The RFIA would define consumer protection standards for digital assets and introduce new requirements regarding digital asset use in interstate money transfers. By Jenny Cieplak, Parag Patel, Barrie VanBrackle, and Deric Behar Latham & Watkins presents a blog series on the Responsible Financial Innovation Act, which was introduced in the US Senate on June 10, 2022, to create … Continue Reading
The RFIA would enact a rebuttable presumption that an ancillary asset in connection with an investment contract is a commodity. By Marlon Q. Paz, Stephen P. Wink, Jenny Cieplak, and Deric Behar Latham & Watkins presents a blog series on the Responsible Financial Innovation Act, which was introduced in the US Senate on June 10, 2022, … Continue Reading
The RFIA is the most wide-ranging crypto bill yet. Latham & Watkins presents a blog series on the Responsible Financial Innovation Act, which was introduced in the US Senate on June 10, 2022, to create a framework for digital assets, cryptocurrency, and blockchain technology. On June 10, 2022, US Senators Cynthia Lummis from the Senate … Continue Reading
The promise of faster and cheaper remittances may accelerate crypto adoption in many emerging markets, including those that have not historically utilized credit and debit payments, notably Latin America. By Gianluca Bacchiocchi, Barrie VanBrackle, Nima H. Mohebbi, and Deric Behar One of the most promising benefits of digital assets is the ability to move value … Continue Reading
The order directs federal agencies to focus on six priority areas within the digital asset sector and potential development of a US CBDC. By Alan W. Avery, Yvette D. Valdez, Stephen P. Wink, Pia Naib, Adam Bruce Fovent, and Deric Behar On March 9, 2022, President Biden issued an Executive Order on Ensuring Responsible Development … Continue Reading
The industry will have two years to learn the new requirements and develop systems to ensure compliance. By Elena Romanova, Stephen P. Wink, Adam Zuckerman, and Deric Behar On November 15, 2021, President Biden signed the US$1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law (the Law). Two provisions of the Law could have a … Continue Reading
The report addresses the market risks and regulatory challenges presented by stablecoins and urges Congress to act quickly. By Alan W. Avery, Yvette D. Valdez, Stephen P. Wink, Pia Naib, and Deric Behar On November 1, 2021, the President’s Working Group on Financial Markets (PWG) in conjunction with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and … Continue Reading
The DOJ’s National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team and Treasury’s OFAC are setting their sights on cryptocurrency use in cybercrimes. By Benjamin A. Naftalis, Eric S. Volkman, Douglas K. Yatter, Nima H. Mohebbi, Jessie R. Michelin, and Deric Behar The US Department of Justice (DOJ) is sharpening its focus on combatting cryptocurrency use in criminal activity. On … Continue Reading
The global central bank cooperative body envisions stablecoins within the context of international standards for payment, clearing, and settlement systems. By Alan W. Avery, Stuart Davis, Simon Hawkins, Stephen P. Wink, Pia Naib, and Deric Behar Among the different types of digital assets, global authorities seem most focused on stablecoins. This concern is the result … Continue Reading
The Clarity for Digital Tokens Act of 2021 would give token issuers the guardrails they need to innovate with far less regulatory anxiety. By Stephen P. Wink and Deric Behar US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Commissioner Hester Peirce has always been something of a maverick. She has been a lone dissenting voice on the … Continue Reading
A sovereign nation’s decision to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender raises interesting questions — and legal ramifications. By Elena Romanova, Larry Safran, Yvette D. Valdez, Eric S. Volkman, Stephen P. Wink, Adam Bruce Fovent, and Deric Behar On June 8, 2021, El Salvador’s Legislative Assembly voted to establish Bitcoin as unrestricted legal tender, making El … Continue Reading
SEC Commissioner Peirce has revived and refreshed her proposed three-year safe harbor for qualifying token projects, but some unresolved ambiguities remain. By Miles P. Jennings, Stephen P. Wink, Naim Culhaci, and Deric Behar US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Commissioner Hester Peirce, a longtime and vocal advocate for innovation in financial services, has not shied … Continue Reading
The State of Wyoming is solidifying its position as the friendliest state in the US for digital asset innovation. By Miles P. Jennings, Stephen P. Wink, and Deric Behar Although comprehensive digital asset regulation at the federal level remains elusive, US states are angling to establish themselves as blockchain and crypto-friendly jurisdictions. At the forefront … Continue Reading
Regulators once again offered piecemeal guidance, while focusing on risks and enforcement. Meanwhile, innovation and institutional adoption took off. By Stephen P. Wink, Todd Beauchamp, Yvette D. Valdez, Eric S. Volkman, Adam Bruce Fovent, and Deric Behar Last year, Latham & Watkins sounded a hopeful note that 2020 would provide a clearer vision than 2019 … Continue Reading
In a year-end change of course, the SEC identified the minimum steps that broker-dealers must take when acting as custodians of digital asset securities. By Stephen P. Wink, Naim Culhaci, Shaun Musuka, and Deric Behar On December 23, 2020, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) staff issued a statement (Custody of Digital Asset Securities … Continue Reading
The no-action letter is the first to expressly permit token transfer off-platform to non-users and conversion to fiat currency by token holders. By Stephen P. Wink, Shaun Musuka, and Deric Behar As crypto prices surge, we find ourselves in the midst of another crypto wave. Given the unrelenting flow of news that accompanies such periods, … Continue Reading
A collaborative project led by the Global Blockchain Business Council represents an unprecedented effort to analyze the technical and regulatory blockchain landscape. By Stuart Davis, Axel Schiemann, Farhana Sharmeen, Simon Hawkins, Max von Cube, Kenneth Y.F. Hui, and Gen Huong Tan On October 14, 2020, the Global Blockchain Business Council (GBBC) and the World Economic … Continue Reading
The US OCC allows banks, with certain restrictions, to hold assets in reserve for stablecoin issuers. By Alan W. Avery, Todd Beauchamp, Stephen P. Wink, Pia Naib, Loyal T. Horsley, Charles Weinstein, and Deric Behar On September 21, 2020, the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued Interpretive Letter #1172 (the Letter), … Continue Reading
The long-awaited guidance clarifies the application of the “actual delivery” exception to leveraged virtual currency transactions with retail purchasers. By Yvette D. Valdez, J. Ashley Weeks, and Deric Behar Earlier this year, the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) approved final interpretive guidance (Guidance) concerning retail commodity transactions involving certain digital assets. The Guidance clarifies … Continue Reading
SEC Commissioner Peirce has proposed a three-year safe harbor for qualifying token projects, but regulatory clarity remains elusive. By Stephen P. Wink, Carolina Bernal, Shaun Musuka, and Deric Behar SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce has been a perennial advocate of innovation in the financial services and digital asset space. Continuing that tradition, she unveiled a Token … Continue Reading
In two recent articles, Latham & Watkins lawyers examine the SEC’s guidance on the application of securities regulations to digital assets and the questions that remain unanswered. By Stephen P. Wink, Witold Balaban, John J. Sikora, Miles P. Jennings, Emanuel V. Francone, Cameron R. Kates, and Shaun Musuka Digital Asset Regulation: Howey Evolves In this … Continue Reading
It was a year filled with tantalizing tidbits and many loose ends. By Stephen P. Wink, Cameron R. Kates, Shaun Musuka, and Deric Behar 2019 marked the 10th year since blockchain technology was released into the wild by its still unknown inventor, Satoshi Nakamoto, who mined the first bitcoin block in January 2009. In the … Continue Reading
The US derivatives regulator continues to foster FinTech adoption and leadership in US markets. By Yvette D. Valdez, Douglas K. Yatter, and Deric Behar The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has affirmed its commitment to engaging the fast-moving financial technology world by elevating its LabCFTC unit to be an independent operating office within the … Continue Reading
As the agency pursues and prevents offerings of tokens it deems unregistered securities, further issues emerge. By John J. Sikora Jr., Stephen P. Wink, Douglas K. Yatter, Cameron R. Kates, Shaun Musuka, and Deric Behar The recent wave of US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) enforcement actions relating to initial coin offerings (ICOs) continues with … Continue Reading
