United States

Enforcement

Former BlackRock Portfolio Manager Fined Over Undisclosed Conflict

By Editors | 05/01/2023

The portfolio manager failed to disclose that he had asked an investee company to help advance his daughter’s acting career and that it helped her obtain a film role.

Enforcement

New York: Former SPAC CFO Pleads Guilty to Fraud Charges

By Editors | 05/01/2023

The former CFO embezzled money from a SPAC to pay for personal expenses and trade in meme stocks and crypto assets. He also incorporated two other SPACs to conceal his theft.

AML / KYC

NYDFS Ends Coinbase AML Probe With $100m Settlement

By Editors | 05/01/2023

The settlement includes a $50mn penalty and a commitment by Coinbase to invest a further $50mn in its compliance programme over the next two years.

Sanctions

OFAC Issues Initial Price Cap Guidance for Russian Petroleum Products

By Editors | 05/01/2023

The new price cap on petroleum products is due to take effect on 5 February 2023, alongside an EU ban on seaborne imports of refined products originating from Russia.

Crypto / Digital Assets

US Banking Regulators Issue Statement Warning of Crypto Risks

By Editors | 04/01/2023

“It is important that risks related to the crypto-asset sector that cannot be mitigated or controlled do not migrate to the banking system,” the statement says.

Crypto / Digital Assets

US Court Sets October Date for Bankman-Fried Trial

By Manesh Samtani | 04/01/2023

Bankman-Fried pleaded not guilty to all eight charges against him. The court set a 2 October 2023 date for trial, which is expected to last about four weeks.

Enforcement

US FTC Orders Mastercard to Stop Blocking Competing Networks

By Editors | 03/01/2023

The FTC says Mastercard used its control over its “tokenisation” process to block the use of competing payment card networks.

ESG / Sustainability

Thailand Consults on ‘Pilot Version’ of Sustainable Finance Taxonomy

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 02/01/2023

Like the ASEAN Taxonomy, the Thailand Taxonomy uses a traffic light system. The objectives of the taxonomy largely draw from the EU taxonomy.

Crypto / Digital Assets

Boston Fed, MIT Conclude CBDC Research Project

By Editors | 02/01/2023

Project Hamilton focused on better understanding the capabilities and limitations of different technologies that might be used to manage and transfer CBDCs.