OFAC Sanctions Considerations for the Crypto Sector
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Curious About Cryptocurrencies? Investors Need to Make Sure They Separate “Investing” from “Speculation” by Don Mcarthur, CFA®
Curious About Cryptocurrencies? Investors Need to Make Sure They Separate “Investing” from “Speculation” By Don McArthur, CFA® Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have received plenty of media coverage lately, and it is natural for investors to wonder about them. Even celebrities have become associated with Bitcoin publicity through social media. Interest has piqued to a point where there are even Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) that invest in Bitcoin, giving investors the means to invest in the Futures market. After having performed in-depth research on Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, our position at Commerce Trust Company is that they should not currently play a role in client portfolios. As part of that research, Commerce Senior Vice President and Investment Analyst Don McArthur, CFA, put together a primer on the topic of cryptocurrencies in general. In the following commentary, he explains why Bitcoin at this stage is more about speculating than investing in something with intrinsic value. He also touches on how Blockchain networking technology not only supports cryptocurrencies, but many other industrial applications as well. We thought you would enjoy this commentary as McArthur shares his thoughts in a mind-opening Q&A. Q . What is Bitcoin and how did it start? A. Bitcoin is one of hundreds of digital currencies, or cryptocurrency, based on Blockchain technology. As an early mover, Bitcoin is by far the largest digital currency. Bitcoin was launched in 2009 by a mysterious person (or persons) known only by the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. Unlike traditional currencies, which are issued by central banks, Bitcoin has no central monetary authority. -
Cryptocurrency: the Economics of Money and Selected Policy Issues
Cryptocurrency: The Economics of Money and Selected Policy Issues Updated April 9, 2020 Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov R45427 SUMMARY R45427 Cryptocurrency: The Economics of Money and April 9, 2020 Selected Policy Issues David W. Perkins Cryptocurrencies are digital money in electronic payment systems that generally do not require Specialist in government backing or the involvement of an intermediary, such as a bank. Instead, users of the Macroeconomic Policy system validate payments using certain protocols. Since the 2008 invention of the first cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, cryptocurrencies have proliferated. In recent years, they experienced a rapid increase and subsequent decrease in value. One estimate found that, as of March 2020, there were more than 5,100 different cryptocurrencies worth about $231 billion. Given this rapid growth and volatility, cryptocurrencies have drawn the attention of the public and policymakers. A particularly notable feature of cryptocurrencies is their potential to act as an alternative form of money. Historically, money has either had intrinsic value or derived value from government decree. Using money electronically generally has involved using the private ledgers and systems of at least one trusted intermediary. Cryptocurrencies, by contrast, generally employ user agreement, a network of users, and cryptographic protocols to achieve valid transfers of value. Cryptocurrency users typically use a pseudonymous address to identify each other and a passcode or private key to make changes to a public ledger in order to transfer value between accounts. Other computers in the network validate these transfers. Through this use of blockchain technology, cryptocurrency systems protect their public ledgers of accounts against manipulation, so that users can only send cryptocurrency to which they have access, thus allowing users to make valid transfers without a centralized, trusted intermediary. -
Blockchain & Cryptocurrency Regulation
Blockchain & Cryptocurrency Regulation Third Edition Contributing Editor: Josias N. Dewey Global Legal Insights Blockchain & Cryptocurrency Regulation 2021, Third Edition Contributing Editor: Josias N. Dewey Published by Global Legal Group GLOBAL LEGAL INSIGHTS – BLOCKCHAIN & CRYPTOCURRENCY REGULATION 2021, THIRD EDITION Contributing Editor Josias N. Dewey, Holland & Knight LLP Head of Production Suzie Levy Senior Editor Sam Friend Sub Editor Megan Hylton Consulting Group Publisher Rory Smith Chief Media Officer Fraser Allan We are extremely grateful for all contributions to this edition. Special thanks are reserved for Josias N. Dewey of Holland & Knight LLP for all of his assistance. Published by Global Legal Group Ltd. 59 Tanner Street, London SE1 3PL, United Kingdom Tel: +44 207 367 0720 / URL: www.glgroup.co.uk Copyright © 2020 Global Legal Group Ltd. All rights reserved No photocopying ISBN 978-1-83918-077-4 ISSN 2631-2999 This publication is for general information purposes only. It does not purport to provide comprehensive full legal or other advice. Global Legal Group Ltd. and the contributors accept no responsibility for losses that may arise from reliance upon information contained in this publication. This publication is intended to give an indication of legal issues upon which you may need advice. Full legal advice should be taken from a qualified professional when dealing with specific situations. The information contained herein is accurate as of the date of publication. Printed and bound by TJ International, Trecerus Industrial Estate, Padstow, Cornwall, PL28 8RW October 2020 PREFACE nother year has passed and virtual currency and other blockchain-based digital assets continue to attract the attention of policymakers across the globe. -
Digital Currency Regulatory Guidance
ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION (IDFPR): REQUEST FOR COMMENT DIGITAL CURRENCY REGULATORY GUIDANCE Contents Purpose ................................................................................................................................................................. 2 Types of Digital Currency ...................................................................................................................................... 2 Application of Transmitters of Money Act ............................................................................................................ 4 Regulatory Treatment of Digital Currencies: ........................................................................................................ 5 Licensing Considerations ...................................................................................................................................... 7 1 Purpose Digital currencies such as Bitcoin, Dogecoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and ZCash have raised questions with respect to money transmission and exchange of currency. This guidance outlines the policy of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (the “Department”) with regards to digital currencies. This guidance expresses the Department's interpretation of Illinois’ Transmitters of Money Act,1 (“TOMA”) and its application to various activities involving digital currencies. This guidance seeks to establish the regulatory treatment of digital currencies under TOMA as it currently exists. Types -
Eclipse Attacks on Bitcoin's Peer-To-Peer Network
Eclipse Attacks on Bitcoin’s Peer-to-Peer Network ∗ Ethan Heilman∗ Alison Kendler∗ Aviv Zohar† Sharon Goldberg∗ ∗Boston University †Hebrew University/MSR Israel Abstract While the last few years have seen extensive research We present eclipse attacks on bitcoin’s peer-to-peer net- into the security of bitcoin’s computational proof-of- work. Our attack allows an adversary controlling a suffi- work protocol e.g., [14, 29, 36, 37, 45, 49, 50, 52, 58, 60], cient number of IP addresses to monopolize all connec- less attention has been paid to the peer-to-peer network tions to and from a victim bitcoin node. The attacker can used to broadcast information between bitcoin nodes (see then exploit the victim for attacks on bitcoin’s mining Section 8). The bitcoin peer-to-peer network, which and consensus system, including N-confirmation double is bundled into the core bitcoind implementation, aka., spending, selfish mining, and adversarial forks in the the Satoshi client, is designed to be open, decentralized, blockchain. We take a detailed look at bitcoin’s peer- and independent of a public-key infrastructure. As such, to-peer network, and quantify the resources involved in cryptographic authentication between peers is not used, our attack via probabilistic analysis, Monte Carlo simu- and nodes are identified by their IP addresses (Section 2). lations, measurements and experiments with live bitcoin Each node uses a randomized protocol to select eight nodes. Finally, we present countermeasures, inspired by peers with which it forms long-lived outgoing connec- botnet architectures, that are designed to raise the bar for tions, and to propagate and store addresses of other po- eclipse attacks while preserving the openness and decen- tential peers in the network. -
More Legal Aspects of Smart Contract Applications
More Legal Aspects of Smart Contract Applications Token Sales, Capital Markets, Supply Chain Management, Government and Smart Cities, Real Estate Registries, and Enabling Self-Sovereign Identity J. DAX HANSEN | PARTNER LAURIE ROSINI | ASSOCIATE CARLA L. REYES | ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF LAW +1.206.359.6324 +1.206.359.3052 Director of Legal RnD - Michigan State University College of Law [email protected] [email protected] Faculty Associate - Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University [email protected] PerkinsCoie.com/Blockchain Perkins Coie LLP | October 2018 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................................................................. 3 I. A (VERY) BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO SMART CONTRACTS ............................................................................................... 3 THE ORIGINS OF SMART CONTRACTS ........................................................................................................................................................................... 3 SMART CONTRACTS IN A DISTRIBUTED LEDGER TECHNOLOGY WORLD ....................................................................................................... 4 II. CURRENT ACADEMIC LITERATURE AND INDUSTRY INITIATIVES RELATING TO SMART CONTRACTS .................... 6 SMART CONTRACTS AND CONTRACT LAW ................................................................................................................................................................ -
Should the Federal Reserve Issue a Central Bank Digital Currency? by Paul H
Should the Federal Reserve Issue a Central Bank Digital Currency? By Paul H. Kupiec August 2021 During Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s July 2021 congressional testimony, several elected members encouraged Powell to fast-track the issuance of a Federal Reserve digital cur- rency. Chairman Powell indicated he is not convinced there is a need for a Fed digital currency. But he also indicated that Fed staff are actively studying the issue and that his opinion could change based on their findings and recommendations. In this report, I explain how a new Fed- eral Reserve digital currency would interface with the existing payment system and review the policy issues associated with introducing a Fed digital currency. The Bank for International Settlements defines Governors of the Federal Reserve System 2021b). “central bank digital currency” as “a digital payment Digital deposits are money recorded in (electronic) instrument, denominated in the national unit of ledger entries with no physical form. Digital Fed- account, that is a direct liability of the central eral Reserve deposits can only be held by financial bank” (BIS 2020). In his semiannual appearance institutions (primarily banks) eligible for master before Congress, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome accounts at a Federal Reserve bank. Powell indicated that the Fed was studying the idea Most businesses and consumers are not eligible of creating a new dollar-based central bank digital to own Federal Reserve master accounts, so they currency (USCBDC) (Lee 2021). The design of cannot own Federal Reserve digital deposits under USCBDC has important implications for the US finan- current arrangements. They can own central bank cial system. -
Bitcoin and Cryptocurrencies Law Enforcement Investigative Guide
2018-46528652 Regional Organized Crime Information Center Special Research Report Bitcoin and Cryptocurrencies Law Enforcement Investigative Guide Ref # 8091-4ee9-ae43-3d3759fc46fb 2018-46528652 Regional Organized Crime Information Center Special Research Report Bitcoin and Cryptocurrencies Law Enforcement Investigative Guide verybody’s heard about Bitcoin by now. How the value of this new virtual currency wildly swings with the latest industry news or even rumors. Criminals use Bitcoin for money laundering and other Enefarious activities because they think it can’t be traced and can be used with anonymity. How speculators are making millions dealing in this trend or fad that seems more like fanciful digital technology than real paper money or currency. Some critics call Bitcoin a scam in and of itself, a new high-tech vehicle for bilking the masses. But what are the facts? What exactly is Bitcoin and how is it regulated? How can criminal investigators track its usage and use transactions as evidence of money laundering or other financial crimes? Is Bitcoin itself fraudulent? Ref # 8091-4ee9-ae43-3d3759fc46fb 2018-46528652 Bitcoin Basics Law Enforcement Needs to Know About Cryptocurrencies aw enforcement will need to gain at least a basic Bitcoins was determined by its creator (a person Lunderstanding of cyptocurrencies because or entity known only as Satoshi Nakamoto) and criminals are using cryptocurrencies to launder money is controlled by its inherent formula or algorithm. and make transactions contrary to law, many of them The total possible number of Bitcoins is 21 million, believing that cryptocurrencies cannot be tracked or estimated to be reached in the year 2140. -
Bitflyer Raises Approximately JPY 130 Million in Funds
bitFlyer, Inc Yuzo Kano, CEO bitFlyer Raises JPY 130 million in Funds We are delighted to announce that bitFlyer (Company Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Yuzo Kano, CEO), in order to expand its comprehensive Bitcoin platform and marketplace, has closed a fundraising round of approximately JPY 130 million. We are pleased to have received an investment from several third party investment organizations, including the below (titles omitted, in no particular order): RSP Fund No. 5 (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Akihiko Okamoto, President) GMO Venture Partners (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Masatoshi Kumagai, CEO) Bitcoin Opportunity Corp (Headquarters: New York, USA, Barry Silbert, CEO) The purpose of this funding will be to further strengthen our Bitcoin related businesses in the domestic as well as international markets, set up overseas offices, recruit new talent, accelerate service development, and carry out marketing and advertising campaigns to promote business growth. In addition, the synergies gained through close collaboration with our investment partners, customer base expansion, and the strengthening of our revenue base will help to facilitate our global business expansion. We will continue to pursue our primary goals of improving security while providing the best possible services to our customers. Thank you for using bitFlyer. Reference 1. Information Regarding our Investment Partners RSP Fund No. 5 RSP Fund No. 5 is a wholly owned subsidiary of Recruit Holdings, Co., Ltd. Headquartered in Tokyo and with offices in Silicon Valley, RSP invests in and provides management support to IT companies that provide innovative products and services around the world. GMO Venture Partners GMO Venture Partners is the venture capital arm of GMO Internet Group, investing more than JPY 5 billion to 51 companies in total, including 8 listed companies. -
Mastercard Creates Simpli Ed Payments Card O Ering For
NEWS RELEASE Mastercard Creates Simplied Payments Card Oering for Cryptocurrency Companies 7/20/2021 Reduces friction in experience and provides greater choice for consumers by helping crypto companies oer card programs Suite of partners include Circle, Paxos, Evolve Bank & Trust, Metropolitan Commercial Bank, Uphold, BitPay, Apto Payments, i2c Inc. and Galileo Financial Technologies PURCHASE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Mastercard announced today it will enhance its card program for cryptocurrency wallets and exchanges, making it simpler for partners to convert cryptocurrency to traditional at currency. Working with Evolve Bank & Trust and Paxos Trust Company, the leading blockchain infrastructure and regulated stablecoin issuance platform, and Circle, a global nancial technology rm and the principal operator of the USD Coin (USDC), a dollar digital currency or stablecoin, Mastercard and its partners will test this new capability to enable more banks and crypto companies to oer a card option to people wanting to spend their digital assets anywhere Mastercard is accepted. Today, when people spend cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ether, or Litecoin, it must enter and settle on Mastercard’s network as traditional at currency, such as the U.S. dollar. Until now, crypto providers planning to launch or expand card programs could nd it operationally challenging to perform the currency conversion, a critical step preceding the settlement on Mastercard’s network. Mastercard’s engagement with Evolve, Paxos and Circle solves this challenge for players across the industry. Mastercard announced in February 2021 it is preparing to enable select stablecoins directly on its network, expanding the future potential of digital assets and payments. -
What We Have Today Is Not Bitcoin but BINO by Tim Swanson
What we have today is not Bitcoin but BINO By Tim Swanson Yesterday I was told by a China-based WeChat user that I was “hating on a technology” and “expending energy trying to destroy it.” It being Bitcoin. This is untrue, I like some of the ideas in Bitcoin (the protocol) circa 2009 and work daily with startups to create value in this space. However, what currently is called “Bitcoin” is a shell, at most, of its former self for at least two reasons, both of which illustrate a couple miscalculations by Satoshi. The first and most important reason: Bitcoin and specifically, SHA-based proof-of-work, was irreparably ‘broken’ in July of 2010 by a German nicknamed ArtForz. He was the first person to figure out how to scale mining onto not just GPUs, but GPUs working within a farm (dubbed the ‘ArtFarm’). Several months ago I wrote a lengthy explanation of how he did it and how his farm evolved. Between July 2010 and January 2011 his farm accounted for (at its peak) around 25- 30% of all network hashrate and he generated well over 100,000 bitcoins. In December 2010, this scaling issue was further compounded by another European, Marek Palatinus who hails from The Czech Republic. He created the first mining pool, called Slush’s pool, which while still around, was later supplanted by dozens of other pools including notably, DeepBit, BTC Guild and GHash.io. What this centralization 18 months after its launch ultimately led to was the removal of the relative-anonymity of miners because in order to effectively remain competitive with hashrate for seigniorage rewards, miners increasingly needed larger amounts of capital. -
Coinbase Amount Received Text Message
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