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SEC Insider Reveals Reason Why Agency Eased SAB 121 For Select Entities

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Recently, certain banks and broker-dealers received exceptions from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to custody crypto assets. This revelation comes despite the standing guidelines of Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) 121. Hence, netizens were questioning the actions of the agency and now there is an answer to this ‘bias.’

Why SEC Relaxed SAB 121 Rule For Banks & Brokerages?

The SAB 121 rules remain unchanged according to an SEC spokesperson. For context, SAB 121, issued by the SEC, outlines the accounting and disclosure obligations for companies holding crypto assets on behalf of customers. The guidance is primarily concerned with ensuring that customers’ crypto assets are protected and accounted for appropriately.

This comes handy particularly in scenarios of financial distress like bankruptcy or resolution. Meanwhile, FOX journalist Eleanor Terrett’s inquiry revealed that specific broker-dealers and custody banks have demonstrated to the SEC staff that their operational models differ significantly from those outlined in SAB 121.

According to the spokesperson quoted by Terrett:

“Certain broker dealers and custody banks have sufficiently demonstrated to SEC staff that their fact patterns are different from those described in SAB 121…such as ensuring that customers maintain ownership of their assets even in the case of a resolution or bankruptcy.”

These entities have managed to assure the SEC that they can maintain customer ownership of assets even under adverse conditions. Thus, they earned exceptions to the stringent requirements of SAB 121.

Furthermore, Terrett disclosed that the SEC’s accounting staff, who are responsible for SAB 121, have conducted private discussions with these financial institutions. These discussions, it appears, were not communicated to the SEC Commissioners. These Commissioners are now working to understand the substance of these conversations.

Also Read: GOP Whip Tom Emmer Accuses SEC Chair of Harassment

Industry Backlash On These Exceptions

While the U.S. House continued to hold President Joe Biden’s veto on the anti-SAB 121 bill, the SEC made the above-mentioned landmark decision. The U.S. regulator introduced a new method allowing banks and brokerages to exclude their customers’ crypto holdings from their balance sheets. Banks must, however, ensure that they manage all related risks effectively.

This decision was a positive development in response to the heated debate in Congress over the controversial crypto-accounting guidelines. According to a source at the SEC, the agency’s staff has begun providing guidance on specific arrangements that allow banks to avoid listing crypto holdings as liabilities on their balance sheets.

Popular banks have been in discussions with the SEC over the past year. Hence, they received approval to omit crypto assets from their balance sheets, provided they ensure customer asset protection in the event of bankruptcy. However, the SEC requires banks to implement additional safeguards and internal controls to protect these holdings.

This move ignited significant backlash from the crypto industry for the supposed “bias.” VanEck’s Head of Digital Assets Research, Matthew Sigel, lauded the latest move but also pointed out the flaws. In a post on X, he wrote, “Good news (albeit still a horrific process that now favors big guys vs. repealing SAB121 which would have set a level playing field).”

Furthermore, Custodia Bank CEO Caitlin Long, who has been expressing frustration toward discrimination in obtaining Fed masteraccounts, also chimed in. She wrote, “SEC leadership extracts revenge on the #crypto industry (one day after Ro Khanna’s White House session) by giving the big banks special ‘exceptions’ from #SAB121, while sidelining #crypto companies still subject to it. How are progressives OK with such corporate favoritism?”

Also Read: Stacks Price Soars 9% As SEC Ends Probe On Bitcoin Layer 2 Developer

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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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USDC Issuer Circle Set To File IPO In April, Here’s All

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USDC issuer Circle is reportedly set to file its initial public offering (IPO) in April as part of the firm’s plans to finally go public. The stablecoin issuer is allegedly already working with top financial institutions to achieve this move.

Circle To File IPO In Late April

According to a Fortune report, Circle is looking to file its IPO in late April, although the listing period remains uncertain. The report noted that when a company files to go public, its shares usually begin trading four weeks later, indicating that the listing could occur in May. However, there is also a scenario where the IPO process could drag on for months.

The stablecoin issuer is reportedly working with investment banks JPMorgan Chase and Citi to achieve its long-anticipated IPO. The firm had previously tried to go public in 2021 under a SPAC arrangement with a shell company.

The US SEC failed to sign off on this arrangement back then, and the company eventually scrapped these IPO plans by the end of 2022 when the crypto exchange FTX collapsed and the broader crypto market experienced a downturn.

Revelation about Circle’s IPO plans comes just days after the stablecoin issuer partnered with NYSE’s parent company to explore USDC’s use in traditional finance (TradFi). Meanwhile, the USDC stablecoin recently launched in Japan following approval from the country’s regulator. Notably, USDC is the first and only global dollar stablecoin approved under Japan’s stablecoin framework.

An Easier Path Now For The Stablecoin Issuer

Circle will likely face less resistance for its IPO plans under the current SEC administration. Under acting Chair Mark Uyeda, the Commission has shown its willingness to work hand in hand with crypto firms, which was missing under Gary Gensler’s administration.

US SEC Chair nominee Paul Atkins has also shown his willingness to change the approach that Gensler’s administration adopted towards crypto firms. During his nomination hearing, the SEC Chair nominee promised to prioritize providing regulatory clarity for the industry.

Circle’s IPO listing would be the biggest since the top crypto exchange Coinbase went public in 2021. Interestingly, Coinbase owns an equity stake in the crypto firm.

The firm’s USDC is currently the second-largest stablecoin by market cap, only behind Tether’s USDT. The stablecoin industry is heating up as more financial institutions look to develop their own stablecoin.

Donald Trump’s World Liberty Financial recently revealed plans to launch its USD1 stablecoin, while asset manager Fidelity is also considering doing so.

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Boluwatife Adeyemi is a well-experienced crypto news writer and editor who has covered topics that cut across several topics and niches. Boluwatife has a knack for simplifying the most technical concepts and making it easy for crypto newbies to understand. Away from writing, He is an avid basketball lover, a traveler and a part-time degen.

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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Japan Set To Classify Cryptocurrencies As Financial Products, Here’s All

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Cryptocurrency investors in Japan are bracing for impact following a plan to reclassify digital assets as financial products. While the plan has elicited excitement from cryptocurrency enthusiasts in the Far East, the ambitious plan will have to scale several legislative hurdles.

Japan Targets Reclassification Of Cryptocurrencies As Financial Products

According to a report by Nikkei, Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) is inching toward classifying cryptocurrencies as financial products. Per the report, the FSA intends to achieve the reclassification via an amendment to the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act.

Currently, digital assets in Japan are considered crypto assets conferred with property rights and seen as payment means. Under the FSA’s plans, cryptocurrencies in Japan will be treated as financial products in the same manner as traditional financial products.

The FSA says it will adopt a slow and steady approach toward the reclassification, carrying out “a private expert study group” to test the waters. If everything goes according to plan, the FSA will submit the amended bill to Parliament in early 2026.

The classification of cryptocurrencies as financial products will have far-reaching consequences for the local ecosystem. Experts say treating cryptocurrencies as financial products will bring Japan closer to a crypto ETF launch amid a changing regulatory landscape.

Furthermore, the move may lower current cryptocurrency taxation for local investors since existing capital market rules will apply to the asset class.

A Fresh Bill For Crypto Insider Trading Is Underway

Apart from the reclassification, the FSA disclosed plans for new legislation against insider trading. The move flows treating cryptocurrencies as financial products and will strengthen existing investor protection rules.

“It is a direction to establish a new insider trading regulation that prohibits trading based on unpublished internal information,” said the FSA. “We will develop laws to prevent unfair transactions.”

However, Japan’s cryptocurrency scene is heating up to a boil, driven by local and international players. Last week, stablecoin issuer Circle secured approval from the FSA for USDC with top exchanges set to list the stablecoin.

Japan’s Metaplanet has tapped Eric Trump to join its Strategic Board of Advisors as it continues to load up Bitcoin.

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Aliyu Pokima is a seasoned cryptocurrency and emerging technologies journalist with a knack for covering needle-moving stories in the space. Aliyu delivers breaking news stories, regulatory updates, and insightful analysis with depth and precision. When he’s not poring over charts or following leads, Aliyu enjoys playing the bass guitar, lifting weights and running marathons.

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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Kentucky Governor Signs Off On ‘Bitcoin Rights’ Bill, Strengthening Crypto Protections

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In what is being dubbed a major development in the crypto regulation space, the Governor of the US state of Kentucky, Andy Beshear, has signed the ‘Bitcoin Rights’ bill into law. The law promises to safeguard protections for Bitcoin (BTC) users.

Bitcoin Rights Bill Comes Into Effect

Crypto regulations continue to evolve under pro-crypto US President Donald Trump’s administration. In the latest development, Kentucky has become the newest state to enshrine protections for digital asset users.

In an X post published on March 24, crypto advocacy group Satoshi Action Fund announced that Governor Beshear had signed the much-anticipated Bitcoin Rights bill into law. The post stated:

The right to self-custody, run a node, and use of digital assets is now protected for millions of Americans without fear of discrimination.

The bill was first introduced to the Kentucky House by Rep. Adam Bowling on February 19. According to the bill’s description, it seeks to safeguard users’ rights to use digital assets and self-custody wallets. Additionally, it aims to prohibit local zoning changes that discriminate against crypto mining operations.

The legislation outlines guidelines for running a digital asset node and excludes digital asset mining from money transmitter license requirements. It also clarifies that crypto mining or staking is not considered an offer or sale of securities.

On February 28, the bill passed Kentucky’s House of Representatives with a unanimous vote of all 91 representatives in favor. It later passed the Kentucky Senate on March 13, receiving backing from all 37 senators.

Kentucky’s proactive stance toward cryptocurrencies isn’t new. Earlier this year, the state became the 16th US state to introduce legislation seeking to create a Bitcoin strategic reserve.

Meanwhile, neighboring state Arizona is also joining the crypto movement. A recent X post by Bitcoin Laws revealed that Arizona’s House Rules Committee has passed two Bitcoin reserve bills — SB1373 and SB1025. These bills will now head to a full floor vote.

Renewed Optimism Under Trump Administration

Following Trump’s victory in the November presidential election, cryptocurrency regulations in the US are evolving rapidly, with many states introducing legislation aimed at strengthening their digital asset ecosystems and attracting crypto businesses.

Positive changes in crypto regulations are encouraging industry businesses to expand. For instance, leading crypto trading platform Coinbase recently announced plans to hire 1,000 employees in the US.

The Trump administration has also witnessed several lawsuits being dropped against major crypto entities, including Kraken, Coinbase, Gemini, and others. At press time, Bitcoin trades at $87,399, down 0.2% in the past 24 hours.

bitcoin
BTC trades at $87,399 on the daily chart | Source: BTCUSDT on TradingView.com

Featured Image from Unsplash.com, chart from TradingView.com

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