SEC Rescinds SAB 121 Removing Major Bank Digital Asset Custody Hurdle
The SEC's SAB 121 rescission eliminates prohibitive balance sheet constraints, strategically clearing the path for institutional banking entry into digital asset custody.
Citigroup Executes Live Ethereum Custody Pilot for Institutional Client Assets
Integrating native Ether custody into the core platform establishes a compliant institutional on-ramp, mitigating counterparty risk and unlocking new asset service revenue streams.
Australian Treasury Mandates Financial Services Licensing for Digital Asset Platforms
The new Australian Financial Services License mandate for DAPs and TCPs creates a robust prudential framework, fundamentally altering compliance obligations for client-facing digital asset custodians.
ESMA Prohibits CASPs Staking Client Crypto Assets under MiCA Framework
The explicit ban on proprietary staking of client assets fundamentally redefines CASP operating models, demanding immediate architectural separation of firm and client holdings.
Central Banks Partner on DLT Framework to Standardize Cross-Border Settlement
MAS and Bundesbank are establishing a DLT interoperability standard to minimize Herstatt risk and achieve capital-efficient, instantaneous cross-border settlement.
IRS Grants Tax Safe Harbor for Digital Asset Staking Trusts
The IRS safe harbor for staking ETPs standardizes tax treatment, removing the 'power to vary investment' risk for institutional digital asset trusts.
Cayman Islands Mandates Full VASP Licensing for All Digital Asset Operators
The Cayman Islands' new VASP Act ultimatum forces offshore digital asset firms to immediately operationalize full regulatory compliance or face mandatory market exit.
SEC Clears DePIN Token as Non-Security, Signaling Pragmatic Regulatory Shift
The SEC's no-action letter provides a critical, fact-specific pathway to classify functional utility tokens outside the federal securities regime.
SEC Permits State Trust Companies as Qualified Crypto Custodians for Funds
The SEC's custody no-action relief operationalizes a path for RIAs and funds to engage state-level trust companies, mitigating systemic risk for digital asset portfolios.
US States Mandate Crypto Kiosk Operators Obtain Money Transmitter Licenses
State-level licensing mandates reclassify crypto kiosks as money transmitters, forcing an immediate, costly overhaul of AML/KYC compliance architecture.
Absa Bank and Ripple Launch Institutional Crypto Custody in African Market
This collaboration strategically onboards $119.5B in assets to a compliant digital custody rail, mitigating counterparty risk and securing a first-mover advantage in a high-growth market.
Strategy and American Bitcoin Aggressively Expand Corporate Bitcoin Treasury Holdings
The strategic accumulation of over $205 million in Bitcoin fortifies balance sheets, transforming passive cash reserves into an appreciating, non-dilutive digital asset hedge.
SEC Shifts Policy, Dismisses Major Crypto Enforcement Actions
The SEC's pivot from enforcement to rulemaking resets the compliance calculus, providing critical legal space for product structuring.
NFA Repeals Prescriptive Disclosure Rule, Expands Digital Asset Conduct Oversight Scope
The NFA is pivoting from rigid disclosure mandates to principles-based conduct standards, strategically broadening compliance risk exposure for members.
Thai SEC Enforces Licensing Mandate against Unregistered Digital Asset Operations
Global projects must integrate local regulatory licensing protocols to mitigate the severe risk of enforcement and operational shutdown.
Momentum Finance Transforms into a Regulated Institutional Financial Operating System on Sui
The transition to a Financial Operating System on Sui establishes a KYC/KYB-gated bridge to onboard traditional finance liquidity while mitigating decentralized protocol risk.
European Union Digital Operational Resilience Act Mandates Strict ICT Compliance
CASPs must immediately integrate DORA's systemic ICT risk management and third-party oversight into their operational architecture by the Q1 2025 deadline.
Florida Bill Mandates 100% Stablecoin Reserves and Monthly Public Audits
The Florida House's stablecoin reserve mandate imposes a strict 100% liquid collateral and monthly audit standard, elevating operational compliance risk.
SEC Staff Permits State Trust Companies as Qualified Digital Asset Custodians
This no-action relief operationalizes institutional crypto access by expanding the qualified custodian universe, mitigating a critical compliance bottleneck for RIAs.
SEC Staff Clarifies State Trust Companies Qualify as Crypto Custodians
This no-action letter provides RIAs a clear, regulated custody pathway, immediately de-risking institutional crypto adoption.
Australian Treasury Mandates Licensing for Digital Asset and Tokenized Custody Platforms
Firms managing client digital assets must now integrate comprehensive AFSL compliance frameworks, fundamentally altering operational risk and capital requirements.
SEC Staff Permits State Trust Companies as Qualified Crypto Asset Custodians
The SEC staff’s custody no-action relief expands the qualified custodian universe, strategically de-risking institutional crypto adoption.