Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) have almost broken even on funds sold versus funds they raised, new research by Hong Kong cryptocurrency trading platform BitMEX revealed Monday, October 1. The findings, compiled in partnership with crypto analytics resource TokenAnalyst, further suggested that despite Ethereum’s (ETH) price decline in 2018, ICO projects still had $93 million in “unrealized profits.” Further, the research states, net profits “realized” by ICOs that successfully closed comes to $727 million. “[R]ather than suffering because of the recent fall in the value of Ethereum, at the macro level, the projects appear to have already sold almost as much …

Russia has been trying to pass cryptocurrency legislation since the beginning of January 2018, with no success as of yet. The government’s main bill, “On Digital Financial Assets,” which was expected to be passed by July 1 — according to the wishes of President Vladimir Putin — will instead most likely be pushed back until an October Duma session. According to Artem Tolkachev, the self-proclaimed “first” lawyer in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to begin working with Bitcoin (BTC) and blockchain startups, the reason the crypto bills didn’t make it on the July agenda was “because of the complexity …

A group of lawmakers from the U.S. Congress has sent a letter to Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Jay Clayton, calling for regulatory clarity regarding cryptocurrencies, CNBC reported September 28. According to CNBC, more than a dozen congressmen asked Clayton to tell investors how the SEC plans to regulate digital currency. The lawmakers requested clarity on the criteria for identifying digital tokens as “investment contracts” and therefore securities, in addition to a description of the tools the SEC will use to provide more concrete guidance to innovators in the field. The letter reads: "It is important that all policy …

Crypto firm DigitalX Ltd. has been served with an Originating Application and Statement of Claim. The claim was filed by a group of DigitalX’s clients in Australia’s Federal Court, according to an official announcement published September 28. DigitalX describes itself as a publicly-listed firm that offers Initial Coin Offering (ICO) advisory services, blockchain consulting services and blockchain-related software development. It is reportedly based in the Australian cities of Sydney and Perth, as well as New York, USA. In its announcement today, the firm explains that the claim has been filed by clients in relation to an ICO investment for which …

An investigation by the Xinhua News Agency has shown it is possible to bypass China’s Initial Coin Offering (ICO) ban, according to an article published September 26. The investigation has shown that despite the government’s efforts to crack down on “ICO illegal financing,” investors can circumvent the law by using a “foreign shell” company, among other possibilities. Xinhua reports that after China’s crypto regulations became more stringent, domestic virtual currency exchanges went overseas for registration — while appearing to be shut down within the country — and were still able to “provide trading services to domestic users.” The agency specifically …

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is seeking sanctions against the individuals behind the allegedly fraudulent Initial Coin Offering (ICO) known as PlexCoin, Finance Feeds reports September 26. The SEC has been involved in ongoing court proceedings against the owners of the associated firm PlexCorps — Dominic Lacroix and Sabrina Paradis-Royer — at the New York Eastern District Court since December 2017. The SEC’s initial complaint had charged the pair with violating securities law in respect to PlexCorps’ PlexCoin ICO in August 2017. The complaint had accused Lacroix — whom it called “a recidivist securities law violator in Canada” …

French stock market regulator, the Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF), announced it is blacklisting 21 new investment websites, including multiple crypto-related sites, September 26. The AMF characterizes the new additions as “unauthorized websites” that offer “atypical investments,” and directs users to its existing blacklist, which it notes is “not comprehensive.” In March, the AMF had added 15 websites — including those related to crypto and crypto-assets — to its blacklist, reminding consumers that “no advertising materials should make you overlook the fact that high returns always involve high risk.” Cointelegraph has this month reported on a similar move from Belgian …

More than 45 representatives from major Wall Street firms and crypto companies took part in a meeting to discuss Initial Coin Offering (ICO) and cryptocurrency regulations in Washington D.C. September 25. The “crypto roundtable,” hosted by Congressman Warren Davidson in the last legislative session week before elections, gave a chance for industry representatives to express their concerns regarding possible regulations of the crypto space. Namely, experts told lawmakers that there is a pronounced lack of regulatory clarity for ICOs and digital currencies. Roundtable participants discussed “token taxonomy,” aiming to describe the existing uncertainty around the definition of ICO tokens, as …

The French government is reportedly planning to provide a legal framework for all “digital assets” providers, local news agency LesEcho.fr reported September 21. Three members of President Emmanuel Macron’s party, La République En Marche (LREM), have proposed an amendment to French legislation for regulating all service providers in the crypto industry, sources told LesEcho.fr. The National Assembly is reportedly set to discuss the amendment by the end of September. The amendment, tabled by LREM MPs Valeria Faure-Muntian, Christine Hennion, and Eric Bothorel, has the aim of widening the existing legal framework in order to allow all crypto market participants to …

The Swiss Bankers Association (SBA) has issued basic guidelines for banks working with blockchain startups on Friday, September 21. As Reuters reports, the measure was taken to prevent a mass crypto exodus out of Switzerland. The document states that banks see blockchain as an opportunity for Switzerland to house financial and technology startups despite "risks," especially money laundering. Due to a significant increase of crypto-related companies based in the country, the SBA has decided to provide a road map for banks to open their corporate accounts. The guidelines divides blockchain companies into two large groups: those with and those without …

Australian financial watchdog, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), has issued a warning on “misleading” Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) and crypto-asset funds targeted at retail investors. The document was published Thursday, September 20, on ASIC’s official website. According to the release, ASIC has stopped five different ICOs from raising capital since April 2018. This was done due to the lack of appropriate investor protection measures on part of the fundraisers in question. As the watchdog states, these offerings had to be restructured to meet existing legal standards. In September, one ICO was ordered to shut down permanently due to …

The head of the financial regulator of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) capital Abu Dhabi wants “proper” international regulation of cryptocurrency, local news outlet The National reports Wednesday, September 19. Speaking during an interview at this week’s Fintech Abu Dhabi event, Richard Teng, head of the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), claimed that loss and theft of cryptocurrency negatively impacts its image as an asset. “This space needs to be properly regulated, otherwise there is the risk of financial crime,” he said, noting: “Every time a coin gets stolen or lost, it affects the …