Eagle Crest Asset Management

June 17, 2024

SEC Rejects Ripple Labs' Plea To Lower Fines, Insists On Nearly $2 Billion Penalty

According to PANews, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has dismissed the latest arguments from Ripple Labs to reduce its fines, insisting on a total penalty of nearly $2 billion. This includes $198.2 million in pre-judgment interest, $876.3 million in civil penalties, and another $876.3 million in refund amounts. Last month, Ripple attempted to seal part of its financial information, but the SEC opposed this, believing the company should disclose the revenue obtained through XRP. Last week, Ripple proposed to Judge Analisa Torres of the New York District Court a fine 'not exceeding $10 million', far less than the $876.3 million civil penalty proposed by the SEC. Ripple cited the SEC's settlement agreement with Terraform Labs as a basis. However, the SEC emphasized in its response that its settlement with Terraform was based on the company's bankruptcy, agreement to refund, and dismissal of relevant responsible persons, measures that Ripple has not taken. The SEC stated that Ripple's fine should be calculated based on the gross profit of its violations, not the total sales. If the penalty ratio of Terraform (close to 12%) is applied to Ripple, its fine should be $102.6 million. The SEC believes that such a low fine cannot meet the purpose of civil penalty regulations. Since the SEC accused Ripple of selling unregistered securities in 2020, the two parties have been arguing in court. Judge Torres has confirmed Ripple's illegal behavior, but only when selling to institutional investors. Currently, the legal battle between the two parties continues.

June 14, 2024

Federal Reserve Issues Cease-and-Desist Order Against Evolve Bank

According to Golden Finance: Evolve Bank and Trust has entered into a cease-and-desist agreement with the Federal Reserve, prompted by findings of unsafe and unsound operations within the bank's fintech collaborations and inadequate anti-money laundering (AML) controls. The order follows scrutiny arising from the failure of intermediary Synapse Financial Technologies, which led to account freezes for numerous FinTech users. Details of the Cease-and-Desist Order The Federal Reserve's cease-and-desist order against Evolve Bank addresses several critical issues: - Unsound Operations: The Federal Reserve highlighted unsafe and unsound operations in Evolve’s fintech collaborations. - AML Deficiencies: The bank was found to lack adequate anti-money laundering controls, a significant compliance lapse given its role in the financial ecosystem. - Synapse Financial Technologies Failure: The failure of Synapse Financial Technologies, an intermediary, resulted in the freezing of many fintech user accounts, exacerbated by disagreements over account balances between Synapse, Evolve, and other fintech entities. Impact on the Cryptocurrency Ecosystem Evolve Bank plays a crucial role in the cryptocurrency landscape, providing financial services to platforms such as BlockFi and FTX. The cease-and-desist order could have broader implications for these services, potentially affecting their operational stability and customer confidence. Compliance and Due Diligence Requirements As part of the cease-and-desist order, Evolve Bank is required to: - Submit a Detailed Compliance Plan: Evolve must present a comprehensive compliance plan that addresses the operational deficiencies identified by the Federal Reserve. - Update Due Diligence Procedures: The bank needs to upgrade its due diligence procedures to ensure robust customer information verification and compliance with regulatory requirements. Broader Implications - Enhanced Regulatory Scrutiny: This move by the Federal Reserve signals heightened scrutiny on banks involved in fintech and cryptocurrency sectors, emphasizing the need for stringent AML controls and sound operational practices. - Increased Compliance Costs: Evolve Bank will likely incur significant costs to implement the mandated compliance enhancements, which could impact its financial performance and operational efficiency. - Operational Disruptions: The requirement to improve due diligence procedures and customer information handling may cause temporary operational disruptions as Evolve Bank works to comply with the Federal Reserve’s directives. The cease-and-desist order against Evolve Bank underscores the critical importance of sound operational practices and robust anti-money laundering controls, particularly for institutions involved in the fintech and cryptocurrency realms. As Evolve Bank works to address these regulatory requirements, the broader industry will likely observe increased regulatory scrutiny, necessitating proactive compliance measures to mitigate similar risks.

June 13, 2024

Australia's Treasury Department Plans To Include Stablecoin Regulations In Crypto Bill

According to Odaily, the Australian Treasury Department is planning to include stablecoin regulations in its draft crypto bill. A representative from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has stated that they have held meetings with regulatory bodies such as the SEC to discuss the legal stance on crypto technology. The Treasury Department had previously announced plans to release a legislative draft by the end of 2024, covering licensing and custody rules for crypto asset providers. Based on the latest developments, this draft may include a framework for regulating stablecoins. The inclusion of stablecoin regulations in the draft bill signifies the Australian government's recognition of the growing influence of cryptocurrencies and their commitment to ensuring a regulated and secure environment for its use.

June 12, 2024

Dubai International Financial Centre Eyes Collaboration With Hong Kong In Fintech

According to Odaily, officials from the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) have expressed their interest in strengthening and promoting cooperation in the rapidly developing fintech ecosystems. Jacques Visser, the Chief Legal Advisor of DIFC, stated that the focus of virtual asset regulation is increasingly on cross-border regulation. He mentioned that they are in close communication with other regions, including Hong Kong, encompassing all tokenized assets and assets with trading value under Web3. A lot of work, including cooperation and coordination on cross-border regulation, is currently underway. Visser believes that there is a significant potential for cooperation between Dubai and Hong Kong, particularly in the area of payment services. He stated that payment services are key to the future of finance and fintech, and he believes there are many areas both parties are interested in promoting. Furthermore, for Dubai, Hong Kong serves as a bridge to mainland China, which is the United Arab Emirates' largest trading partner.

June 12, 2024

Federal Reserve Expected To Maintain Interest Rates

According to PANews, the Federal Reserve is set to announce its latest decision on interest rates and monetary policy statement. This announcement is scheduled for 2:00 AM Beijing time on Thursday, June 13. A few hours prior, the U.S. Department of Labor will release the latest inflation data. Jerome Powell's press conference will take place at 2:30. It is widely anticipated that the Federal Reserve will maintain the benchmark interest rate within the range of 5.25% - 5.50%, a rate that was set in July of the previous year.

June 10, 2024

US Employment Data Impacts Bitcoin and Ethereum Prices

According to Odaily, the US employment data released last Friday exceeded expectations, diminishing hopes for a Federal Reserve rate cut in September. This development led to a decline in Bitcoin and Ethereum prices. QCP Capital noted that the drop in Bitcoin and Ethereum prices following the report's release created a 'buy the dip' opportunity. As other central banks continue to lower borrowing costs, the Federal Reserve will find it increasingly difficult to maintain high interest rates. The market will increasingly absorb the impact of at least one rate cut by the Federal Reserve. It will be challenging for the US to ignore this as other countries around the world continue to cut rates. QCP Capital added that its trading department has seen bullish capital flows during this downturn. These include sellers of aggressive bearish options and buyers of bullish spreads, especially for Bitcoin's bullish options.

June 10, 2024

Federal Reserve Likely to Maintain Interest Rates, Impact on Crypto Market Expected

According to CryptoPotato, the U.S. central bank is expected to keep interest rates unchanged in its policy decision on Wednesday, June 12. This decision follows strong jobs data for May, leading policymakers to likely maintain rates within the 5.25% to 5.5% range for the seventh consecutive meeting. The number of cuts planned for this year may also be reduced as policymakers evaluate a variety of economic data. June 12 will also see the release of core CPI (consumer price index) reports, a key measure of inflation that significantly influences the Federal Reserve's monetary policy decisions, including interest rate adjustments. An increase in the CPI reading indicates rising inflation, which usually pressures the Fed to either raise interest rates or maintain them. The year-on-year CPI figure is expected to remain at 3.4%, suggesting that the central bank will not alter rates this week. There has been a strong correlation between Bitcoin price and CPI data this year. Higher-than-expected CPI has negatively affected the digital asset, while a lower-than-expected CPI has had a positive impact. Other key events this week include the OPEC Monthly Report on Tuesday, the Fed Interest Rate Decision and Press Conference on Wednesday, May PPI Inflation data on Thursday, and MI Consumer Sentiment data on Friday. On Thursday, June 13, core PPI (producer price index) reports will be released. This data measures the average change over time in selling prices received by domestic producers of goods and services and serves as a valuable supplementary inflation indicator used by FOMC policymakers. Analysts predict the first rate cut to occur at the central bank's September policy meeting, the last gathering before the November 5 presidential election. The Fed rate decision is likely already factored into crypto markets, as it is widely expected that rates will remain unchanged. There may be some volatility mid-week, but the sideways momentum is likely to persist. Altcoins may suffer, however, as Bitcoin dominance remains high, delaying the onset of altseason. Crypto trader 'Emperor' shared his thoughts on the market's state with his 390,000 followers on June 9, suggesting that the market is in a confusing position.

June 10, 2024

HSBC China Launches Digital Yuan Services For Corporate Clients

According to Odaily, HSBC Bank (China) Co., Ltd., also known as HSBC China, has recently announced the launch of digital yuan services for its corporate clients. This makes it one of the first foreign banks to offer digital yuan services to both corporate and retail customers. The move comes amid frequent developments in the digital yuan sector and the continuous expansion of pilot applications. HSBC's expansion of services to corporations indicates that foreign banks are actively using the digital yuan to enhance customer service capabilities and boost the development of the digital economy. Since the launch of personal digital yuan services in November 2023, HSBC China has been continuously laying out in the digital yuan field. Through close cooperation with the digital yuan operating institution, Bank of China, HSBC China has expanded its services to the corporate end. It has launched digital yuan public wallet-related services for its corporate clients, who can bind the digital yuan wallet to their bank accounts for management and automatically deposit the digital yuan into their bank accounts. As the first transaction after the opening of corporate digital yuan services, HSBC has made a trial in the education field. It assisted Nord Anglia Education Group, a bilingual education group, in opening digital yuan services for its six schools in Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Jiaxing, and Suzhou. It also helped them successfully complete the first digital yuan receipt, further expanding their receipt channels and empowering the construction of smart campuses.

June 10, 2024

South Korea's Virtual Asset User Protection Law To Take Effect, Guidelines On NFTs Released

According to Odaily, South Korea's 'Virtual Asset User Protection Law' is set to take effect on July 19, and regulatory authorities have released guidelines on whether Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) are considered virtual assets. Previously, financial authorities announced through the 'Virtual Asset User Protection Law Enforcement Order' that NFTs are not considered virtual assets. This principle has been retained, but NFTs that have characteristics of virtual assets may be considered as such. Companies issuing NFTs must declare their business as a virtual asset business to the competent department. The Financial Services Commission announced the NFT guidelines containing this information on the 10th. After the implementation of the 'Virtual Asset User Protection Law', NFTs generally traded for the purpose of 'content collection' will be excluded from the scope of virtual assets. For ambiguous NFTs, the application of the law depends on the substance of the NFT, determined in the order of 'securities → virtual assets'. It is first determined whether the NFT is a security, and then its essence is determined to see if it belongs to virtual assets. Whether it belongs to virtual assets is judged according to the following criteria: 1) Large issuance or large-scale series, with high substitutability; 2) Can be divided, with significantly weakened uniqueness; 3) Direct or indirect payment method for specific goods or services; 4) Virtual asset exchanges can be conducted between unspecified persons, or payments can be made for other virtual asset-related goods or services.

June 7, 2024

CFRA's Chief Investment Strategist Expects Fed to Commence Interest Rate Cuts in 2024

Sam Stovall, Chief Investment Strategist at CFRA, maintains his stance that the U.S. Federal Reserve will start reducing interest rates in 2024. However, his conviction about the rate cuts beginning as early as September this year has somewhat diminished. The trajectory of interest rates is a crucial factor influencing global financial markets, including the crypto market. Lower interest rates generally provide a more favorable environment for risk assets like cryptocurrencies, as they reduce the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets and encourage more borrowing and investment. The Fed's decision to cut rates is typically driven by concerns about slowing economic growth or the need to stimulate the economy. A delay in the expected timeline for rate cuts could imply that the U.S. central bank is more confident about the economy's resilience and less inclined to provide additional monetary support. For the crypto market, a postponement in Fed rate cuts could mean a more gradual path to a more accommodative monetary environment. However, the long-term outlook of eventual rate cuts in 2024 still bodes well for the industry.