Solidus Digital Assets Trade Surveillance and Regulation Update
Key developments from the cryptoasset space for digital asset practitioners thinking blockchain beyond the buzz
Solidus in London: Discussing Digital Asset Market Surveillance and Regulation Challenges alongside Major Regulators
Solidus CEO, Asaf Meir, joined industry leaders (like Ripple, Global Digital Finance and Coinfloor) and major UK and EU regulators (like Bank of England, HM Treasury, the FCA, FSB and the French AMF) at the Regulation of Cryptocurrencies conference in London last week. The one-day event offered honest discussion between regulators — who are following the industry closely and admit they have much to learn — and innovators — who are thirsty for regulatory clarity, but increasingly understand the need to self regulate (or, as Coinfloor CEO Obi Nwosu put it, work for “preemptive compliance.”) More of our insights from the event, and from Asaf Meir’s panel on the tech challenges of regulating cryptocurrencies, in a separate post.
SEC Commissioner: Bitcoin ETF Definitely Possible; Two New Enforcement Actions
Asked if the approval of a Bitcoin-ETF is “inevitable” during a podcast interview, SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce responded that “it’s definitely possible.” Peirce, who famously dissented against the securities agency’s rejection of an application to trade an ETF that includes Bitcoin on a traditional exchange, stressed the relevancy of existing regulatory framework, saying the industry cannot ignore them “just because you are calling something Crypto.” One of the key reasons for the repeated rejections was the lack of sufficient surveillance to prevent manipulation.
Last week, the SEC fined two firms $250,000 each for selling unregistered security tokens on the Ethereum network. According to Forbes Journalist Michael Del Castillo, “the pair of charges show the regulator’s increased level of hands-on involvement in the space.”
OUR TAKE: The SEC’s approach to cryptoassets thus continues to be twofold — increasing enforcement based on traditional security rules on the one hand, while gradually and carefully making way for regulated digital assets.
Switzerland Greenlights Bitocin ETP on Traditional Exchange
And while US authorities are still considering applications, SIX, the largest stock exchange in Switzerland and fourth largest in Europe officially allows trading of an Exchange Traded Product invested in Bitcoin (48%), XRP (25.4%), Ethereum (16.7%), Bitcoin Cash (5.2%) and LiteCoin (3%). Issued by Amun, a London-based company, the ETP is traded under the ticker symbol HODL.
OUR TAKE: Switzerland is a global symbol of traditional banking. When a major exchange — supported by regulators — enables regulated engagement with cryptoassets, it’s a bold signal to the rest of the finance world.
Manipulation takes center stage in CFTC probe into cryptocurrencies
Bloomberg reports the Justice Department and CFTC are now focusing their months-long probe into cryptocurrencies on “suspicions that a tangled web involving Bitcoin, Tether and crypto exchange Bitfinex might have been used to illegally move prices, said three people familiar with the matter.”
OUR TAKE: This increased attention to the role manipulation played — and still playes — in digital asset markets, exemplifies the lack of effective trade surveillance. Strong market surveillance infrastructure, tailored for blockchain-based assets and powered by machine learning, is key to ensuring more transparency and real time detection of manipulation in the future.
Grayscale Report: 70% of digital asset investments — by institutions
Grayscale, one of the leading fully-regulated investment houses for digital assets, released it’s Q3 investment report. The report notes that 70% of $81 million new investments this quarter come from institutional clients. Year to date, institutions account for 59%.
OUR TAKE: Wall street and other institutional investors are clearly interested in the value offered by digital assets, and Grayscale’s numbers add to the piling evidence that many of them are already operating in the space.
Study by VC Firm: Investments in Blockchain Space jump 316%
US-based Outlier Ventures released a study of investment trends in the blockchain ecosystem. Some of the key findings include:
- VC investments in the blockchain space increased by 316% in 2018 compared to 2017
- A major decline in investments larger than 100 million — only two in 2018
- Despite the recent “Crypto Winter”, trading infrastructure is being improved drastically by young companies and institutional firms alike
- Regardless of the market or startup fundraising, corporate blockchain activity is continued fast
- It’s not just corporates; Governments and regulators also smell the opportunity
OUR TAKE: Particularly at a time when cryptocurrencies, the first implementation of blockchain-based trading, are declining in value, the study serves as another “undercurrent” indicator that digital assets as a class are nonetheless on the rise.
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Solidus Labs uses 20 years of Wall Street FinTech experience to provide machine learning-powered trade surveillance tailored for cryptoassets. Our products help exchanges, broker dealers, market makers and other financial service providers detect and combat manipulation in digital asset trading, and streamline reg-reporting.
To learn more about our product schedule a demo, visit www.soliduslabs.com or contact us at hello@soliduslabs.com. We’re always happy to start a conversation.
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