.

This critique comes at a time when Ripple is still in a legal tussle with the SEC over the status of XRP as a security. Alderoty argued that the SEC’s inconsistencies are eroding its capability to be convincing in the courts.

SEC Under Scrutiny Ahead of Congressional Testimony

Next week, all five SEC Commissioners, including Chair Gary Gensler, will testify before the House Financial Services Committee, which is the first time since 2019 when the whole commission will stand before Congress. This hearing comes in the backdrop of a growing sentiment among legislators and industry participants who have accused the SEC of having a hostile approach towards blockchain technology.

Some of the key concerns have been expressed by House Majority Whip Tom Emmer and Chairman Patrick McHenry regarding the SEC’s stance on regulating crypto airdrops that they consider crucial for decentralizing blockchain networks. Some of them directly accused the agency of brushing up the issues asserting that its regulation model inaptly fits the growing digital asset sector.

Apart from Coinbase CLO and Ripple CLO challenging the legal direction of the SEC, Gensler faces the probe over allegations of Illegal hiring at the company. This probe may complicate his upcoming hearings before the House Financial Services Committee where he is likely to face questions not only about the SEC’s stance to digital assets but also concerning the agency’s management.

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Kelvin is a distinguished writer with expertise in crypto and finance, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Actuarial Science. Known for his incisive analysis and insightful content, he possesses a strong command of English and excels in conducting thorough research and delivering timely cryptocurrency market updates.

Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.





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Texas Court Dismisses Consensys Suit Against SEC on Procedural Basis

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The United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas dismissed Consensys Software Inc.‘s case against the Securities and Exchange Commission. This was after a long legal battle to determine the status of Ethereum and other similar software products.

Texas Court Ends Consensys Suit Against SEC

The U.S. District Court in Fort Worth has thrown out the allegations made by Consensys against the Securities and Exchange Commission in a recent legal move. The court, presided over by Judge Reed O’Connor, ruled on procedural grounds. The judge determined the claims concerning Ethereum classification and the regulatory approach to MetaMask were not ripe for judicial review. This decision effectively puts an end to the current litigation initiated by Consensys in April of this year.

The dismissal focused particularly on the lack of final agency action from the SEC, which the court noted was a requisite for a substantial legal challenge. This procedural dismissal indicates that despite the issues raised, the court decided not to proceed with evaluating the merits of the case.

Legal Battle Over Ethereum and MetaMask

Initially, Consensys challenged the SEC’s classification of Ethereum and its derivatives as securities. The complaint highlighted concerns over the SEC’s focus on MetaMask, a software service provided by Consensys that facilitates crypto transactions and staking. 

Despite an earlier notification in June about the SEC dropping its investigation into Ethereum, the broader implications of this regulatory scrutiny remained a contentious issue.

Subsequent to the initial lawsuit, the SEC initiated a separate enforcement action in June, accusing Consensys of operating its MetaMask swaps service without proper registration. 

In addition, according to Judge O’Connor, this case lacked the necessary finality from the Securities and Exchange Commission side to be considered ready for court adjudication.

Reactions and Future Regulatory Steps

The court’s decision to dismiss on procedural grounds does not conclude the legal issues surrounding the regulation of Ethereum and other blockchain technologies. 

More so, Consensys has expressed its intention to continue advocating for blockchain developers and to challenge the SEC’s actions in other jurisdictions, indicating that the struggle over crypto regulation in the U.S. is far from over. The case’s dismissal in Texas does not preclude the blockchain company from pursuing other legal avenues to address their grievances.

In addition, most recently, a US Bankruptcy judge Brendan Shannon approved Terraform Labs plan to liquidate its assets following an ongoing SEC lawsuit.

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Ronny Mugendi is a seasoned crypto journalist with four years of professional experience, having contributed significantly to various media outlets on cryptocurrency trends and technologies. His work includes notable contributions to Cryptopolitan and Coingape News Media, where he shares his insights on the latest developments in the cryptocurrency market. Outside of his journalism career, Ronny enjoys the thrill of bike riding, exploring new trails and landscapes.

Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.





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