German Bank DZ Launches Blockchain-Based Digital Assets Custody Platform

DZ Bank AG, one of Germany’s largest banks, has launched its own digital assets custody platform using blockchain technology. The platform will cater to institutional clients, offering them crypto securities such as the crypto bond from Siemens. DZ Bank believes that distributed ledger technology (DLT) will play a significant role in the capital market business […]

Potential Rent Increases Expected as Reference Interest Rate Rises

The mortgage reference interest rate in Switzerland has recently increased from 1.25% to 1.5%. This could potentially result in higher rental prices for tenants. Landlords now have the right to increase rents for existing rental agreements that were based on the previous reference rate. It is expected that a majority of landlords will take advantage […]

FTX CEO Found Guilty of Fraud and Embezzlement in Landmark Trial

Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried has been found guilty of fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud. The jury delivered its verdict quickly after a short deliberation. Throughout the trial, questions arose about how this situation could have been prevented and what can be done to avoid similar incidents in the future. Some argue that existing […]

Ripple Nears Settlement in SEC Legal Battle, Victory in Sight with $20 Million Payment

Ripple’s legal battle with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is nearing its end, with a settlement on the horizon. The SEC filed a lawsuit against Ripple Labs in 2020, claiming that its XRP token is an unregistered security. While Ripple secured a partial victory in court, the case is still ongoing as the […]

Ripple’s XRP Lawsuit Against SEC: $20 Million Settlement Could Be a Major Victory

Prominent cryptocurrency attorney John E. Deaton has provided insights into the ongoing lawsuit between Ripple Labs and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding the digital currency XRP. Deaton believes that a settlement valued at $20 million or less would be a significant legal victory for Ripple. He refutes the notion that the lawsuit’s outcome […]

Regulatory Gaps Expose Challenges for Crypto Platform LedgerX

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is focusing on the regulation of customer assets in the derivatives market. However, their current proposal does not fully address the unique operational model of LedgerX, a crypto platform. LedgerX operates as a direct clearing organization (DCO), which deviates from the traditional role of intermediaries. Commissioner Kristin Johnson […]

US Treasury Imposes Sanctions on Russian National for Crypto Money Laundering

In a significant move to combat sanctions evasion and illicit financial activities, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has imposed sanctions on Ekaterina Zhdanova, a Russian national allegedly involved in laundering and transferring funds using crypto on behalf of Russian elites. This action aligns with the G7’s commitment to […]

SEC Calls for Summary Judgment in Legal Battle with Terraform Labs Co-Founder Do Kwon over Alleged Securities Violations

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is urging a Manhattan judge to deliver summary judgment in its legal battle with Terraform Labs and its co-founder, Do Kwon. The SEC claims that Kwon violated securities laws in the distribution of the Terra blockchain’s native cryptocurrency, LUNA, and its stablecoin TerraUSD (UST). According to the SEC, […]

US Treasury Sanctions Russian National for Facilitating Oligarchs’ Sanctions Evasion with Cryptocurrency

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has imposed sanctions on a Russian national, Ekaterina Zhdanova, for her involvement in helping Russian oligarchs evade sanctions using cryptocurrency. Zhdanova was tasked with moving over $100 million in crypto from Russia to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on behalf of one oligarch. She also played a role in […]

Abu Dhabi Establishes Comprehensive Regulatory Framework for Crypto Industry

The Emirate of Abu Dhabi has established a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital ledger technology, positioning itself as the second crypto hub in the UAE alongside Dubai. The Registration Authority of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) has released the Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) Foundations Regulations 2023, which aim to provide regulatory clarity for the crypto […]