Earlier this month, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) issued cease-and-desist letters to a cryptocurrency exchange and a fintech, demanding that each of these entities immediately stop making false and misleading statements about FDIC coverage of their financial products. The FDIC also issued cease and desist letters to two marketing websites, demanding that they remove false and misleading statements about FDIC insurance coverage with respect to the cryptocurrency exchange.… Continue Reading
Federal banking agencies issue joint statement on crypto-asset risks
The Federal Reserve Board, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency have issued a joint statement on crypto-asset risks to banking organizations. The term “crypto-asset” refers to any digital asset implemented using cryptographic techniques.
The statement begins with the agencies’ observations that “[t]he events of the past year have been marked by significant volatility and the exposure of vulnerabilities in the crypto-asset sector” and that “[t]hese events highlight a number of key risks associated with crypto-assets and crypto-asset sector participants that banking organizations should be aware of.”… Continue Reading
NYDFS releases virtual currency guidance for banking organizations
On December 15, 2022, the New York Department of Financial Services (“NYDFS”) published an Industry Letter detailing the Department’s guidance regarding banking organizations that wish to engage in virtual currency-related activities. In addition to reminding banks, trust companies, private bankers, savings banks, safe deposit companies, savings and loan associations, credit unions, investment companies, branches, and agencies of foreign banking organizations licensed by the NYDFS (together, “Banking Organizations”) of their preexisting obligation to seek approval from the NYDFS before engaging in new or significantly different virtual currency-related activity in New York or with a New York resident, the guidance describes the process and types of information that the NYDFS considers in connection with its approval process.… Continue Reading
Ballard Spahr adds Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Legislative Tracker to Ballard360 technology applications
Last week, Ballard Spahr launched an innovative online application to help cryptocurrency and blockchain industry participants keep pace with quickly evolving laws, regulations, policies, and government enforcement priorities in the space. The Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Legislative Tracker is an interactive tool for investors, financial institutions, asset managers, digital currency exchanges, blockchain technology companies, and others doing or seeking to do business involving cryptocurrency.… Continue Reading
CFPB rejects challenge to its authority to investigate crypto lender
The CFPB recently denied the petition of Nexo Financial LLC to modify the CFPB’s Civil Investigative Demand (CID) issued to Nexo, rejecting Nexo’s claim that the CFPB does not have jurisdiction to investigate crypto-lending products offered by Nexo such as its “Earn Interest Product.” This is the first publicly-known action taken by the CFPB against a crypto-currency product provider.… Continue Reading
CFPB Releases Analysis of Consumer Complaints Related to Crypto-Assets
Pointing to a growth in consumer complaints related to crypto-assets, on November 10th, 2022, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (the “CFPB”) released a Complaint Bulletin, which analyzed in excess of 8,300 consumer complaints that the CFPB had received related to crypto-assets. The CFPB reviewed complaints submitted to it during the period of October 2018 to September 2022, but noted that the majority of the complaints it received were submitted over the last two years, with the greatest number of complaints submitted by consumers in California and Florida.… Continue Reading
Acting Comptroller discusses crypto risks, including use of bank-like terminology
In remarks at the DC Fintech Week conference on October 11, 2022 and in a keynote address later the same day at a roundtable conducted by the Harvard Law School Program on International Financial Systems, Acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael J. Hsu expressed concerns about risks to consumers and the financial system posed by crypto industry participants.… Continue Reading
DOJ Issues Report on Digital Asset Law Enforcement Seeking Expansive New Powers, and Launches New Crypto Prosecutor Network
On Friday, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) announced two developments: First, the release of a 66-page report, The Role of Law Enforcement in Detecting, Investigating, and Prosecuting Criminal Activity Related to Digital Assets (the “Report”), issued under President Biden’s March 9, 2022 Executive Order on Ensuring Responsible Development of Digital Assets. … Continue Reading
U.S. Senators ask OCC to reverse guidance on bank engagement in crypto-related activities
On August 10, 2022, four Senators, Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT), sent a letter to Acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael Hsu, asking him to reverse four interpretive letters regarding whether it is permissible for national banks to provide cryptocurrency services.
Under Mr.… Continue Reading
FDIC issues cease and desist letters alleging false or misleading representations about deposit insurance on crypto-related products
On August 19, 2022, the FDIC issued cease and desist letters to five crypto companies, alleging they made false and misleading statements about FDIC deposit insurance and demanding immediate corrective action. The five companies are FTX US, Cryptonews.com, CryptoSec.info, SmartAsset.com, and FDICCrypto.com. The FDIC’s actions come weeks after issuing an “Advisory to FDIC-Insured Institutions Regarding Deposit Insurance and Dealings with Crypto Companies” to address the agency’s concerns regarding misrepresentations about FDIC deposit insurance.… Continue Reading