Michael McSweeney

Fifty UK crypto firms under active investigation, says FCA

The UK's top finance watchdog said Thursday that 50 crypto firms are under active investigation. The post Fifty UK crypto firms under active investigation, says FCA appeared first on The Block.

Three hundred crypto firms investigated last year, says FCA

The UK's top finance watchdog said Thursday that 50 crypto firms are under active investigation. The post Three hundred crypto firms investigated last year, says FCA appeared first on The Block.

IRS official: ‘Expect more’ John Doe records requests from crypto exchanges

An Internal Revenue Service (IR) official said Wednesday to "expect more" in the way of broad information requests to crypto exchanges The post IRS official: ‘Expect more’ John Doe records requests from crypto exchanges appeared first on The Block.

ETH donations to Ukraine’s government spike after ‘airdrop’ announcement

Ukraine’s official Twitter account teased an “airdrop” Thursday morning, and though details remain sparse about the initiative, the announcement appears to have triggered a fresh influx of donations. As shown in a pair of Dune Analytics dashboards tracking the accumulation of ETH to the government’s coffers, the amount jumped in the early hours of March […] The post ETH donations to Ukraine’s government spike after ‘airdrop’ announcement appeared first on The Block.

Schwab files with SEC to create ‘Crypto Economy ETF’

Investment brokerage Charles Schwab filed to create a "Crypto Economy ETF" on Thursday, according to regulatory filings. The post Schwab files with SEC to create ‘Crypto Economy ETF’ appeared first on The Block.

Griffin says ‘fair to assume’ that Citadel will be market making in crypto in ‘months to come’

Kenneth Griffin, the founder and CEO of Citadel, told Bloomberg in a new interview that his firm is on the path to market-making in the cryptocurrency sector in the coming months. The post Griffin says ‘fair to assume’ that Citadel will be market making in crypto in ‘months to come’ appeared first on The Block.

Griffin says ‘fair to assume’ that Citadel Securities will be market making in crypto in ‘months to come’

Kenneth Griffin, the founder Citadel Securities, told Bloomberg in a new interview that his firm is on the path to market-making in the cryptocurrency sector in the coming months. The post Griffin says ‘fair to assume’ that Citadel Securities will be market making in crypto in ‘months to come’ appeared first on The Block.

Ukrainian government raises more than $10 million in crypto following public appeal

Nearly $10 million in the form of bitcoin, ether and other digital assets has been raised since the Ukrainian government issued a direct appeal for crypto donations this weekend. The post Ukrainian government raises more than $10 million in crypto following public appeal appeared first on The Block.

US, EU governments pledge to remove ‘selected’ Russian banks from SWIFT network

The United States and the European Union have announced a plan to cut out a group of as-yet-to-be-named Russian banks from the international payments messaging system SWIFT. The post US, EU governments pledge to remove ‘selected’ Russian banks from SWIFT network appeared first on The Block.

Ukraine’s official Twitter account posts pleas for crypto donations amid Russian invasion

Ukraine's official Twitter account posted several requests for cryptocurrency donations on Saturday in the form of bitcoin, ether and USDT.  The post Ukraine’s official Twitter account posts pleas for crypto donations amid Russian invasion appeared first on The Block.

BitMEX co-founders Hayes and Delo plead guilty Bank Secrecy Act violations

The Department of Justice said Thursday that Arthur Hayes and Benjamin Delo, co-founders of the crypto derivatives exchange BitMEX, have pleaded guilty to violating the US Bank Secrecy Act. The post BitMEX co-founders Hayes and Delo plead guilty Bank Secrecy Act violations appeared first on The Block.

Block reports $1.96 billion in bitcoin sales via Cash App during fourth quarter of 2021

Block released its Q4 earnings on Thursday, reporting $1.96 billion in bitcoin sales during the period. The post Block reports $1.96 billion in bitcoin sales via Cash App during fourth quarter of 2021 appeared first on The Block.

NYDIG expands its play to bridge bitcoin and banking with new partnerships

NYDIG has announced a pair of partnerships that point to its overarching goal: to expand access to cryptocurrency in the banking world. The post NYDIG expands its play to bridge bitcoin and banking with new partnerships appeared first on The Block.

Crypto seller in New Orleans charged with running an unlicensed money transmitting business

The U.S. Department of Justice said Thursday that it has charged a New Orleans-based cryptocurrency seller with running an unlicensed money transmitting business. The post Crypto seller in New Orleans charged with running an unlicensed money transmitting business appeared first on The Block.

Met Police seizes more than $150 million in cryptocurrency during criminal investigation

The UK's Metropolitan Police said Thursday that it seized £114 million in cryptocurrency — an amount worth about $158 million — as part of an ongoing criminal investigation. The post Met Police seizes more than $150 million in cryptocurrency during criminal investigation appeared first on The Block.

$300 million: Blockchain Capital raises new fund with backing from PayPal and Visa

Blockchain Capital, the long-running VC firm focused on the crypto space, has closed a new fund with $300 million in backing. The post $300 million: Blockchain Capital raises new fund with backing from PayPal and Visa appeared first on The Block.

EU data protection body says digital euro designs must prioritize privacy

As Europe inches toward the creation of a digitized euro, a data-focused body within the EU is calling for any design proposal to prioritize privacy and protection. The post EU data protection body says digital euro designs must prioritize privacy appeared first on The Block.

Colorado lawmakers approve law to study technologies like blockchain for water management

Both chambers of Colorado's legislature have approved legislation that, if signed into law, would study a range of new technologies like blockchain for their potential use in managing the state's water supplies. The post Colorado lawmakers approve law to study technologies like blockchain for water management appeared first on The Block.

Galaxy Digital is now serving as Goldman Sachs’ liquidity provider for bitcoin futures trades

Galaxy Digital is now serving as a liquidity provider for Goldman Sachs' bitcoin futures block trades, a move that comes as the Wall Street investment giant ramps up its crypto-related services. The post Galaxy Digital is now serving as Goldman Sachs’ liquidity provider for bitcoin futures trades appeared first on The Block.

The SEC is seeking additional comment as it weighs decision on VanEck bitcoin ETF

On Wednesday, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said that it wants more input as it considers whether to approve a bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) proposed by asset management firm VanEck. The post The SEC is seeking additional comment as it weighs decision on VanEck bitcoin ETF appeared first on The Block.