Articles by Chris Prentice and Hannah Lang

SEC Sees Decentralized Crypto Platforms as Exchanges, Seeks Public Input

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission met on Friday to open public comment again on its proposal to expand the definition of an “exchange,” clarifying that its existing rules on exchanges also apply to decentralized cryptocurrency platforms. The SEC voted …

SVB Failed From Mismanagement, Not Loose Regulations: FDIC

Management failures, not loose regulations, prompted Silicon Valley Bank’s sudden failure last month, a top Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) official said on Wednesday. “Mismanagement of interest rate risk was at the core of SVB’s problem,” FDIC Vice Chairman Travis …

Fed Official Tells Congress Many to Blame for Silicon Valley Bank Failure

The scope of blame for Silicon Valley Bank’s failure stretches across bank executives, Federal Reserve supervisors and other regulators, the banking system’s top cop on Wednesday told U.S. lawmakers demanding answers for the lender’s swift collapse. “I think that any …

Coinbase, SEC on Collision Course for ‘Existential’ Clash Over Crypto Industry

Coinbase debuted on the U.S. stock market on April 14, 2021 – the same day U.S. senators confirmed Gary Gensler to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the country’s top markets regulator. Gensler, who has called the crypto sector …

Crypto-Focused Bank Silvergate Plans to Wind Down Following Blow From FTX

Crypto-focused bank Silvergate Capital Corp. said on Wednesday it planned to wind down operations and voluntarily liquidate after it was hit with losses following the dramatic collapse of crypto exchange FTX, sending its shares down 35% in after-hours trade. The …

Trade Group Argues SEC Case Unfairly Labels Crypto as Securities

Cryptocurrency trade association Chamber of Digital Commerce is urging a federal court to dismiss a case brought by the U.S. securities regulator against ex-Coinbase employees accused of insider trading, arguing that the case unfairly labeled several crypto assets as securities. …

Stablecoin Regulatory Crackdown Sends Warning to Industry

The U.S. Security and Exchange Commission’s warning shot on Binance’s stablecoin over whether or not it is a security could offer a hint at what type of dollar-pegged tokens may draw regulatory scrutiny, critical information for other digital asset firms …

Banks Should Be More Cautious on Crypto Contagion Risks, U.S. Regulators Warn

Banks should be more careful about the risks of fraud, legal uncertainty and misleading disclosures by crypto firms, U.S. regulators warned on Tuesday, just two months after the collapse of crypto exchange FTX stunned the financial world. In their first …

Wells Fargo to Pay $3.7B for Illegal Conduct That Harmed Customers

The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau hit Wells Fargo & Co. with the watchdog’s largest ever civil penalty on Tuesday as part of a $3.7 billion agreement to settle charges over widespread mismanagement of car loans, mortgages and bank accounts. …

Federal Reserve Issues Guidance for Banks Considering Crypto Activities

The U.S. Federal Reserve on Tuesday issued additional guidance for banks considering activities involving cryptocurrencies, emphasizing that firms must notify the Fed beforehand and make sure whatever they do is legally permitted. The Fed said in a statement that while …