Regulation
Danish Regulator To Ban Unhosted Bitcoin (BTC) Wallets
The Danish Financial Supervisory Authority (DFSA) is working towards abolishing unhosted Bitcoin (BTC) wallets as part of its Decentralized Finance (DeFi) guidance.
Denmark Bitcoin Wallet Ban Aligns With MiCA Regulation
The regulator is concerned about the activities of unregulated platforms in the crypto space. Markedly, the DFSA emphasizes the need for all crypto platforms and service providers including interface providers and mobile app developers to be regulated.
DENMARK TO ABOUT TO BAN BITCOIN WALLETS
We have finally reached this point.
In the latest DeFi guidance of Danish FSA, the regulator goes too far: The guidance tries to capture everything in crypto regulation, including your Bitcoin wallet, using “interface” argument. DFSA says… pic.twitter.com/F7jFuLhNqC
— Mikko Ohtamaa (@moo9000) June 26, 2024
Ordinarily, the use of unregulated interfaces violates the legislation embedded in the upcoming Market in Crypto Asset (MiCA) regulatory framework. The partial implementation of the rule is only a few days away. This necessitates that all crypto ventures in the European Union are put in order before then.
As a result of Denmark’s move, no crypto exchanges or trading platforms would be able to offer Bitcoin wallets, DEX interfaces or any other crypto-related products to Danish customers anymore. The only exemption would be for them to get regulated in Denmark.
Two weeks ago, the European Banking Authority (EBA) completed the draft of the technical standards for the prudential matters as per the MiCA regulation. This involved ensuring that all the firms in the EU adhere to the high financial standards.
Some of the amendments include change in own funds requirements, changes in liquidity provisions and very strict recovery plans for the issuers of the crypto assets. Notably, the MiCA regulation affects stablecoins especially those pegged to the United States Dollar.
Will MiCA Squeeze Crypto Out of Existence?
A few market observers and key crypto players opine that these rules are rather rigid.
Mikko Ohtamaa who reported Denmark’s ban on unhosted Bitcoin wallets on X, suggested that the rules in MiCA are outlined to squeeze digital assets out of existence, a sentiment that Gary Gensler, the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) holds. The DFSA’s intention may be good, but Ohtamaa does not think “overregulation” is the right approach.
“Trying to force everyone to be a regulated intermediate in a peer-to-peer world sounds cool, but you might as well be honest with your talking points and say “In reality we want to ban all cryptocurrencies, we are just sneaky about it” because this is the outcome,” Ohtamaa, known by his affiliation with the Trading Protocol wrote on X.
Read More: Kaspa Price Analysis: Is This the Beginning of Bullish Phase for KAS?
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.
Regulation
Elizabeth Warren Wins Third Senate Term Over Crypto Ally John Deaton
Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren secured her third Senate term on Tuesday, defeating Republican candidate and cryptocurrency advocate John Deaton in Massachusetts.
CoinGape has confirmed Elizabeth Warren’s victory, which maintains her position as one of the Senate’s leading voices on financial oversight and cryptocurrency regulation. Warren, a prominent critic of the cryptocurrency industry, overcame Deaton, who campaigned with support from influential figures within the crypto sector.
Elizabeth Warren Wins Senate Term Over John Deaton
Throughout her political career, Warren has taken a firm stance against the cryptocurrency industry, citing concerns about its potential for financial crime and regulatory evasion. She has been active in pushing legislation to increase oversight on digital assets.
Notably, Warren has championed an anti-money laundering bill that seeks to extend Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) requirements, including know-your-customer (KYC) rules, to entities in the crypto space, such as miners, validators, and wallet providers. This regulatory push aims to bring the crypto industry in line with traditional financial sectors, a point she has reiterated in debates and public appearances.
During an October debate, Warren highlighted Deaton’s ties to the crypto industry, stating, “He’s saying he has really made crypto folks mad, so mad that they came here to Massachusetts and are funding 90% of his campaign to try to take back this Senate seat to take it away from me.” Subsequently, Elizabeth Warren used her opponent’s connections to the industry to emphasize her stance that crypto must follow established financial rules.
This Is A Breaking News, Please Check Back For More
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.
Regulation
US SEC Publishes Grayscale’s Digital Large Fund Cap Filing In Federal Register
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has published Grayscale’s 19b-4 filing for its Digital Large Cap Fund in the Federal Register. This significant development has officially kickstarted the US SEC’s review process for the asset manager’s application to convert this fund into an ETF.
US SEC Publishes Grayscale’s Filing In Federal Register
Grayscale announced in a press release that the US SEC has published the NYSE’s 19b-4 filing to list and trade its Digital Large Cap Fund as an Exchange-Traded Product (ETP) in the Federal Register.
This formally initiates the review process for the Commission to review and possibly approve the application. As noted in the press release, this review process can take up to 240 days before the regulator must decide whether to approve or deny the application.
If the US SEC approves the NYSE’s proposed rule change, it would be the first time a national securities exchange would list and trade shares of multi-crypto asset ETPs. The SEC’s acknowledgment of the 19b-4 filing just comes around two weeks after the asset manager filed to convert the Digital Large Cap Fund into an ETF.
According to Grayscale, as of November 1, the GDLC currently holds over $530 million in assets under management (AuM) for the fund. The fund holds Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, and Avalance, which are weighted according to their respective market caps.
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.
Regulation
Former SEC Official Criticizes Wells Notice Against Immutable
Former SEC official Marc Fagel has voiced concerns over the Securities and Exchange Commission’s recent issuance of a Wells Notice to Immutable, an Ethereum-based Web3 gaming company. Immutable claims that the Wells Notice arrived with limited prior communication or explanation, marking a sharp departure from what is typically a more extensive investigative process.
Fagel commented that it is unusual for the SEC to issue such notices without first conducting a thorough investigation, suggesting that this approach could be “risky.”
Former SEC Official Questions Rapid Wells Notice Issued to Immutable
Immutable announced it had received a sudden Wells Notice from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The notice, which serves as a formal alert for potential enforcement action, cited alleged securities law violations related to private IMX token sales in 2021. However, the specifics of these alleged violations were minimally detailed in the notice, sparking questions about the SEC’s procedural approach.
Former SEC Official Marc Fagel commented on the surprise issuance, noting that it’s uncommon for the agency to send such a notice without preliminary investigation. In typical cases, companies expect several months of interviews or exchanges before receiving a Wells Notice, and Fagel stated that deviating from this standard practice could be seen as “risky.”
In a heated discussion on the X platform, the former SEC official added,
“BTW, it’s hard to believe the SEC would Wells without conducting sufficient investigation to support the claims; way too risky outside the TRO scenario. That said, I’ve heard plenty of anecdotes about the crypto unit dropping a Wells out of the blue, which is kinda scuzzy.”
Wells Notice Reflects SEC’s “Regulation by Enforcement” Strategy
The crypto sector has witnessed similar actions, with companies such as Coinbase, Consensys, and Crypto.com also receiving Wells Notices. The sudden notice aligns with a broader trend criticized as “regulation by enforcement.” Here, the agency proceeds with legal action rather than establishing clear compliance guidelines.
Immutable pointed out that its interaction with the SEC was exceptionally brief before the Wells Notice was issued. More so, they noted that it lacked meaningful explanation, containing fewer than 20 words specifying the alleged securities violations.
The Securities and Exchange Commission approach has caused considerable frustration within the crypto community. Fagel highlighted that the SEC’s surprising strategy of issuing Wells Notices abruptly in the crypto sector has become increasingly common.
ConsenSys Responds to SEC Claims on MetaMask
In parallel, blockchain company ConsenSys recently filed a response to the SEC’s claims regarding alleged securities violations by MetaMask. ConsenSys disputed the allegations, stating that MetaMask’s product embodies essential blockchain principles. It allows users to interact in a decentralized way. The company also reinforced its commitment to defending its product and technology within the legal framework.
Notably, under SEC Chair Gary Gensler, crypto firms have reported heightened compliance burdens. Regulatory enforcement actions have cost the industry an estimated $400 million, according to the Blockchain Association. These reports aligns with what the former SEC official, Marc Fagel, terms as “scuzzy”.
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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