Schlagwort: crypto news

• The agency would extend the deadline to June 11 to rule on Grayscale’s bid to convert its Polkadot Trust and Canary’s proposal to list a Hedera (HBAR) ETF.
• A separate delay was also announced for the Bitwise Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF, now pushed to June 10.
• The delays come as the SEC, under new Chair Paul Atkins, faces a backlog of more than 70 crypto ETF filings.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission has pushed back its decisions on crypto ETF proposals tied to Polkadot and Hedera, amid a broader wave of applications awaiting regulatory clarity.

The agency said Thursday it would extend the deadline to June 11 to rule on Grayscale’s bid to convert its Polkadot Trust and Canary’s proposal to list a Hedera (HBAR) ETF.

It was previously expected to be decided by the end of this week. A separate delay was also announced for the Bitwise Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF, now pushed to June 10.

In its filing, the SEC cited the need for “sufficient time to consider the proposed rule change and the issues raised therein.”

Over 70 ETFs await approval

The delays come as the SEC, under new Chair Paul Atkins, faces a backlog of more than 70 crypto ETF filings.

Applications range from major altcoins like XRP, Solana, and Litecoin to meme coin-themed and leveraged products.

Analyst Eric Balchunas called the ETF queue “wild,” noting the inclusion of everything from “Penguins, Doge, and 2x Melania.”

Atkins, a former commissioner with strong ties to Wall Street, was confirmed on April 21 after a contentious Senate vote.

Acting Chair Mark Uyeda had held off on major rulings, with insiders saying a lack of permanent leadership froze progress.

Under Gary Gensler, the SEC approved spot Bitcoin ETFs in January 2024 and spot Ethereum ETFs in July, following a court decision favoring Grayscale.

Since President Donald Trump began his second term in January, the SEC has signaled a more crypto-friendly stance, hosting industry roundtables and dropping several lawsuits against crypto firms.

Another roundtable, focused on crypto custody, is set for Friday.

BTC ETFs show strong demand

Spot Bitcoin ETFs in the US have staged a remarkable comeback, pulling in $936.43 million in net inflows on Tuesday, April 22—marking their strongest single-day performance since mid-January, according to SoSoValue data.

That momentum held into the next day, with another $916.91 million in inflows logged on April 23.

BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) was the clear frontrunner, drawing $643.16 million, followed by Ark & 21Shares’ ARKB, which brought in $129.5 million.

The surge extends a four-day streak of inflows topping $100 million—a pattern last seen in late January, during a previous wave of institutional enthusiasm.

The sharp uptick follows a lull in ETF activity that had raised doubts about the durability of institutional interest.

However, the recent rebound has proven consequential, coinciding with Bitcoin’s surge past the $90,000 level.

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• O’Neal was among several high-profile celebrities and athletes accused of endorsing FTX.
• Other celebrities named in similar legal actions include NFL quarterback Tom Brady, supermodel Gisele Bündchen.
• This is O’Neal’s second high-profile crypto-related settlement in recent months.

Shaquille O’Neal has reached a confidential settlement with investors who alleged losses tied to the collapse of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, according to an April 23 filing in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

The terms of the agreement remain confidential, with specific details expected to be disclosed once plaintiffs file for preliminary court approval.

O’Neal was among several high-profile celebrities and athletes accused of endorsing FTX and allegedly contributing to investor losses through promotional activity prior to the exchange’s bankruptcy.

The lawsuit is part of a broader multidistrict litigation seeking up to $21 billion in damages from FTX insiders, advisers, and promoters—an amount that far exceeds the $9.2 billion expected to be available through the ongoing bankruptcy process.

Celebrity promoters under scrutiny

Other celebrities named in similar legal actions include NFL quarterback Tom Brady, supermodel Gisele Bündchen, investor Kevin O’Leary, former NBA player Udonis Haslem, baseball legend David Ortiz, and tennis star Naomi Osaka.

All were accused of lending credibility to FTX in promotional campaigns, allegedly misleading retail investors.

O’Neal initially drew headlines in the case for evading service of legal documents, with plaintiffs’ attorneys accusing him of “running from the lawsuit.”

Legal teams reportedly spent months attempting to serve him, even attempting delivery during NBA broadcasts and at his residences.

Settlement follows NFT legal resolution

This is O’Neal’s second high-profile crypto-related settlement in recent months.

He recently agreed to pay $11 million to resolve a class-action lawsuit concerning his role in promoting the Astrals NFT project, a Solana-based initiative featuring 10,000 NFTs, a metaverse called Astralworld, and a governance token known as Galaxy.

That lawsuit alleged the NFTs were unregistered securities and that O’Neal misled investors through his endorsements.

He was served in that case during a May 2023 NBA playoff game at Miami’s Kaseya Center—formerly named FTX Arena.  

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• This follows an earlier $80 million penalty paid to other US state regulators in 2024.
• Cash App now has over 57 million active users and supports various crypto services.
• Block reported $6.03 billion in 2024 revenue, with earnings per share up 51%.

Block Inc., the parent company of Cash App, has agreed to a $40 million settlement with the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) following findings of compliance shortcomings tied to its crypto services.

The settlement follows a state investigation that uncovered weaknesses in anti-money laundering (AML) controls, including failures to detect suspicious activity and monitor high-risk Bitcoin transactions.

Block, co-founded by Jack Dorsey, resolved the matter without admitting wrongdoing, stating the issues stemmed from legacy systems within Cash App’s historical compliance programme.

AML lapses flagged

Block’s compliance failures included insufficient customer due diligence, weak transaction monitoring, and inadequate screening of high-risk crypto activity.

The NYDFS concluded that the company’s systems were not robust enough to detect suspicious patterns tied to Bitcoin usage.

Block had been under investigation since 2023, and the company disclosed the probe and related negotiations in regulatory filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

The $40 million settlement comes just months after Block paid $80 million in penalties to multiple state regulators earlier this year, also tied to AML compliance.

The back-to-back fines have renewed scrutiny on fintech platforms offering crypto services as regulators increase oversight of digital assets.

Crypto business grows

Despite facing multiple compliance challenges, Block continues to grow its crypto and banking offerings through Cash App.

The platform, which has enabled Bitcoin purchases since 2018, integrated tax-reporting software TaxBit in 2023 to support users managing their crypto liabilities.

As of early 2024, Cash App had more than 57 million monthly active users and generated $1.38 billion in gross profit in the fourth quarter alone.

Block’s financial health remains strong, reporting $6.03 billion in revenue for 2024, up 4.5% year-on-year, and per-share earnings of $0.71—an increase of 51%. The company’s gross payment volume grew 10% to $61.95 billion.

However, investors remain wary. Block’s share price has fallen 32% since the beginning of the year and more than 80% since its 2021 high.

Banking push stalls

As Block faces pressure from regulators, it is also confronting challenges in turning Cash App into a full-service banking platform.

The company has launched marketing efforts in major US cities and introduced services such as high-yield savings accounts, debit cards, short-term loans via Cash App Borrow, and buy now, pay later products through Afterpay.

The direct deposit feature reached 2.5 million users by December, an important milestone for broader financial services uptake.

Still, building trust remains a hurdle. In early 2024, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ordered Cash App to refund up to $120 million to users over deficiencies in fraud investigations.

Analysts are questioning whether Cash App can compete with fintech players like Robinhood, which have begun offering higher-interest accounts and more comprehensive banking products.

Block’s efforts to reposition Cash App as a digital bank come at a time when regulatory scrutiny of fintechs is intensifying, particularly around cryptocurrency compliance and fraud prevention.

While the company has avoided admitting guilt in its settlements, the multiple investigations have raised questions about its readiness to scale its financial services model within a tightly regulated environment.

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• New SEC chair Paul Atkins confirmed on 10 April.
• Enforcement pivot includes Coinbase and Kraken case drops.
• Legal clarity boosts DePIN sector, but risks remain.

In a major development for the decentralised wireless network sector, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has dismissed its case against Helium with prejudice, marking a rare reversal in crypto enforcement policy.

The decision ends a long-standing legal cloud over the regulatory status of Helium’s three key tokens—HNT, IOT, and MOBILE.

It also signals a broader shift under the Trump administration’s SEC chair Paul Atkins, confirmed on 10 April, who is known for his pro-crypto stance.

While Helium celebrated the dismissal as a “major win” in its 11 April blog post, court records reveal that its parent company, Nova Labs, quietly agreed to pay a $200,000 penalty to settle separate securities fraud allegations.

Tokens no longer under scrutiny

The SEC formally dropped charges alleging that Helium’s core tokens were unregistered securities, stating that the case would be dismissed with prejudice—effectively barring any future prosecution on similar grounds.

This decision closes a chapter of uncertainty that had cast a shadow over the Decentralised Physical Infrastructure Network (DePIN) space.

Helium’s post attributed the outcome to the SEC’s updated approach to Web3 projects, especially those involving hardware and community-driven incentives.

It said the ruling “brings clarity” to a sector often caught in a legal grey zone, where distributing tokens for user engagement was frequently seen as a securities issue.

While this dismissal may serve as a precedent for similar decentralised infrastructure ventures, it does not offer immunity from other compliance risks.

Nova Labs pays $200,000 penalty

Although the SEC case regarding token classification is closed, Nova Labs remains tied to a $200,000 civil penalty issued over alleged fundraising misconduct.

The penalty resolves accusations that Nova Labs misrepresented partnerships with major firms including Nestle, Salesforce, and Lime during a 2021–2022 capital raise.

The SEC alleged that Nova Labs used those inflated claims to boost its valuation to $1 billion, luring in investors under false pretences.

The settlement, finalised without an admission or denial of guilt, ensures the company will not face further regulatory action on those claims, but it remains a cautionary tale for other crypto startups seeking funding.

SEC shifts under Trump appointee

The case dismissal is part of a wider change in tone at the SEC under Paul Atkins, a known supporter of digital asset innovation.

His confirmation on 10 April follows several agency reversals, including the dropping of lawsuits against Coinbase, Kraken, and Consensys.

This emerging trend points to a deliberate pivot in the SEC’s enforcement strategy—one focused more on regulatory clarity and less on litigation.

Industry analysts suggest this could embolden more crypto infrastructure firms to scale without fear of blanket regulatory action, provided they maintain transparency in investor communications.

The timing of the Helium case dismissal—just one day after Atkins’ appointment—reinforces the view that the Trump administration is prioritising blockchain innovation over punitive measures.

While this could revive confidence in DePIN and similar sectors, critics argue that enforcement gaps may still persist without new legislative frameworks.

DePIN still faces legal gaps

Despite the positive outcome for Helium, the broader DePIN landscape remains a work in progress when it comes to compliance.

Many projects operate at the intersection of telecommunications, finance, and decentralised governance—areas where existing US rules remain ill-suited.

The SEC’s clarification in the Helium case—that selling hardware and distributing tokens for network growth does not automatically make those tokens securities—could offer temporary relief.

However, lawyers warn that this does not remove the need for careful disclosures, especially during token sales or equity fundraising rounds.

As tokenisation and decentralised infrastructure continue to merge with traditional industries, the Helium ruling provides a key legal benchmark—but not a complete solution.

Stakeholders across crypto, telecoms, and regulation will now look to see whether this softer stance will translate into durable legal clarity or further policy reversals in the months ahead.

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• Kraken secures Restricted Dealer registration in Canada.
• Cynthia Del Pozo has been named General Manager for North America.
• Kraken’s Canadian operations have doubled over the past two years, exceeding $2B CAD in assets.

Kraken has secured a Restricted Dealer registration in Canada, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to providing Canadian crypto investors with a secure and regulated trading environment.

This achievement follows a rigorous pre-registration undertaking process with Canadian authorities, which enhanced the company’s governance, security, and compliance protocols to meet the highest industry standards.

Kraken now under the oversight of the Ontario Securities Commission

The new registration places Kraken under the oversight of the Ontario Securities Commission, ensuring that its innovative crypto products are offered within a framework designed to protect consumers and uphold investor confidence.

This regulatory achievement comes at a time when Canada is emerging as a global leader in cryptocurrency adoption, with the country having pioneered initiatives such as the first public Bitcoin ATM in Vancouver and the launch of spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs.

Recent surveys indicate that around 30% of Canadian investors and institutional players have exposure to cryptocurrencies, and a growing number of Canadians view digital assets as a critical component of the financial future.

Also, over the past two years, Kraken’s Canadian operations have witnessed substantial growth. The company has doubled its team size and monthly transacting users while surpassing CAD 2 billion in client assets under custody.

In addition, Kraken now offers free Interac e-Transfer deposits, making crypto investing more accessible and affordable for Canadian clients by reducing transaction costs and eliminating foreign exchange fees.

Cynthia Del Pozo appointed new General Manager for North America

In tandem with the registration in Canada, Kraken has appointed Cynthia Del Pozo as the new General Manager for North America.

With nearly 15 years of experience in corporate development, operations, and fintech consulting, Del Pozo is expected to drive the company’s expansion across Canada. Her appointment signals Kraken’s intent to further strengthen its regulatory, political, and commercial relationships in the region, while continuing to scale its market presence.

Notably, Kraken’s success in obtaining a Restricted Dealer registration not only reaffirms its commitment to regulatory compliance but also positions the exchange at the forefront of Canada’s crypto market evolution.

With a robust regulatory foundation, a new leader at the helm, and a suite of innovative products tailored for local investors, Kraken is well-prepared to capitalize on the expanding opportunities in the digital finance sector.

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