Regulation
Former Treasury Official Criticizes FIT 21 Ahead of House Vote
The Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act (FIT 21) that seeks to legislate the digital assets industry has been criticized by Graham Steele, a former Treasury official as the House of Representatives readies for a vote.
The bill, described as a light-touch regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies, does not address Big Tech, contrary to some claims.
FIT 21 Criticized Ahead of House Vote
The FIT 21 Act has generated a lot of discussion among members of the US House of Representatives and other stakeholders as the House prepares for a crucial vote. Graham Steele, a former Treasury official who is said to be eyeing the FDIC Chair position, criticized the bill’s approach to regulating digital assets.
Steele suggests that the legislation may not effectively address the issues of today’s financial technologies. However, some supporters of the bill have not only misrepresented it as an anti-Big Tech bill but also failed to include any specific provisions within the bill to directly regulate these corporations.
This petition about the FIT 21 Act uses progressive framing, claiming that the bill fights against “Big Tech.”
FIT 21 actually creates a light-touch regulatory framework for crypto, largely outside securities laws. (It contains no prohibition on Big Tech.)
Pretty sneaky. pic.twitter.com/jXJLmTr065
— graham steele (@steelewheelz) May 21, 2024
Many digital asset organizations such as Coinbase and Kraken have endorsed the bill as a means of providing a clear legal environment. It aims at establishing what should be considered as digital assets and increasing the powers of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to cover these assets.
However, some of the senior Democrats such as House Financial Services Committee Ranking Member Maxine Waters and House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member David Scott have opposed the idea. They pointed to the fact that the bill threatens established case laws and may bring a certain level of instability in the traditional securities market.
Concerns Over Investor Protections and Overreach
The criticisms of FIT 21 are not only legal but also concern investor protection and the stability of financial markets. An internal email from the office of the Democrat Whip, leaked to Politico, stressed concern that the safe harbor provisions might allow companies to escape requirement of standard securities law, which might result in fraud and manipulation of the market.
This aspect of the legislation has led the lawmakers to arrange for a briefing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to further deliberate on the consequences.
Further, the legislation has been criticized for the possibility of preventing shareholders from taking legal action against publicly traded organizations and for anticipating state legislation regarding digital assets. Such measures could dilute fiduciary standards and erode the fundamentals of capital markets, as per the information provided by the Democrat Whip’s office.
Market Reactions and Political Dynamics
The discussion of FIT21 raises a more extensive political conversation about cryptocurrencies and digital assets in the United States economy. For instance, the CEO of Galaxy Investment Partners, Mike Novogratz, has pointed out that the Democrats’ stance on the bill might be a huge mistake.
.@Novogratz says he’s sensing a move toward crypto acceptance from Democrats.
“I’ve been trying to talk sense. I was like, ‘Guys, this could be the biggest own-goal of the last six years,’” he says. “There is no reason to make crypto, which is a technology, a political issue.” pic.twitter.com/IszhoTs2v9— Squawk Box (@SquawkCNBC) May 21, 2024
He says that regulating cryptocurrencies should not be a partisan political agenda and should not be politicized. These statements are similar to an increasing trend in the industry to push for the adoption of crypto technologies regardless of the political party involved.
Read Also: Dogecoin Price Analysis: Can DOGE Break $0.2 Resistance Before May Ends?
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 Solicitor General Paul Clement Joins Crypto Industry Fight
A week after Custodia Bank filed an appeal in the 10th Circuit Court challenging the Fed’s power to deny it a master account, former Solicitor General Paul Clement has now filed an amicus brief on behalf of the crypto industry.
Paul Clement Takes Custodia Bank vs Fed Fight Ahead
As said, in the recent Custodia Bank vs. Fed case, Paul Clement filed an Amicus brief on Wednesday, July 3, while supporting the crypto industry. Clement has gained popularity in his recent success in overturning the Chevron Defence in the Supreme Court case in the Supreme Court case involving Loper Bright fishermen.
Also Read: US SEC Takes Major Blow In Chevron Howey Test Case, Implication For Crypto
In this ongoing legal fight, The Digital Chamber (TDC) and the Global Business Blockchain Council-USA (GBBC-USA) have expressed their significant interest and unique perspective. With extensive experience in the digital assets industry, the two organizations have argued that denying state-chartered banks a reliable path to participate in the national banking just because of the involvement with digital assets will threaten the growth and success of the trillion-dollar blockchain industry.
The two organization argue that upholding the lower court’s decision will give politically unaccountable federal officials and unchecked power to stiffle innovation thereby cutting off legitimate businesses from having crucial access to the global financial system.
The District Court stated that the “Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City (“FRBKC”) has unreviewable discretion to denynonmember depository institutionsa master account”.
TDC and GBBC argued that despite following the legal boundaries, this court decision set dangerous precedence for any industry that might fall out with the Fed officials.
Paul Clement Raises Constitutional Concerns on Fed’s Structure
In the amicus brief, the former Solicitor General has raised some constitutional questions regarding the Fed’s structure. Clement states: “In sum, by affording Federal Reserve Bank presidents significant and largely unconstrained discretionary power, the district court’s decision raises serious constitutional questions under Article II.”
“The district court’s decision threatens the dual system by granting Federal Reserve Bank officials unreviewable discretion to “effectively crippl[e]” state-chartered banks operating legally,” he added.
Also Read: Custodia Bank CEO Predicts “Rip Roaring” Bitcoin Bull Market
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
Kamala Harris Overtakes Biden In Prediction Markets, Has Trump’s Opponent Changed?
Kamala Harris has recently surged ahead of President Joe Biden in the prediction markets. This marks a significant shift in the political landscape as the 2024 U.S. presidential election race intensifies. However, the fight between Republican candidate Donald Trump and Biden isn’t over yet.
Kamala Harris Oversteps Biden In Betting Markets
On Predict It, Kamala Harris U.S. 2024 election winning bets surged to 22 cents while Biden’s dropped to 21 cents. Furthermore, Trump took the lead with a major gap as the bet was priced 59 cents on his win. Nevertheless, it could be too early to deem Harris as Trump’s ultimate opponent.
According to a new Reuters poll, President Biden is now neck-and-neck with his Republican challenger, Donald Trump, in the upcoming November election. This poll also reveals a shifting sentiment among Democrats, with approximately one-third believing Biden should consider stepping aside following a ‘ridiculous’ debate performance.
The debate in question has sparked internal discussions among Democrats. Moreover, some Biden loyalists are now questioning his viability for re-election in 2024. In addition, sources within the party indicate that Vice President Kamala Harris is emerging as the preferred candidate to step in should Biden decide to withdraw from the race.
Biden recently offered an explanation for his debate performance, admitting he “wasn’t very smart” for undertaking extensive travel before the event. “I didn’t listen to my staff… and then I almost fell asleep on stage,” he remarked during an event with Representative Don Beyer. “It’s not an excuse, but an explanation,” he added.
Also Read: U.S. Election Won’t Alter Positive Crypto Regulations, Says Mike Novogratz
The U.S. Election Race Intensifies
The political momentum appears to be shifting towards Trump, who now holds a 3-point advantage over Biden in key battleground states and a 2-point lead nationally. This change underscores a critical dynamic in the race: voter motivation. Currently, Republicans show higher enthusiasm, with more indicating they will “definitely” vote compared to their Democratic counterparts.
Over 90% of Biden and Trump supporters are firmly opposed to voting for the other candidate. Despite this strong partisan divide, the overall stability of the election race has not significantly changed. Biden experienced a brief uptick in support in June after Trump was convicted of felonies in New York. However, this did not significantly alter the broader election dynamics.
In light of the recent debate and shifting polls, the Democratic Party faces a pivotal decision regarding its candidate for the 2024 election. Kamala Harris’s rise in the prediction markets signals growing support within the party and among political analysts. If Biden’s campaign continues to face challenges, Harris may become the Democratic frontrunner.
Also Read: Binance Unveils Changes In Turkey In Compliance With Regulation
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
Ripple and Coinbase Use Binance Win to Contest SEC Claims
Coinbase and Ripple Labs are using Binance’s pivotal legal victory to challenge ongoing cases with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Both companies argue that the SEC’s approach needs more clarity and consistency, necessitating formal rulemaking to better define the regulatory perimeter for digital assets.
Ripple, Coinbase Cite Binance Case Against SEC
Ripple Labs and Coinbase have intensified their legal defenses by referencing a recent court order involving Binance, which achieved a partial dismissal in its SEC lawsuit. The companies argue that this precedent highlights the need for the SEC to establish clear regulations. In its latest court filing, Ripple emphasized the judge’s remark that cryptocurrency does not align seamlessly with existing securities laws, such as those established by the 1946 Howey Test. This test is crucial for determining whether a transaction qualifies as an investment contract and thus falls under securities regulation.
Coinbase has concurrently voiced concerns over the SEC’s expansive interpretation of securities laws applied to the crypto industry. The exchange asserts that this broad application could be more extensive and better defined, pushing for a definitive rulemaking process to provide legal clarity. In its appeal, Coinbase cited the recent Binance ruling to bolster its case for rulemaking, arguing that the decision underscores the inconsistencies in current regulatory applications.
Also Read: Bybit Exchange Unveils Support For ASI Alliance, Will FET Rebound?
Coinbase Demands Clarity in SEC Regulatory Battle
The SEC has engaged with various cryptocurrency platforms and assets, deeming some of their operations as securities offerings without proper registration. In the case of Ripple, the SEC’s lawsuit initiated in December 2020 alleged that Ripple raised over $1.3 billion through sales of its XRP token, which the SEC classified as an unregistered security. However, in a significant turn, Judge Analisa Torres ruled that certain “programmatic sales” of XRP did not constitute securities transactions, introducing a nuanced interpretation Ripple now seeks to leverage to challenge broader SEC claims.
Coinbase faces similar regulatory scrutiny. The SEC argues that the platform operated as an unregistered securities exchange, a claim that Coinbase refutes, urging a formal rulemaking process to clarify these regulatory boundaries. Both Coinbase and Ripple use recent judicial outcomes, notably the Binance case, to argue for a more structured and transparent regulatory framework from the SEC, stressing that the current state of affairs is inefficient and unclear.
Crypto Firms Rally Around Binance Court Decision
The partial victory for Binance in its own SEC lawsuit has become a strategic reference point for other crypto entities embroiled in legal challenges with the regulator. Despite Judge Amy Berman Jackson’s decision to proceed with most of the SEC’s claims against Binance, her dismissal of the charge regarding secondary sales of Binance Coin (BNB) as securities has been perceived as a significant legal precedent. Coinbase and Ripple have particularly highlighted this aspect of the ruling in their ongoing litigation.
Further developments are anticipated, with a scheduled conference for the SEC’s case against Binance set for July 9. Meanwhile, Coinbase and Ripple continue to press for regulatory clarity, which they argue is crucial for the industry’s stability and growth.
Also Read: Genesis Digital Is Considering Going Public Via IPO In US: Report
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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