Crypto analyst and host of CNBC’s show Cryptotrader Ran Neuner has claimed that the price of Bitcoin (BTC) is “about to explode” in a recent tweet October 7. Neuner expressed his utmost confidence in an upcoming surge in Bitcoin’s price by noting “I just bought Bitcoin for my parents” in the same tweet. A notable rally would likely be tied to the U.S. Security and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) highly-anticipated upcoming decision on several Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) applications, the trader claimed in another tweet posted the same day. Explaining his optimistic prediction, the crypto analyst pointed to the fact that …

Christopher Giancarlo, the chairman of U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (СFTC), said in an Oct. 2 speech that enforcement actions and fines increased significantly in the last fiscal year. Giancarlo presented at the Economic Club of Minnesota, stating that the enforcement of the recent fiscal year, which ended September 30, was "among the most vigorous in the history of the CFTC." The CFTC filed 83 enforcement actions in the last fiscal year, representing a 25 percent increase from the last three years of the previous administration. The CFTC levied as much as $900 million in penalties this fiscal year. The …

This week, a United States federal district judge ruled that an allegedly fraudulent crypto token meets the definition of a commodity. That brought the case under the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC) purview, which has long argued that virtual currencies constitute commodities. Here what it means — and how the watchdog has been supporting its stance on cryptocurrencies’ legal status. Are cryptocurrencies commodities or securities? Well, they can be both The regulatory approach to cryptocurrencies in the U.S. is complex. While the Congress holds supreme power over federal regulatory agencies like the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the CFTC, …

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has filed a suit against two defendants for the allegedly fraudulent solicitation of Bitcoin (BTC), according to an official press release published on Friday, September 28. The CFTC’s complaint — filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas — charges the two defendants with running two fraudulent businesses and misleading the public to invest in leveraged or margined foreign currency contracts, such as forex, binary options, and diamonds. The first defendant, who goes by the name Morgan Hunt, is reportedly from Arlington, Texas, and owns the company Diamonds Trading …

A U.S. federal district judge has ruled that an allegedly fraudulent crypto token meets the definition of a commodity, bringing the case under regulators’ purview, Finance Feeds reports September 27. Judge Rya W. Zobel of the Massachusetts District Court ruled Sept. 25 against a motion to dismiss a case that had been launched by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) against an allegedly fraudulent crypto scheme known as “My Big Coin Pay Inc.,” reported to have been based in the state of Nevada. The CFTC had sued tech entrepreneur Randall Crater, and other relief defendants tied to his firm, for …

This week, on the same day, two United States regulating bodies — the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and its ruling organization the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) — reported filing objections against non-compliant crypto players who made some false statements regarding their businesses. While the SEC barely needs any introduction for those who follow the crypto industry, FINRA might seem unfamiliar. FINRA is a private, non-federal agency, although it is overseen by the SEC. It regulates one specific part of the securities industry in the U.S.: brokerage firms doing business with the public. What makes the news particularly interesting …

U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chairman J. Christopher Giancarlo has said that crypto needs a “do no harm” approach from regulators to flourish, in an interview at the annual Singapore Summit today, Friday 14. Chairman Giancarlo said he took the precedent from the early days of the Internet, which he argued was able to develop and mature because of the government’s minimal interventions: “I'm advocating the same approach to cryptocurrencies and all things having to do with this new digital revolution of markets, and of currencies, and of asset classes." Nonetheless, he distinguished between the CFTC’s short-term approach to …

Bearish positions for non-commercial contracts of Bitcoin (BTC) futures are on the decline, according to the latest Commitments of Traders (COT) report released by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) August 24. For the week ending August 21, the report shows that the net position on BTC futures declined by 1,266. Short positions fell by 210 contracts to 3,426 as compared with the previous week, with long positions up by 56 contracts at 2,160. As shown by the negative total tally, the market is still overall net short, yet -1266 is a sharp turnaround from the -1926 recorded June …

Coming every Sunday, the Hodler’s Digest will help you to track every single important news story that happened this week. The best (and worst) quotes, adoption and regulation highlights, leading coins, predictions, and much more — a week on Cointelegraph in one link. Top Stories This Week SEC Rejects—Then Will Review—9 Bitcoin ETF Application The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has rejected a total of nine applications to list and trade various Bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded funds (ETFs) from ProShares, Direxion, and GraniteShares. However, the SEC then noted that it will be reviewing its decision, which was based on the …

The U.S. Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has won a court order to permanently bar the operator of the New York-based firm CabbageTech Corp. for cryptocurrency-related “bold and vicious fraud,” Bloomberg reported August 24. Earlier this year, Patrick McDonnell, cryptocurrency promoter and operator of CabbageTech Corp., was charged with “fraud and misappropriation in connection with purchases and trading of Bitcoin (BTC) and Litecoin (LTC).” McDonnell subsequently argued that the CFTC did not have the authority to regulate his commercial operations; however, New York district judge Jack B. Weinstein rejected his claim. In July, Weinstein reportedly held a nonjury trial where …

Kenneth A. Blanco, director of the U.S. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), has revealed that the agency has seen a surge in filings of crypto-related Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs). The number of complaints now exceeds 1,500 per month, according to him. Blanco’s remarks were made as part of a speech he delivered at the 2018 Chicago-Kent Block Legal Tech Conference August 9. The director outlined FinCEN’s ongoing role in regulation and law enforcement for the emerging crypto space, which it coordinates in tandem with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). He noted …

On July 30, the Chamber of Digital Commerce (CDC) Token Alliance published a 108-page collaborative report of proposed guidelines for the “responsible growth” of the cryptocurrency market. In the accompanying press release, CDC member Paul Atkins, CEO of Patomak Global Partners and former U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Commissioner, argued that guidelines are needed for the smart regulation that “strikes the right balance between protecting investors while allowing for innovation in this new technological frontier.” What is Chamber of Digital Commerce? The CDC is a U.S.-based advocacy group that promotes the industry behind virtual currencies and underlying technologies like …