Blockchain Technology

July 23, 2020, Global Policy Watch

Today, the OCC released an interpretive letter concluding that national banks and federal savings associations (together, “banks”) may permissibly provide cryptocurrency custody services for customers.  The letter, written by Chief Counsel Jonathan Gould, describes custody of cryptocurrency as a modern form of the traditional banking activity of providing ...

July 22, 2020, Cov Financial Services

Today, the OCC released an interpretive letter concluding that national banks and federal savings associations (together, “banks”) may permissibly provide cryptocurrency custody services for customers.  The letter, written by Chief Counsel Jonathan Gould, describes custody of cryptocurrency as a modern form of the traditional banking activity of providing ...

February 14, 2020, Cov Financial Services

On February 12, 2020, the Board of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (“IOSCO”) released a report titled Issues, Risks and Regulatory Considerations Relating to Crypto-Asset Trading Platforms.  The report describes the risks associated with crypto-asset trading platforms (“CTPs”) and sets forth key considerations for regulators in ...

November 26, 2019, Global Policy Watch

Shift to a services era While Africa’s trajectory remains full of daunting challenges, there is reason to be optimistic. Ratification of the Continental Free Trade Agreement demonstrates critical collaboration between African leaders, and promises to unlock the region’s potential. Equally important, growing investments in broadband ensure that affordable access ...

October 14, 2019, Cov Financial Services

On Friday, the leaders of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), and Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) (collectively, the “Agencies”) issued a “Joint Statement on Activities Involving Digital Assets” (the “Joint Statement”).  The Joint Statement serves as a reminder that businesses engaged in ...

August 14, 2019, The Information

Anne Termine spoke with The Information about the issues cryptocurrency exchange companies face with U.S. regulation. Some exchange companies have resulted to forbidding U.S. customers from using their services. Ms. Termine said that to avoid regulatory scrutiny and possible fines, crypto exchanges should make a “reasonable effort” to prevent U.S. residents from ...

August 4, 2019, CoinTelegraph

Michael Nonaka spoke with CoinTelegraph to discuss cryptocurrency regulation in the U.S.   Mr. Nonaka says, "The U.S. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network issued its first guidance addressing cryptocurrency companies in 2013, and since then regulatory action for digital assets has been slow to develop but has picked up in the past few years as an increasing ...

July 29, 2019, Global Policy Watch

On July 23, the New York State Department of Financial Services (“DFS”) announced a new Research and Innovation Division.  The Division will assume responsibility for licensing and supervising virtual currencies.  It will also “assess efforts to use technology to address financial exclusion; identify and protect consumer data rights; and encourage innovations in ...

July 29, 2019, Cov Financial Services

On July 23, the New York State Department of Financial Services (“DFS”) announced a new Research and Innovation Division.  The Division will assume responsibility for licensing and supervising virtual currencies.  It will also “assess efforts to use technology to address financial exclusion; identify and protect consumer data rights; and encourage innovations in ...

July 1, 2019

WASHINGTON—Jeremy Newell has joined Covington's Financial Services Group as a partner in Washington. Mr. Newell's arrival follows the recent addition of Karen Solomon, who joined Covington after serving as the acting Chief Counsel of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Mr. Newell was formerly Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Chief ...

June 21, 2019, The Wall Street Journal

Michael Nonaka is quoted in The Wall Street Journal regarding the Financial Act Task Force’s request to virtual currency firms to develop procedures for sharing customer information with other financial institutions. Mr. Nonaka says that some crypto companies have invested heavily in compliance, others have a long way to go to build the systems necessary for ...

June 7, 2019, Law360

Anne Termine is quoted in Law360 regarding the SEC’s enforcement on fintech and cryptocurrency matters. Ms. Termine says, “From my perspective, having a no-fine case is a pretty big deal. And I think the SEC wanted to make pretty clear that it was a big deal that this was a self-report and that [the company was] recognizing the SEC jurisdiction, that they were ...

May 7, 2019, CNBC

Francis Maude appeared on CNBC to speak about Brexit’s effect on British markets and the upcoming election.  

March 28, 2019

BRUSSELS—Sebastian Vos, partner and co-chair of Covington’s Public Policy Practice, has been named co-chair of the Global Blockchain Business Council’s Legal and Regulatory Working Group. The Global Blockchain Business Council (GBBC) is the leading trade association for the blockchain technology ecosystem and brings together innovative organizations and thought ...

January 31, 2019, Cov Financial Services

Innovation in financial services continues to move at a rapid pace. The significant increase in the number of fintech companies in recent years has highlighted a burgeoning market with significant economic potential, and a commercial need to create efficiencies and modernize the provision of financial products and services. Federal and state financial services ...

January 22, 2019, Cov Financial Services

New York has enacted the Digital Currency Study Bill, which will establish a digital currency task force and provide the governor and the state legislature information “on the effects of the widespread use of cryptocurrencies and other forms of digital currencies and their ancillary systems in the state.”  The task force will conduct an extensive...… Continue ...

January 15, 2019, Bloomberg Law

Anne Termine is quoted in Bloomberg Law regarding the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s enforcement of cryptocurrency coming to a halt with the government shutdown. Ms. Termine says, “It’s an agency working at 10,000 feet right now.” She adds that an extended shutdown could impact the agency’s preparation for oral arguments. “In litigation, March is around ...

December 5, 2018, Cov Financial Services

FinTech and blockchain technologies are rapidly developing. With the emergence of so many new ideas and technologies comes the need for action, to protect both current and future innovations. Given the pace at which technology continues to disrupt the industry, securing IP assets—especially patents—should be a primary consideration for companies in this space. ...

December 1, 2018, Cov Financial Services

The CFTC’s LabCFTC recently released “A Primer on Smart Contracts” as part of LabCFTC’s initiative to engage with stakeholders on FinTech topics. The primer explains smart contracts, and explores their potential benefits — with a particular focus on the financial sector — and challenges. The CFTC has an interest in smart contracts because, as the...… Continue ...

December 2018, Covington Alert

FinTech refers to the use of new and emerging technologies in the financial services industry to improve the delivery of financial services to customers, and includes innovations such as cryptocurrencies and open banking. Recent years have ushered in the use of several key technologies in the FinTech landscape, including artificial intelligence, data analytics, ...

December 1, 2018, Practical Law

This chapter provides a comprehensive overview on fintech regulation in the United States as part of a global fintech guide published by Thomson Reuters. Reproduced from Practical Law with the permission of the publishers. For further information, visit www.practicallaw.com.

November 30, 2018, Global Data Review

Trisha Anderson is quoted in Global Data Review regarding cyber and ransomware attacks. Ms. Anderson said that while the use of technologies like Tor and Bitcoin pose challenges to law enforcement by “raising the level of investigative effort and sophistication required to identify and locate cyber criminals,” the indictment in the SamSam Ransomware cyberattacks ...

October 10, 2018, Law360

September 28, 2018

WASHINGTON—The National Law Journal has named Covington's Michael Nonaka to its inaugural list of "Cryptocurrency, Blockchain, & Fintech Trailblazers." This list profiles 50 lawyers who have "moved the needle" and are making great strides as finance and technology grow more entwined. Mr. Nonaka is co-chair of the firm’s Financial Services Group and advises ...

July 25, 2018, Global Policy Watch

Blockchain technology has the potential to revolutionise many industries; it has been said that “blockchain will do to the financial system what the internet did to media”.  Its most famous use is its role as the architecture of the cryptocurrency Bitcoin, however it has many other potential uses in the financial sector, for instance in...… Continue Reading

July 24, 2018, Cov Financial Services

Blockchain technology has the potential to revolutionise many industries; it has been said that “blockchain will do to the financial system what the internet did to media”.  Its most famous use is its role as the architecture of the cryptocurrency Bitcoin, however it has many other potential uses in the financial sector, for instance in...… Continue Reading

July 17, 2018, Cov Financial Services

On July 16, 2018, the Financial Stability Board (“FSB”) issued a report to the G20 Ministers of Finance and Central Bank Governors summarizing the work that the FSB and other international standard-setting bodies have undertaken regarding crypto-assets.  The FSB notably reported that it has developed a framework for monitoring financial stability risks related ...

April 3, 2018, Washington Lawyer

Michael Nonaka is quoted in a Washington Lawyer article regarding legal opportunities surrounding blockchain. While some lawyers might eventually become blockchain-specialty attorneys, blockchain is looking “more like a technology you have to know about if you’re in certain industries,” says Nonaka. For instance, highly regulated industries such as energy and ...

March 9, 2018, Cov Africa

When bitcoin entered the public’s eye for the first time in 2013, it was touted as one of the greatest inventions for the unbanked in Africa. The World Bank estimates that of the 2 billion people without access to the modern financial system, a third live in Sub-Saharan Africa. In recent months, bitcoin and cryptocurrency...… Continue Reading

January 31, 2018, Global Policy Watch

The European Commission (“EC”) has stated that the almost limitless list of potential use cases of distributed ledger technology (“DLT”) makes it both very promising and challenging, and has expressed its support for blockchain and DLT.[1]  However, many European institutions are still of the opinion that the technology is at its early stage of development,...… ...

January 6, 2017, Law360

Sebastian Vos is quoted in a Law360 article regarding the launch of a Global Blockchain Business Council at this year’s World Economic Forum by Covington and The Bitfury Group. “Blockchain has the potential to be the next great technological innovation, revolutionizing areas from cross-border payments, trade finance and land registries to government records,” ...