Tag: cryptocurrency

ransomware hearing

Vice Chair Elaine Kim (R, CA) took over for an ailing Chair Blaine Leutkemeyer (R, MO) yesterday at the “Held for Ransom: How Ransomware Endangers Our Financial System” hearing under the auspices of House Financial Services National Security, Illicit Finance, and International Financial Institutions Subcommittee.

See the hearing page including video.

With testimony that included phrases such as “payment killchain” and “big game hunting,” Members received a 2-hour barrage on the latest in cybersecurity and its intersection with ransomware.

See witness’ opening, prepared testimony (click name for PDF):

• • Ms. Jacqueline Burns Koven, Chainalysis
  • Mr. Daniel Sergile, Palo Alto Networks
  • Ms. Megan Stifel, Institute for Security and Technology
  • Ms. Kemba Eneas Walden, Paladin Global Institute

Though not discussed in detail, the looming centerpiece of the hearing was the “Ransomware and Financial Stability Act” co-sponsored by Chair Patrick McHenry (R, NC) and Rep. Brittany Pettersen (D, CO). See it (PDF).

Concerns about the risk to national security due to ransomware were voiced by multiple Members on both sides of the aisle.  In general, digital assets and crypto were not the main focus of the hearing, nor were they seen as the root cause of ransomware.

During the Q&A, Vice Chair Kim began Member questioning by asking about “the level of coordination [among law enforcement] required to respond to the ransomware attacks?”

Chainalysis’ Jacqueline Koven answer was hopeful -due to crypto’s traceability:

“Yes. From reported incidents involving cryptocurrency addresses, law enforcement is able to understand the entire ransomware supply chain. We can understand the malware used,  the access and even where they launder their funds. It’s an incredible lead to understanding these networks better and being able to disrupt not only where they cash out, but the other entities involved in the supply chain.

More observations:

• • Rep. Andy Barr (R, KY) noted the need to grown a cybersecurity workforce.
  • Rep. Bill Foster (D, IL) raised his “license plate” idea again -an idea which he tried to insert into last July’s markup for digital wallets as part of the digital asset market structure bill. This time, Foster advocated for a nationwide, secure digital identity.
  • With one of his questions, Rep. Zach Nunn (R, IA) brought to light the “ransomware-as-a-service” business that allows “people with a very minimal skill set to perpetrate something that’s very dangerous to all of us.”
  • Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R, TX), like other Members, emphasized the concerning, negative, impact ransomware has on small business.

Continue reading “Ransomware Hearing Highlights Challenges For Businesses; Dems Take Heat On Crypto”

BlackRock on illicit finance, crypto

“This is a technology that presumably could actually decrease the utility for illicit finance,” says Samara Cohen in reference to blockchain technology. She should know as a BlackRock senior managing director and the company’s chief investment officer of its ETF & Index Investments -which includes the recent launch of the company’s Bitcoin spot market ETF.

Cohen appeared on Bloomberg’s “Masters in Business” podcast with host Barry Ritholtz this week and had pointed remarks on regulation and the surprising “take” – compared to some in Congress – on illicit finance and the benefits of crypto’s underlying technology. During the course of the podcast, it’s obvious that BlackRock has a committed, long-term view on digital assets.

Highlights include: (lightly edited for clarity)

On why it took so long for a Bitcoin spot market ETF to appear :

Ms. Cohen: “First, I think the narrative from investors really grew over the past few years. The infrastructure in the crypto world was also evolving, but regulation and policy has been evolving as well and still has a long ways to go. So I think regulators needed to – and the SEC, in particular – needed to hear from investors [and] work through the operating model. And then also remember, (…) this SEC has a very ambitious equity market structure agenda on their plate. And that’s really been their priority. But, ultimately, investor demand and desire or access in an ETF won out.”

On what investors are looking for with a crypto ETF:

Ms. Cohen: “The convenience of ETFs is incredibly compelling for investors. They understand the ecosystem. Now, importantly, with Bitcoin ETFs, the institutional grade custody is really important for investors as well.”

“To your question about the the crypto ecosystem separate from ETFs, I think there are a lot of questions there around how that evolves. In terms of what we’ve seen so far. Is it the technology that’s created it? Or is it really the fact that there have been no guardrails around the ecosystem that is built around it? I would say the technology has a lot of promise in terms of its transparency and auditability. This is a technology that presumably could actually decrease the utility for illicit finance (51:52). However, we would really need a regulatory and policy environment supporting it. And I think that’s where there are a lot of questions, particularly in the US around future direction.”

Hear the podcast on Apple Podcasts. Continue reading “Crypto Tech ‘Decreases Utility’ For Illicit Finance – BlackRock; Warren Challenges CFTC Behnam”

crypto caucus – Senate

The Senate version of the House’s dormant Congressional Blockchain Caucus awakened last week with a revealing photo op. Known as the “Financial Innovation Caucus,” it was originally founded by Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R, WY) and Kyrsten Sinema (I, AZ) – see the Caucus landing page.

The Caucus’ X account announced in a tweet on Friday that senators had gathered together with a16z crypto venture investor Chris Dixon, who released a new web3 book at the beginning of the year called, “Read, Write, Own”:

“This week, [Chris Dixon] joined the Financial Innovation Caucus for a bipartisan discussion about the importance of crypto assets and the need for the U.S. to be a world leader in regulatory clarity for crypto assets.”

Sen. Lummis office confirmed to blockchain tipsheet:

“Since she arrived in the Senate in 2021, Senator Lummis has been committed to helping educate her colleagues on a host of issues related to bitcoin, crypto, web3 and blockchain in general. Mr. Dixon recently published a new book on the evolution of the internet as well as the role blockchain technology can play in countering the overreach of big tech, so Senator Lummis invited him to meet with her colleagues to discuss.”

“The overreach of big tech” – that’s something that appeals to both sides of the Senate aisle

Senators who were present for the Caucus meeting included:

• • Sen. Lummis and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D, NY) who co-sponsor the Lummis-Gillibrand Responsible Financial Innovation Act (RFIA) [S.2281]
  • Rep. Wiley Nickel (D, NC) – A member of House Financial Services, Nickel has supported both the stablecoin [H.R.4766] and digital asset market structure [H.R.4763] bills awaiting votes on the House Floor.
  • Sen. Ted Budd (R, NC) – He supported digital assets legislation consistently as a Member of House Financial Services and became a Senator in the 118th Congress.
  • Sen. John Thune (R, SD) – co-sponsor of the now-defunct Digital Commodity Consumer Protection Act (DCCPA) [S.4670] from the 117th Congress. Thune is also the Senate Minority Whip.
  • Sen. John Cornyn (R, TX) – considered pro-crypto and has sponsored introduction of legislation dealing with crypto’s use on the Dark Web [S.1728].
  • Sen. John Barrasso (R, WY) – Sen. Lummis fellow Wyoming Senator. Member of the Senate Finance Committee where Lummis-Gillibrand’s RFIA is currently assigned. Also, he’s Ranking Member of Senate Energy and Natural Resources.
  • Sen. Ron Johnson (R, WI) – Member of Senate Finance Committee.
  • Sen. Roger Marshall (R, KS) – Member of Senate Agriculture with Sen. Gillibrand. See more below.

Continue reading “Senate Crypto Caucus Convenes; Reviewing Oil Versus Digital Assets Sanctions”

SEC targets Uniswap, DeFi

Wells Notice alert…

It appears that much like Coinbase and Kraken, decentralized crypto exchange Uniswap, has received a warning – a Wells Notice – that a formal action against the company by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is imminent.

According to Uniswap, the charge appears to be that the company is running an unregistered exchange. See the Uniswap blog post which provides a full-throated Uniswap defense on why they aren’t culpable: “We are confident that the products we offer are not just legal – they are transformative.”

Fortune’s Jeff John Roberts discusses the news, “The impending Uniswap lawsuit comes at a time when the crypto industry has loudly complained the SEC has been operating in bad faith when it comes to the sector, pursuing enforcement actions despite clear rules while failing to account for crypto’s distinct blockchain-based technology.” Read more.

Uniswap  COO Mary-Catherine Leder commented on X yesterday after the news broke, “Uniswap is an upgrade to the financial system, whether the SEC recognizes it or not. I bought my first bitcoin in 2011, started BlackRock’s crypto efforts in 2015 and left TradFi in 2021 to go all in on DeFi as COO of Uniswap Labs. I did that because I believe onchain markets will be better markets.”

She continued, “The tech can be complex, but the values are simple. Traditional markets rely on who you know. In DeFi, access is equal. $2 [trillion] in volume, no hacks. 16m wallets. Self-serve markets on blockchains are a technical reality, and they aren’t going away. It’s a better system, and we’re going to fight to protect it.” See her tweet.

more tips:

• • “Wells Notice” definition – Cornell Law School

what you should know: This impending enforcement action by the SEC could be introducing a wild card among voters in November – the DeFi vote. It seems inconceivable that this action will incite anyone from the anti-crypto side of voters. But, pro-crypto voters – particularly the subset using DeFi – could be further encouraged to seek favorable candidates and platforms.

Continue reading “‘Transformative’ Uniswap And DeFi Prepare For SEC Battle; TradFi’s Illicit Finance Problem”

crypto bills update

With the clock ticking on the 118th Congress, Politico’s Morning Money reported yesterday that a House floor vote – originally planned for Q4 2023 and interrupted by the Speaker switch – is now expected sometime in the current calendar quarter for the digital asset market structure bill [H.R.4763]. Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R, MN) is also trying to add elements of his “Securities Clarity Act” [H.R.3572] which Politico says “runs the risk of hurting what’s already proven to be narrow Democratic support for the underlying legislation.” And, the Whip’s “CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act” [H.R.5403] may also complicate matters. Meanwhile, the stablecoin bill [H.R. 4766] is still in the same place it was last month -waiting for a “legislative vehicle.”

Read more.

what you should know: Speaker Mike Johnson (R, LA) would appear to be a wild-card in the process. He’s not the technology advocate that former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R, CA) was. Also, House Financial Services Chair Patrick McHenry (R, NC) has shared some criticism of Johnson which may create additional friction within the Republican caucus and with McHenry’s digital assets agenda. Continue reading “Crypto Bills Await House Floor Votes; Senators Tillis, Hagerty Intro AML Discussion Draft”