Three months ago, we wrote about a record $225 million cryptocurrency seizure by the U.S. Secret Service connected to a “pig butchering” scheme. That amount pales in comparison to the U.S. Department of Justice’s announcement on October 14, 2025 that it had filed a civil forfeiture complaint against approximately 127,271 Bitcoin (the cryptocurrency defendant in the case), which are presently in the custody of the U.S. government. Using the current Bitcoin price, the value is…
We recently wrote about how the United Kingdom and the United States jointly launched the Transatlantic Task Force for Markets of the Future and how it had the potential to reshape the global regulatory landscape for digital assets. We wondered about how the EU might respond. Verena Ross, Chair of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), recently made headlines in an interview with the Financial Times by confirming that the European Commission is drafting…
In a significant move that has the potential to reshape the global regulatory landscape for digital assets, the United Kingdom and the United States have jointly launched the Transatlantic Task Force for Markets of the Future. Announced during U.S. President Donald Trump’s state visit to the U.K. in September 2025, this initiative marks a significant step toward regulatory harmonization between two of the world’s most influential financial jurisdictions. The task force, co-chaired by officials from…
On September 2, 2025, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) issued a landmark Joint Statement that could reshape the future of cryptocurrency trading in the United States. In a rare show of unity, the two agencies clarified that registered exchanges are not prohibited from listing and facilitating the trading of certain spot crypto asset products, including those involving leverage, margin, or financing. Depending on what happens next,…
The week of July 14 to 18, 2025 marked a historic moment for the U.S. cryptocurrency industry, as the U.S. House of Representatives officially designated it “Crypto Week.” This initiative signaled a profound shift in how Washington approaches the burgeoning digital asset landscape, moving from cautious observation to active legislative engagement. While much of the attention landed on the GENIUS Act, it is also important to understand the implications of the CLARITY Act and the…
On August 18, 2025, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed two bills that created, in his words, first-of-their-kind safeguards in the Midwest for cryptocurrency and other digital assets. The legislation was in part a response to an FBI report that Illinois consumers lost $272 million in fraud cases involving cryptocurrency in 2024, representing the most common type of financial fraud. And, not surprisingly for a person who reportedly sees himself as a future Democratic presidential candidate,…
On July 18, 2025, President Trump signed into law the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins Act (“GENIUS Act”), marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of digital asset regulation. As the first comprehensive federal framework governing payment stablecoins, the GENIUS Act introduces a robust regulatory regime designed to enhance market integrity and consumer protection. The GENIUS Act will take effect on the earlier of (i) January 18, 2027 (i.e., 18 months following…
On July 4, 2025, the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act (the “Act”) was signed into law, making important changes to the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”). The Act has implications for US and non-US companies and their domestic and international transactions, capital investment, and research and development activities, amongst other areas, which carry significant weight for the cryptocurrency/digital asset industry. From cryptocurrency exchanges, payment processors, asset managers and cryptocurrency funds to mining companies, token issuers,…
Earlier this month, New Zealand banned cryptocurrency ATMs. The move underscores a growing international trend: regulators are increasingly scrutinizing the cash-to-crypto pipeline, viewing it as a significant vulnerability for illicit finance. While the ban has sparked debate within the crypto community, it also offers a valuable case study in how jurisdictions are grappling with the intersection of digital assets and financial regulation. On July 16, 2025, David Zaslowsky published an article in the New York…
On May 20, 2025, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a sweeping enforcement action against Unicoin Inc., a New York-based crypto company, and several of its senior executives. The lawsuit, which alleges a $100 million fraud scheme affecting thousands of investors, stands as one of the most high-profile crypto enforcement actions of the year. It also offers a revealing lens into the SEC’s evolving enforcement posture under the Trump administration’s second term. To…