Japanese Banking Heavyweight Nomura to Launch Crypto-Focused Venture Capital Arm

On Wednesday, the Japanese financial holding company and principal member of the Nomura Group, Nomura Holdings, announced the launch of a crypto-focused venture capital unit called Laser Digital Holdings. Nomura’s move follows a number of financial giants entering the cryptocurrency industry…

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…

Gary Gensler Asks SEC Staff to Fine-Tune Crypto Compliance — Says ‘Vast Majority Are Securities’

The chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Gary Gensler, revealed that he has asked staff at the SEC to fine-tune compliance for crypto tokens and intermediaries. He emphasized that the vast majority of crypto tokens are securities. SEC…

Hackers Offer to Sell Belarus President Lukashenko’s Passport as NFT

Anti-government hackers have attempted to sell what they say is an NFT of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko’s passport. The members of the ‘Belarusian Cyber Partisans’ collective claim to have obtained the passport data of all of the country’s citizens. Cyber Guerrillas…

British Fintech Revolut Granted Crypto License in Cyprus

U.K.-based digital bank Revolut has been authorized by Cyprus to provide cryptocurrency services to millions of customers on the Old Continent. The fintech firm says the regulatory approval will allow it to establish a European crypto hub in the island nation….

South African Central Bank Now Considers Cryptocurrency to Be a Financial Asset

The deputy governor of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) recently said the institution has changed its position on cryptocurrency, and now regards it to be a financial asset which must be regulated as such. The SARB expects to have a…

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…

British MP Calls for ‘Liberal’ Crypto Regulation — Says ‘No Country Can Stop This Revolution’

British Parliament Member Matt Hancock has called for “liberal” cryptocurrency regulation, noting that no country can stop the crypto revolution. “I hate the patronizing idea of regulators telling people what they can and can’t do with their money,” the lawmaker stressed….

Bank of Canada’s Official: Crypto Needs Regulation Before It Becomes ‘a Lot Larger’

Bank of Canada’s senior deputy governor says the central bank does not want to wait until crypto “gets a lot larger” before it brings regulatory controls in place. “This is an area that is still small, but it’s growing really rapidly,”…

Portuguese Parliament Rejects Crypto Tax Proposals During Budget Debate

Two proposals to tax crypto assets have failed to gain support from Portuguese lawmakers who are now discussing the state budget. The bids came from minority left-wing parties, while the ruling majority is yet to put forward its own draft to…