The past few weeks in crypto news recall that title of the second movie from the original Star Wars trilogy. U.S. regulators are eyeing crypto regulation for protection and territory. As Bloomberg reports this week, "Crypto faces a reckoning in Washington as U.S. regulators prepare to clamp down on the rapidly growing industry." I won't belabor the point, but will provide a … [Read more...] about Crypto Regulation: The Empire Strikes Back
Regulation
In FinTech We Trust
As the digital revolution becomes more and more ubiquitous, the question of what’s going to make FinTechs stand out from the pack becomes increasingly more pressing. The answer, that said, is as old as business – reputation and trust are the drivers that will make or break any financial company no matter how cutting-edge their technology products. How best to build that … [Read more...] about In FinTech We Trust
Washington DC Gets Crypto Fever
The political jockeying for regulatory positions on digital asserts continued this week. The head of the Commodities Futures Trading Commission let the Securities Exchange Commission know that only the CFTC could regulate crypto. The Biden administration fought cuts of provisions to regulate cryptocurrencies in the infrastructure bill. Meanwhile, American Banker wonders … [Read more...] about Washington DC Gets Crypto Fever
Who Will Regulate Stablecoins in the U.S.?
U.S. financial regulators are calling for stablecoin regulation with representatives of the nation's primary regulatory offices making the rounds of Congress and the financial media over the past two weeks. That stablecoins, cryptotokens backed by national currency or other fixed assets, pose risks and should be regulated is not the primary question. It's which office has … [Read more...] about Who Will Regulate Stablecoins in the U.S.?
CFTC Commissioner Urges Caution for DeFi Investors
DeFi – short for Decentralized Finance – continues to be a hot topic on the cutting edge of financial trading. The appeal of somehow cutting away from intermediaries to a pure peer-to-peer trading and lending experience has a strong allure for a lot of technologically inclined investors, and as investments in the space grow, the market potential seems huge. But, like … [Read more...] about CFTC Commissioner Urges Caution for DeFi Investors
Continuing the Growth of Cannabis Banking
Recreational marijuana is now legal in 16 states - with medical usage legal in 36. It's now a thriving billion-dollar industry in those states -- but it remains in an uncertain position, heavily reliant on cash and with uncertain prospects for banking partners due to the continued federal prohibition. The challenges are more difficult than some industries, to be sure; due to … [Read more...] about Continuing the Growth of Cannabis Banking