Link copied Four US financial regulators join UK FCA-led global fintech sandbox
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) have all joined the GFIN. They join 46 other financial authorities, central banks, and international organizations that have joined the initiative.
Congress grills Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg over Libra cryptocurrency and trust issues
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg faced members of Congress on Wednesday, October 23, on the social media giant’s plans to launch its own cryptocurrency. In her opening statement, the committee’s chairwoman, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), said, “Facebook’s plans to create a digital currency Libra and a digital wallet Calibra raise many concerns relating to privacy, trading risk, discrimination opportunities for diverse-owned financial firms, national security, monetary policy and the stability of the global financial system.”
US Treasury commits to examine Facebook’s Libra over possible financial risks
The U.S. Department of Treasury has agreed to Rep. Emanuel Cleaver’s call for the regulation of Facebook’s planned cryptocurrency. The department noted that “fundamental questions about the Libra effort remain unanswered,” adding that Libra may implicate wide range of laws and regulations. It said that it will “closely monitor this market to address regulatory gaps that it identifies…”
US CFTC transforms its fintech research lab ‘LabCFTC’ into independent office
LabCFTC, an initiative launched by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to promote responsible fintech innovation, is being upgraded as an independent office, CoinDesk reported. LabCFTC would now become an office within the CFTC and report directly to CFTC chairman Heath Tarbert.
Stablecoins in danger of being classified as a security as Mark Zuckerberg prepares to defend Libra
A U.S. lawmaker has introduced a bill that would label stablecoins as securities. Rep. Sylvia Garcia is currently pushing forward legislation to the House of Financial Services Committee that would land stablecoins under the scope of the Securities Act of 1933.
Digital assets to be assigned ISIN by Association of National Number Agencies task force
The Association of National Number Agencies (ANNA) has put together a task force that will be labeling digital assets in an attempt to provide more clarity to investors. Called Technology Task Force-22 (TF-22), this new body will be analyzing digital assets like tokens, cryptocurrencies, and blockchain initiatives along with its impact on the financial sector.
Company News
- Korean blockchain startup Coinplug raises $6.4M from Mirae Asset Venture Investment, KB Investment
- Crypto exchange Huobi Japan secures $4.6M from FPG
- Blockchain Ventures backs blockchain-based gaming platform Enjin
- Telegram investors agree to delay network launch to April 2020
- Blockchain startup Ripple opens new office in Washington, D.C.
- Bitcoin.com acquires blockchain startup O3 Labs
- SIX, Fenbushi Capital and others back crypto trading infrastructure provider SIBEX’s $1.8M seed round
- Blockchain solutions provider PeerNova secures $31M in latest funding
- Blockchain firm Algorand receives Sharia certification to enter Islamic financial markets
- Morgan Creek Digital reveals interested partners more than doubled their investment from the initial round
Partnerships/Consortiums
- Kakao’s blockchain platform Klaytn onboards OKEx, Huobi Wallet and more partners
- Blockchain Media Alliance officially launches to connect global media industry
Digital Currency and Blockchain Initiatives
- New Bitcoin ETF proposal filed for SEC’s examination as Wilshire Phoenix await agency’s decision
- Galaxy Digital CEO confirms 2 new Bitcoin funds
- Bitmain opens up 33,000-acre cryptomining facility in Texas; 51 percent fear bubbles up again
- Bakkt announces plan to launch options on its bitcoin futures on December 09
- Japanese bank confirms it’ll officially adopt a blockchain-based system to oversee future operations
- IBM, TBCASoft and SoftBank partner to allow telecom companies adopt cross-carrier blockchain solutions
- Indian IT firm TCS streamlines fragmented loyalty programs using R3's Corda blockchain platform
- Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation completes blockchain trade finance trial using Marco Polo
- ING proposes ZKP notary service to bolster privacy, security of R3’s Corda blockchain platform
