Cointelegraph reporter Joe Hall visited the country of Gibraltar to explore Bitcoin adoption on The Rock, as the peninsula is known locally, and how the adoption of bitcoin for shopping in the territory is impacting business. The visit was also an opportunity to visit Xapo Bank, the world's first private financial institution to combine traditional banking with Bitcoin. Coinbase acquired its custody business in 2019, making the American exchange the largest crypto custodian in the world. The British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar is known for its pioneering crypto regulations, support for blockchain development and bitcoin adoption, with many retail businesses …

The British overseas territory of Gibraltar introduced a new regulatory package for distributed ledger technology (DLT) service providers. The document elaborates on the responsibilities of crypto businesses in regards to threats of market manipulation and insider trading. On April 27, the government of Gibraltar published the 10th Regulatory Principle of the country's financial services regulation. The details are revealed in a Guidance Note, provided by the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission (GFSC), the chief finance regulator of the territory. The regulation, crafted by a special working group that included both government officials and industry experts, sets operational guidelines for preventing market …

Gibraltar-based tech group Valereum Blockchain announced the acquisition of Juno Group, a company that aids in the establishment and administration of trusts, money management and enterprise creation in Gibraltar. Juno is a company that Valereum describes as having three areas of licensed operation: the management of trusts and similar entities, the administration of cash for a range of activities, including both fiat and cryptocurrency transactions, and the incorporation and management of businesses in Gibraltar and other countries around the world. The agreement is a step toward creating a fully regulated link between the fiat and crypto worlds, according to the …

As digital asset prices had been hitting new historical highs in 2021, many jurisdictions were increasingly adopting cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC) and other crypto-based instruments. In addition to Bitcoin crossing $68,000 for the first time since inception, the year of 2021 will be remembered for Bitcoin’s historical adoption as legal tender in El Salvador. The world’s first-ever Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) was also inaugurated in 2021, alongside many other benign regulatory developments around the world. As we glance back at notable global regulatory moments in 2021, Cointelegraph has picked some of the most memorable instances of friendly crypto regulation. 1. …

The government of Gibraltar, a British territory at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula, has started a pilot program aimed at utilizing blockchain technology to store official credentials on its systems. In a Tuesday announcement, Her Majesty's Government of Gibraltar said it had partnered with Mexico-based cryptocurrency exchange Bitso and IOVlabs, a startup that develops financial solutions based on the Bitcoin (BTC) blockchain, to integrate blockchain technology into its eGov system. The initial phase of the integration will allow users to store state-issued and certified credentials on its servers in an effort for residents and location organizations to have …

Block.one, the developer of the EOS.IO protocol, the blockchain network of the EOS cryptocurrency, continues progressing with its cryptocurrency exchange subsidiary known as Bullish. Bullish officially announced on Nov. 10 that its branch Bullish Limited obtained a distributed ledger technology license from the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission (GFSC). The regulatory approval marks a major milestone ahead of the exchange's launch. Block.one announced plans to build the exchange in May 2021. Block.one CEO and Bullish chairman Brendan Blumer said that Gibraltar is emerging as a “leading blockchain and virtual assets hub” that can provide a foundation for crypto-focused companies to “operate …

Huobi Group, a Bitcoin (BTC) technology firm established in 2013, is relocating its spot-trading business to Gibraltar as a precautionary measure following China’s cryptocurrency clampdown. According to a report by Bloomberg, the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission has authorized Huobi to begin moving its spot-trading operations to affiliate Huobi Technology (Gibraltar) Co. As a result, Huobi Group may provide spot trading services through Huobi Gibraltar, a centralized digital asset exchange that has been authoritatively regulated by the GFSC. Jun Du, CEO of Huobi Group, stated: “The worldwide cryptocurrency sector is moving toward regulated growth. [...] The business must recognize the significance …

Regulation is sometimes positioned as the enemy of innovation, an antagonistic force that reduces progress in the name of bureaucracy. However, when implemented sensitively and proportionately, regulation can strengthen a private sector’s reputation by creating the conditions necessary for businesses to focus on and enhance innovation. Getting this right means working with entrepreneurs and providing them the opportunity to innovate and experiment while also enforcing standards that promote proper corporate governance and prevent illegal activity. Through ensuring robust controls, today’s evils such as money laundering and terrorist financing can be aptly combated. An open dialogue between regulators and businesses makes …

The Government of Gibraltar has announced its official appointment as an observing member of the Global Blockchain Business Council, or GBBC. It will be working alongside blockchain industry leaders from more than 50 countries. According to the announcement, Gibraltar expects to promote adoption across the British Overseas Territory and will consult widely to address topics such as regulation and education with business leaders and lawmakers to make the country a “friendly one for blockchain.” The GBBC was launched in Davos in 2017. Its philosophy is about “education, advocacy, and partnership” to strengthen blockchain adoption among member countries. The Hon. Albert …

A Gibraltar-based company says it is building a digital asset exchange that will be fully compliant with regulations from the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and the European Union. According to INX, the evolution of blockchain-based currencies and assets is finally beginning to gain steam — and governments around the world are beginning to realize that digital payments are here to stay. The company’s team consists of top executives from some of the world’s biggest financial institutions, including American Express, Morgan Stanley, Standard Chartered, HSBC, TD Ameritrade and Societe Generale. INX says its vision …

Repeatedly, proponents of disruptive technologies have proven that regulation and innovation have an immense potential to actualize a mutually beneficial existence. The often delicate relationship between innovators and regulators — which may be mired by antagonism — is fundamental to the functioning of the global economy, especially at times as challenging as we are facing now. The fuel that keeps the fire of the important relationship between regulators and businesses alight — like any — is communication and collaboration. This could not be more apt when it comes to the innovators behind distributed ledger technology and the regulators in overseeing …

The Gibraltar Financial Services Commission (GFSC) has updated its regulations governing the operation of distributed ledger technology (DLT) providers to include the latest Financial Action Task Force (FATF) rules. The GFSC said this is in response to blockchain’s fast-moving nature, especially as the agency seeks to support companies while protecting consumers. The updated guidance notes includes the latest FATF recommendations around virtual asset service providers (VASP) and the ‘Travel Rule,’ which requires VASPs to collect and transfer customer information in transactions. GFSC recommends considering “virtual assets as ‘property,’ ‘proceeds,’ ‘funds,’ ‘funds or other assets,’ or other ‘corresponding value.’” Under GFSC’s …