What Regulators Offered Cryptoverse in July: 22 Announcements

Cryptoverse is still witnessing regulatory uncertainty that is forcing some companies to avoid countries with too many and too costly regulatory questions, including the U.S. However, while the regulators are bringing the “Wild West” days of crypto to their end, there are many battles to be fought in the regulatory ring. Here is a recap what regulatory news were announced in July.

Japan

• In Japan, though, the Financial Services Agency (FSA), which polices all crypto in Japan, gave Libra the green light, even though it comes with strict regulations, saying that Libra is “unlikely to be a crypto asset”.
• A Japanese parliamentarian wants to bring about cryptocurrency tax reform that would cut crypto taxes. (However, he narrowly lost his bid to retain his seat in the House of Councillors election in July).

China

• In China, a new hope emerged that Beijing slowly starting to rethink its policy after one of the four biggest state-owned commercial banks released an overall positive infographic explaining Bitcoin. Moreover, Japanese media speculated that Beijing may be considering allowing for the launch of “a digital token by a commercial company under regulatory supervision.”
• Also, history was made when Chinese Hangzhou Internet Court recognized Bitcoin as a “virtual property […] protected by Chinese law.”

South Korea

• The South Korean government has given the green light to a special free economic blockchain zone in Busan, the country’s second-largest city.
• Early indications appear to suggest that Seoul will block any attempts to allow initial coin offerings (ICOs), which will remain banned in the country.

The U.S.

• During a hearing at the U.S. Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee on July 30, Senator Michael Crapo admitted that the government can’t ban Bitcoin “because this is a global phenomenon.”
• The Securities and Exchange Commission has approved the first-ever digital token offering.
• A bill has been proposed in the New York State Assembly, which would liquidate unclaimed cryptocurrency after the digital assets have been abandoned and transfer them to a state office. However, such legislation comes with many unresolved issues and unanswered questions.
• While the U.S. President took aim at Bitcoin, America’s top tax authority, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), said it will update its cryptocurrency guidelines “in the coming weeks,” with at least three cryptocurrency-related bills.
• In the meantime, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) explained how brokers looking to offer cryptocurrency securities will have to comply with existing securities laws.
• Still, American parliamentarians are moving fast in an attempt to stop major IT companies from offering financial services and issuing cryptocurrencies, with the draft discussion bill entitled ‘Keep Big Tech out of Finance Act’.

The UK

• Another regulatory battle was announced when the UK the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said it wants to ban cryptocurrency derivatives to all retail consumers in the country, giving firms dealing with cryptos until October 3rd to send it their comments.
• Also, the FCA issued the Final Guidance on Cryptoassets on the last day of July. The Authority hopes that the guidance “will enable market participants to understand whether certain crypto assets fall within our perimeter or are otherwise regulated.”

France

• Meanwhile, French financial watchdog may approve a first tranche of cryptocurrency-related companies under new rules on digital coins.

Australia

• Also, the Australian Treasury suggested to exempt digital currency from new proposed restrictions on cash payments.

Iran

• And the Iranian government “endorsed crypto mining as an industrial activity”.

India

• Major news came from the Indian government, which confirmed that it will weigh the recommendations to ban cryptocurrencies in the country andintroduce imprisonment up to ten years for anybody who mines, holds, or sells cryptocurrencies. However, it was also confirmed that India might launch its national coin.

Russia

• Meanwhile, crypto legislation was postponed in Russia until fall, since the key piece of legislation relating to cryptocurrencies couldn’t be ready in time for the end of the Duma’s spring session. (And it seems that this regulatory clarity would allow Russian Manufacturers to sell arms ‘using BTC or Stablecoins’.)
• On the last day of July, local media reported that an influential group of Russian lawyers has drawn up a system for cryptocurrency taxation that involves granting property rights to holders of “all tokens” – and will be sending its suggestions to the lawmakers and regulators.

Singapore

• The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore proposed the exemption of certain cryptocurrency transactions from goods and services tax, while a PwC analyst says that these new tax regulations could give Singapore-based crypto exchanges and initial coin offering (ICO) issuers a boost in their competition with Hong Kong.

G7

• While, Facebook has been working to ease concerns of Washington lawmakers about its project Libra, the G7 expressed concerns and promised action, with the Governor of the Bank of Japan (BOJ) pledging that “every country will work together to consider a necessary response” to both Libra and wider cryptocurrency-related matters.