US Treasury Report Warns of Defi’s Threat to National Security, Authors Conclude Fiat Is Used in Illicit Finance More Than Crypto

The U.S. Treasury has released a 42-page report assessing the risks of decentralized finance (defi). The report states that specific nation-state adversaries, cybercriminals, ransomware attackers, thieves, and scammers are using defi to “transfer and launder their illicit proceeds.” The Treasury’s report…

Binance Sued by CFTC for Alleged Violations of Trading and Derivatives Rules

The world’s largest crypto exchange by trade volume, Binance Holdings Ltd., has been sued by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao has been named in the lawsuit and the charges claim the crypto exchange broke several trading…

Pakistan Banks to Use Blockchain Technology for KYC

Banks in Pakistan plan to launch an electronic platform for know-your-customer procedures that will be operating on a national level. The blockchain-based system will allow them to exchange the personal information of customers through what they describe as a decentralized and…

Coinbase Secures Regulatory Approval to Operate as a Virtual Asset Service Provider in Ireland

Coinbase has announced it has secured regulatory approval as a virtual asset service provider (VASP) in Ireland, according to a company blog post published on Dec. 21. According to the company, Coinbase has been approved by Ireland’s central bank which means…

Binance Obtains Registration as Crypto Service Provider in Cyprus

Cryptocurrency exchange Binance will be able to offer services for digital assets in Cyprus as the platform is now registered with the country’s securities regulator. The news comes after the company obtained similar approvals in several other European jurisdictions. Global Exchange…

US Treasury Seeks Public Comments on Crypto-Related Illicit Finance and National Security Risks

The U.S. Department of the Treasury is seeking public input on “digital-asset-related illicit finance and national security risks.” The department warned: “The growing use of digital assets in financial activity heightens risks of crimes such as money laundering, terrorist and proliferation…

UK Regulator Warns Crypto Exchange FTX Is Providing Services Without Authorization

Britain’s top financial regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), has issued a warning about cryptocurrency exchange FTX operating in the U.K. without authorization. “Almost all firms and individuals offering, promoting or selling financial services or products in the U.K. have to…

Hong Kong to Introduce Licensing for Crypto Platforms Through AML Law

New legislation tailored to regulate the crypto space in Hong Kong aims to implement a licensing regime for crypto service providers. The respective changes to the region’s anti-money laundering (AML) rules have been submitted to its legislature while a recently published…

US Treasury Delivers Crypto Framework to Biden as Directed in Executive Order

The U.S. Treasury Department has delivered a framework for crypto assets to President Joe Biden, fulfilling its obligation as directed in the executive order on crypto that the president issued in March. U.S. Treasury Secretary Delivers Crypto Framework to Biden The…

Coinbase Responds to Reports of Selling Customer ‘Geo Tracking’ Data to US Government

The Nasdaq-listed cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has insisted that it does not sell “proprietary customer data” after reports surfaced that its Tracer product is providing “historical geo tracking data” to the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Coinbase Responds to Reports of…