On 4 November 2025, the Canadian federal government released its 2025 Budget called “Canada Strong” (“Budget 2025”) which signaled a major step toward regulating crypto assets in Canada. For the first time, and after much speculation that such a proposal was in the works, the federal government announced its intention to introduce legislation to govern the issuance of fiat-backed stablecoins. The proposed framework would aim to enhance consumer protection, strengthen national security safeguards and build…
For a time, Do Kwon was hailed as a visionary, a “cryptocurrency king” building a decentralized financial utopia. His company, Terraform Labs, and its associated cryptocurrencies, TerraUSD (UST) and LUNA, grew to a combined market capitalization of over $40 billion. The project promised investors stability and high returns, attracting a legion of devoted followers who called themselves “LUNAtics.” Yet, as the world learned, this crypto kingdom was built on a foundation of deception. The dramatic…
The digital asset landscape is evolving rapidly, and few sectors have experienced as much transformation as stablecoins. Recent developments in U.S. regulation signal a decisive shift toward a comprehensive legal framework. Within this context, the Initial Public Offering (IPO) of Circle Internet Group—the issuer of USDC, the second-largest stablecoin by market capitalization —is more than a corporate milestone. It marks a pivotal moment in the maturation of the industry and the growing integration of digital…
On August 25, 2023, the United States Treasury Department issued a notice of proposed rulemaking regarding tax reporting by brokers of transactions involving the sale or exchange of digital assets (“Proposed Regulations”). These long-awaited Proposed Regulations are in response to section 80603 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, which expanded the scope of information reporting obligations for brokers under Code section 6045 to cover transfers of digital assets. Baker McKenzie has prepared an…
If 2020 was the year that crypto spurred investment action, then 2022 will be remembered for triggering the “equal but opposite” regulatory reaction. And for good reason. With several high-profile insolvencies and an across-the-board fall in cryptoasset prices, regulators have been reminded of the risks that can accompany financial innovation. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), alongside HM Treasury and various other government and enforcement actors, have been monitoring developments in crypto markets and considering the…
In the wake of last month’s collapse of the TerraUSD token, a broad array of regulators and government officials have attempted to introduce a legal framework around stablecoins. Recently, Japan passed comprehensive legislation around the issuance of stablecoins. In the United States, Senators Lummis (R-WY) and Gillibrand (D-NY) recently introduced a bill into the US Congress that would, among other things, set requirements for the amount of backing assets stablecoin issuers would be required to…
On 7 January 2021 HM Treasury (HMT) published a consultation and call for evidence on the regulatory approach to cryptoassets and stablecoins. The consultation represents the first stage in HMT’s consultative process on the broader regulatory approach to cryptoassets and stablecoins. The consultation closed on 21 March 2021. Baker McKenzie’s crypto regulatory experts have published a briefing that explores the policy background underlying the consultation, sets out the key points of HMT’s proposals, and provides a comparison to…
On December 29, 2020, New York State’s Department of Financial Services (DFS) granted a charter under New York Banking Law to GMO-Z.com Trust Company Inc., to operate as a limited liability trust company. With DFS approval, GMO is authorized to issue, administer, and redeem Japanese Yen and U.S. Dollar-pegged stablecoins in New York. The Japanese Yen stablecoin will be the first of its kind available to the public. New York, a leading global financial center, has had an interesting history with cryptocurrency. We…
On December 2, 2020, three members of the U.S. Congress issued a press release concerning the introduction of the Stablecoin Tethering and Bank Licensing Enforcement (STABLE) Act, which they touted as a consumer protection statute. The proposed legislation seeks to increase the oversight and regulation of stablecoins. The STABLE Act would: Require any prospective issuer of a stablecoin to obtain a banking charter;Require that any company offering stablecoin services must follow the appropriate banking regulations under the…
Bank of England Governor Speaks About the Future Shape of Stablecoin Regulation On 3 September 2020, Andrew Bailey, the Governor of the Bank of England, delivered a speech to the Brookings Institution regarding innovation in payments, setting out his view that innovations need to be underpinned by an appropriate regulatory framework to be suitable for use on a wider scale. In his view, stablecoins have the potential to be suitable for widespread use, but must…