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Showing posts from December 15, 2023

IMF Chief Calls for Clear Crypto Regulation — Warns High Crypto Adoption Could Undermine Financial Stability

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The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has called for clear crypto regulations worldwide, cautioning that high crypto adoption could undermine macro-financial stability. “Our goal is to make a more efficient, interoperable, and accessible financial system by providing rules to avoid the risks of crypto, and infrastructure by leveraging some of its technologies,” she stressed. IMF on Crypto Adoption and Financial Stability International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva called for the establishment of clear regulations and robust infrastructure worldwide to mitigate the risks associated with crypto assets at an international conference in Seoul on Thursday. The two-day conference, titled “Digital Money: Navigating a Changing Financial Landscape,” was jointly hosted by the IMF, the Bank of Korea, the Korean Ministry of Economy and Finance, as well as the Korean Financial Services Commission. The IMF chief cautioned: The challenge is that high cry

Finance Professor Blasts SEC’s Potential Cash-Only Rule for Spot Bitcoin ETFs Citing Benefits of In-Kind Model

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A finance professor at Georgetown University has urged the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to avoid micromanaging the creation/redemption process for spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). While the SEC proposed the cash creation method, applicants like Blackrock and Fidelity have advocated for the in-kind creation method. “Now that the Commission has seemingly become comfortable with allowing spot bitcoin ETFs to trade in the U.S., it should not squander this positive development by forcing a suboptimal product (cash-only creation/redemption) to come to market,” said the professor. Georgetown Professor Urges SEC to Let Spot Bitcoin ETFs Use In-Kind Creation Method James Angel, an Associate Professor of Finance at Georgetown University, penned a letter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Tuesday regarding all proposals for spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that the regulator has received. Professor Angel specializes in the market structu

SEC Chair Gensler Reveals Regulator Is ‘Taking a New Look’ at Spot Bitcoin ETF Filings

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U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Gary Gensler has revealed that the regulator is taking a new look at spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) applications based on recent court rulings. “We had in the past denied a number of these applications, but the courts here in the District of Columbia weighed in on that,” Gensler explained. Gensler: ‘We’re Taking a New Look’ The chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Gary Gensler, answered some questions regarding spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) applications in an interview with CNBC on Thursday. “We have, I think, between eight and a dozen filings … that’s going through the process right now,” Gensler explained, emphasizing that as the chairman of the SEC, he’s not going to prejudge any particular filing. According to public records, there are currently 13 spot bitcoin ETF applications pending at the SEC. “As you might know, we had in the past denied a number of these applications, but

Crypto Crimes Highlighted in IRS Criminal Investigation’s 2023 Top 10 Criminal Cases

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In the IRS’s list of top 10 criminal cases for 2023, cryptocurrency frauds are featured, ranging from multi-million dollar tax evasions to elaborate money laundering schemes. Crypto Scams Among Most Significant Financial Crimes in IRS Criminal Investigation’s 2023 Report The IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) division has released its annual list of the top 10 criminal cases for the year 2023 , highlighting a significant focus on cryptocurrency-related crimes. The list, which was announced on the IRS website and IRS CI’s social media platforms, includes a variety of financial crimes ranging from international tax fraud to massive Covid-19 relief scams. CI Chief Jim Lee underscored the range and complexity of this year’s cases, emphasizing the billions of dollars involved and the global impact of these crimes. “From international tax schemes to multi-level marketing involving cryptocurrency, our investigators have skillfully unraveled some of the most intricate financial frauds,” said