Insights
-
Launching a Stablecoin: Become an Issuer or Partner With One?
Read More: Launching a Stablecoin: Become an Issuer or Partner With One?A payments company planning a branded dollar stablecoin must first determine which legal entity will owe dollars upon redemption. It can become a permitted issuer, assuming substantial regulatory, reserve, reporting, and operational obligations, or partner with an authorized issuer while retaining its brand and customer relationships. White-label agreements should clearly address minting authority, redemption procedures,…
-
This Week in Crypto Law (November 8, 2026)
Read More: This Week in Crypto Law (November 8, 2026)This week’s crypto guidance focused on practical compliance. The SEC clarified how decentralization, governance, functionality, and control affect token analysis, then issued a fact-specific no-action position for Canton Coin. The CFTC directed designated contract markets to remove unjustified domestic geographic restrictions. OFAC sanctioned eight Canadian money services businesses for allegedly supporting Iran’s digital-asset sector, underscoring…
-
Did the Crypto Industry Blow Its Best Chance at Regulatory Clarity? Patrick McHenry Thinks So.
Read More: Did the Crypto Industry Blow Its Best Chance at Regulatory Clarity? Patrick McHenry Thinks So.Former House Financial Services Chairman Patrick McHenry argues that the cryptocurrency industry helped derail the CLARITY Act by rejecting achievable compromises, particularly over stablecoin rewards, ethics provisions, and competing commercial interests. Although the House passed the bill with bipartisan support, a Senate procedural vote failed, and Democrats’ 2026 election victories further reduced its prospects. The…
-
Crypto Market-Making Agreements: What Token Projects Should Negotiate Before Signing
Read More: Crypto Market-Making Agreements: What Token Projects Should Negotiate Before SigningBefore lending tokens to a market maker, a project should clearly define ownership, purchase options, repayment, trading authority, performance standards, reporting, compliance, conflicts, exclusivity, termination, and liability. Agreements should specify measurable liquidity obligations, prohibit manipulation, permit oversight, and enable complete inventory reconciliation. Projects must address exchange outages, token changes, insolvency risk, collateral, and enforceable dispute…
-
Does Your Stablecoin Business Still Need Money Transmitter Licenses?
Read More: Does Your Stablecoin Business Still Need Money Transmitter Licenses?The GENIUS Act introduces a federal framework for payment stablecoins but does not exempt all businesses involved, such as exchanges and wallets, from existing money-transmission regulations. Companies must evaluate their roles in handling stablecoins, including whether they issue stablecoins or perform money transmission and how these activities are regulated federally and by individual states. The…
-
This Week in Crypto Law (November 1, 2026)
Read More: This Week in Crypto Law (November 1, 2026)This week saw key developments in prediction markets and digital asset regulations. The UK proposed tax reforms for specific digital transactions, treating stablecoins more like currency, while the U.S. intensified actions against prediction-market enforcement and crypto scams. The CFTC sued Utah to assert federal control over prediction markets, countering state gambling laws. The FCA restricted…
-
The Binance Hack and What It Means for Crypto Customers
Read More: The Binance Hack and What It Means for Crypto CustomersThe October 29 hack of Binance.com has raised significant concerns regarding the security of customer assets and the recovery of approximately $6.3 billion in stolen cryptocurrency. Binance plans to cover losses from its Secure Asset Fund for Users (SAFU). Estimates attribute the hack to North Korean hacking group TraderTraitor. Customers are advised to preserve account…
-
Does Your Noncustodial Crypto Business Need a Money Transmitter License?
Read More: Does Your Noncustodial Crypto Business Need a Money Transmitter License?A startup has developed a noncustodial wallet that allows customers to sign transactions independently, without the company holding their private keys. Despite this, the startup’s compliance with money transmitter licensing remains ambiguous as it depends on the nature of its services and regulatory frameworks. Federal and state laws vary in defining money transmission, necessitating a…
-
Bo Hines, USAT, and Tether’s U.S. Strategy Under the GENIUS Act
Read More: Bo Hines, USAT, and Tether’s U.S. Strategy Under the GENIUS ActThe content discusses the launch of Tether’s USA₮ under the GENIUS Act and its implications for businesses entering the stablecoin sector. It emphasizes that the legal issuer, Anchorage Digital Bank, differs from Tether, which only provides technology and branding. The article also highlights the importance of understanding regulatory responsibilities, governance, and compliance structure. Bo Hines’s…
-
OCC Finalizes GENIUS Act Rules as Stablecoin Rewards Face Continued Scrutiny
Read More: OCC Finalizes GENIUS Act Rules as Stablecoin Rewards Face Continued ScrutinyThe Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has implemented final regulations under the GENIUS Act, effective January 18, 2027, providing stablecoin businesses with a defined operational framework. It requires issuers to evaluate products and redemption systems against new criteria, particularly concerning rewards programs. The rules eliminate a proposed presumption against certain commercial arrangements and…