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The company now holds 140,000 bitcoin with an aggregate purchase price of $4.17 billion, the company’s CEO Michael Saylor tweeted Wednesday. 

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The chair of the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission believes there will very likely be an uptick in enforcement actions from regulators over the next 6 to 24 months.

Stay up-to-date with the latest legal developments in the world of cryptocurrency. Find out how regulations impact the industry on Coinpaper.com.

Legal

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SEC Issues Wells Notice to Robinhood Over Securities Violations

The Blockchain Integrity Act has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, and its aim is to impose a temporary two-year ban on cryptocurrency mixers.

Discover the latest news and insights on the world of cryptocurrency with Coinpaper.com. Stay up-to-date on the latest trends and developments in the crypto space.

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U.S. Representatives Propose Two-Year Ban on Cryptocurrency Mixers

In a recent podcast episode, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse said it is ‘clear’ that the U.S. Government is ‘going after’ stablecoin issuer Tether.

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It's 'Clear' Tether is in the US Government's Crosshairs, Ripple CEO 

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued a Wells notice to Robinhood, signaling potential enforcement actions against the trading platform because of  alleged securities violations. Despite regulatory uncertainty, innovations continue to emerge in the digital finance sector, like Hermetica's introduction of USDh, a Bitcoin-backed synthetic dollar that is aimed at enhancing liquidity. and yield-generating opportunities in Bitcoin-native decentralized finance (DeFi). The synthetic dollar is scheduled to be released  in June and promises huge yield-generating capabilities of up to 25%. 

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently 

, a widely-used trading platform. This notice is a formal indication that the SEC plans to possibly enforce action and was issued after an investigation into Robinhood's cryptocurrency listings and custodian services. The investigation pointed towards potential 

, despite Robinhood's attempts to comply with SEC regulations, including attempts to register its crypto services.

After the Wells notice was issued on May 4, Robinhood’s stock price experienced a drop of about 2.5% in pre-market trading, settling at $17.95. 

Responding to the SEC's actions, Dan Gallagher, Robinhood's chief legal, compliance and corporate affairs officer, shared his disappointment with the matter in a 

 on May 6. Gallagher, who is a former SEC commissioner, reiterated Robinhood's view that the cryptocurrencies listed on its platform do not qualify as securities. He also made sure to mention that the company is ready to contest any legal action by the SEC.

This Wells notice from the SEC comes despite the fact that Robinhood has a very selective approach to cryptocurrency offerings, avoiding certain tokens and services like crypto lending and staking, which the SEC had previously classified as securities in actions against other platforms. Gallagher also 

 for cryptocurrencies in the U.S. He compared it to the equities markets before the reforms of 1933. He believes that inconsistent state regulations and the absence of clear federal guidelines is hindering mainstream adoption and fair competition in the crypto market.

As of now, both the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission have not established definitive regulations 

 and commodities in the context of digital assets, leaving companies like Robinhood in a very tough position with regards to  compliance and operational clarity.

CFTC Chair Predicts More Crypto Enforcement

, the chair of the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), believes there will be continued regulatory scrutiny on cryptocurrency firms as investor interest in the market remains high. Behnam spoke at the 2024 Global Conference on May 6 where he pointed out the resilience of the crypto market despite it having to deal with major downturns and bankruptcies in 2022. He did, however, share his beliefs that there will very likely be an uptick in enforcement actions over the next 6 to 24 months due to increasing asset values and retail investor engagement.

While Behnam did not directly specify whether the CFTC or the SEC would lead these efforts, he did share his thoughts on the necessity of a regulatory framework to curb potential fraud and manipulation in the absence of transparency and regulatory tools. The need for clear regulation was echoed by U.S. lawmakers, who are considering legislation that would define the 

 when it comes to overseeing digital assets. This legislation is currently awaiting a floor vote in the House of Representatives.

The SEC has been especially active recently. In fact, 2023 saw the highest number of 

 cases since 2013, according to a January report from Cornerstone Research. High-profile cases are also pending against major U.S. crypto firms like 

. The recent Wells notice to Robinhood proves that the SEC does not intend to stop its crypto crackdown any time soon.

The CFTC itself has also ramped up its enforcement actions, with a third of its total crypto-related actions taking place in 2023. These included cases against people like former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried and former Celsius CEO Alex Mashinsky.

Central Banks Must Adapt with Digital Currencies

Despite the crypto industry having a regulatory target on its back at the moment, Joachim Nagel, president of the Bundesbank and a member of the European Central Bank (ECB), believes Central banks have to rethink their business models and swiftly embrace 

 at a panel during the Innovation Summit hosted by the Bank for International Settlements on May 6. Here, he shared some of his concerns about the evolving financial landscape and the decreasing allure of physical money.

Nagel pointed out that twenty years ago he would have never questioned the resilience of the central bank's business model. However, today, he actually sees potential vulnerabilities and believes there is the need for adaptation. He also specifically mentioned distributed ledger technology (DLT) and sees it as a crucial tool that could help central banks in revamping their operations.

Francois Villeroy de Galhau, another ECB member from France, also spoke about the issue at the same conference. Galhau wants to see the inclusion of digital currencies in both wholesale and retail banking sectors. He argued that updating the method of making central bank money available is essential for the 21st century and to ensure that it continues to serve as a stability anchor for the financial system.

The ECB is actively working on a digital euro and completed the investigative phase to finalize its design and technical specifications. The project is expected to be completed by October of 2025.

Hermetica Introduces Bitcoin-Backed Synthetic USD

Meanwhile, Hermetica has introduced USDh, the first Bitcoin-backed synthetic United States dollar that is set to revolutionize Bitcoin-native decentralized finance (

). The synthetic dollar is scheduled to be released in June and promises huge yield-generating capabilities  of up to 25%. 

Jakob Schillinger, the founder and CEO of Hermetica Labs, 

 that USDh is designed to allow Bitcoin enthusiasts to hold and earn yield on U.S. dollars without relying on traditional banking systems or engaging with non-Bitcoin financial products. Schillinger strongly believes that USDh will enhance liquidity and introduce new functionalities in the Bitcoin DeFi sector that will allow people to trade, lend, and transact in a dollar-denominated asset fully backed by Bitcoin.

The launch of USDh comes after the introduction of 

 USDe, which is another synthetic dollar that debuted with a 27.6% yield. This ended up raising some concerns about its long-term viability. USDh could encounter similar concerns, especially considering its high yield in comparison to past stablecoin offerings like TerraUSD, which famously collapsed in May of 2022.

However, Schillinger assures that the high yield offered by USDh is sustainable and is  supported by backtest data from January 2021 to March 2024, which shows an average annual yield of 11.71%. He attributes the robust yield performance to the structural demand for long leverage in the Bitcoin futures market, which peaked during the 2022 bull market at an annual return of 26.11%.

As Bitcoin DeFi continues to expand, driven by innovations like 

, Schillinger is very optimistic about its future. In fact, he predicts that Bitcoin DeFi could equal or surpass Ethereum DeFi in scale within the next five years. Just recently. trading volumes in Bitcoin Ordinals have already 

A synthetic dollar is a digital financial instrument that is designed to mimic the value of the US dollar without direct backing by physical dollar reserves. Instead, it maintains its dollar peg through financial derivatives like futures or algorithmic strategies, particularly in the crypto realm. 

This innovation is primarily used in international trade, investments, and DeFi platforms, allowing entities globally to access dollar liquidity effortlessly without the actual possession of USD. This is especially beneficial in regions where accessing USD is either restricted or challenging.

The utility of synthetic dollars extends beyond simple transactions. They are pivotal when it comes to providing stability and liquidity in diverse financial environments. They are also  crucial in hedging against local currency fluctuations, facilitating seamless international transactions, and boosting the growing digital finance ecosystem by acting as a stable medium of exchange. Their role is increasingly vital in supporting economic activities where traditional financial systems are inefficient or inaccessible.

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The U.S. is seeing a lot of legislative activity around crypto regulations at the moment. The House of Representatives introduced the Blockchain Integrity Act to impose a temporary two-year ban on crypto mixers. Meanwhile, another bill, H.J. Res 109, passed in the House of Representatives challenges SEC regulations by seeking to allow banks to hold cryptocurrencies similar to traditional assets. It has, however, faced opposition from President Biden. Robinhood reported an impressive increase in crypto trading volumes, contributing to a very profitable Q1 for the platform, even as it faces regulatory scrutiny from the SEC.

Legislators Call for Temporary Halt on Crypto Mixers

 are shaking in their boots as a new legislative proposal, the 

, has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. Its aim is to impose a temporary two-year ban on cryptocurrency mixers. The act is co-sponsored by  Democratic Representative Sean Casten, Representatives Bill Foster, Brad Sherman, and Emanuel Cleaver. The main goal of the bill will be to address some concerns when it comes to the role of mixers in obscuring financial transactions.

 that crypto mixers function by pooling cryptocurrencies which allows people to withdraw funds to a new address without revealing the connection between the initial deposit and the withdrawal addresses. The proposed bill will prevent financial entities like crypto exchanges, virtual asset service providers, and registered money service businesses from dealing with funds that have passed through a mixer. Every violation would carry a potential civil penalty of up to $100,000.

During the proposed ban, the U.S. Treasury Department will compile a detailed report. It will include the percentage of mixer transactions linked to illicit activities, legitimate applications of mixers, law enforcement's ability to trace or block such transactions, and how other jurisdictions regulate mixers.

This will not be the first time the U.S. has 

 against crypto mixers. The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control 

 in August of 2022, a move that was later upheld in court. The founders of Tornado Cash have also faced charges related to money laundering and sanctions violations in both the U.S. and the Netherlands.

 digital currencies like Monero also have targets on their backs, and they have faced regulatory pressure after the introduction of new Anti-Money Laundering laws in the European Union. 

House Passes Bill Overturning SEC Crypto Custody Rules

On the other hand, the United States House of Representatives also recently passed a bill that challenges existing 

 (SEC) guidelines preventing banks from holding cryptocurrencies in the same way they hold traditional assets like securities. 

, and plans to overturn the SEC's Special Accounting Bulletin (SAB 121) that was introduced in March of 2022.  SAB 121 requires banks to include cryptocurrencies held on behalf of customers in their balance sheets, which is not required with traditional custodial assets.

Republican Congressman Mike Flood, who introduced the resolution, 

 that want to offer crypto custody services by bemanding that these holdings be treated differently from other custodial assets. The bill received a lot of bipartisan support in the House, passing with a total of 228 votes to 182.

Biden to Veto Bill Easing SEC's Crypto Custody Regulations

Unfortunately, not everyone is very happy with the bill. Despite the bill's passage in the House, President 

 expressed strong opposition and even stated that he would veto the bill should it reach his desk. 

 opposing the legislative move to overturn SAB 121. Biden seems to believe that such action would undermine the 

 to protect investors in the crypto markets and maintain stability in the broader financial system. The White House also pointed out that limiting the SEC’s regulatory capacity could lead to serious financial instability and uncertainty in the market. 

Supporters of the bill like SEC Commissioner 

 have criticized SAB 121 and called it a barrier to regulated financial institutions wishing to serve as crypto custodians. She also claims it treats crypto assets differently from other types of assets and could prevent banks from entering the crypto custody market.

In its statement, the House Financial Services Committee (HSFC) argued that overturning SAB 121 would actually protect consumers by making it possible for highly regulated institutions to act as custodians for digital assets. HSFC Chairman 

For now, the bill’s fate hangs in the balance with a potential presidential veto looming as it moves forward in the legislative process.

Robinhood Reports Strong Q1 Despite SEC Setback

The SEC is also seeing some pushback from other areas in the crypto industry. Robinhood's CEO, Vladimir Tenev, recently shared his disappointment about a recent 

Despite this setback, Robinhood reported an impressive 224% increase in crypto trading volumes, reaching $36 billion. This surge contributed to almost 40% of the firm's transaction-based revenue, which totaled $329 million. The robust crypto activity helped Robinhood secure its second consecutive profitable quarter, with net income standing at $157 million.

The SEC's Wells notice scrutinizes Robinhood's crypto listings and custodian services, which Teven 

 a "disappointing development". Jason Warnick, Robinhood's CFO, pointed out the company's conservative approach to coin listings and maintaining high compliance standards similar to its brokerage operations. Considering this, Robinhood's management assured its users that customer accounts are unaffected and vowed to defend the firm and advocate for their clients.

After the earnings announcement, the company's 

 spiked by 7.3% in after-hours trading. Year-to-date, the company's share price increased by more than 44%.

Additionally, Robinhood also reported that it now holds $26.2 billion in crypto assets for users, a 78% increase from the previous quarter. This growth came coupled with massive  market movements, including a 65.1% increase in the 

, a fintech broker, revolutionized the investment landscape by offering a commission-free trading platform that caters to the everyday investor. It was founded in 2013 by Vladimir Tenev and Baiju Bhatt. Robinhood made it possible for people to trade stocks, 

 without needing a minimum account balance.

The platform gained a lot of traction during the COVID-19 pandemic, as lockdowns prompted a surge in home trading, which ended up boosting Robinhood’s annual revenue to $958 million in 2020—a 245.18% increase from the previous year. This growth was also propelled by the "meme stock" phenomenon in early 2021, exemplified by the GameStop short squeeze that was orchestrated by retail investors on the r/WallStreetBets forum.

Despite its user-friendly interface and features like commission-free trades, 1% matched IRAs, and access to crypto trading, Robinhood has faced some criticism. Critics argue that the platform makes it too easy for inexperienced investors to engage in risky trading practices. The platform has also been scrutinized for limited investment education resources, a narrow range of investment options, inadequate customer support, and technical issues during peak trading times. The SEC’s latest legal action against Robinhood is also not making things any better for the platform and its users.

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Brad Garlinghouse recently shared his concerns on the "World Class" podcast about potential U.S. regulatory actions against Tether. He also touched on the major repercussions this would have on the crypto market. Despite this, Tether is expanding its presence in the Eastern European crypto market by increasing its investment in CityPay.io, a Georgia-based crypto payment provider. There are also some global advancements in stablecoin technology, like the Philippines testing a peso-backed stablecoin and Lightning Labs integrating stablecoins into the Bitcoin network using the Taproot upgrade.

, shared some of his concerns on the "World Class'' 

 about potential regulatory actions against Tether by the U.S. government. He also suggested that these actions could have a major impact on the cryptocurrency market. Garlinghouse did not specify the nature of these potential actions but emphasized Tether's crucial role in the crypto ecosystem.

Garlinghouse said on the podcast that there would “100%” be another crypto-related black swan event like the 

. “The U.S. government is going after Tether, that is clear to me,” he said without elaborating more on this. He actually stopped short of suggesting any possible U.S. action against Tether would be the next black swan event, but he did say it is an “interesting one to watch.”

 its own U.S. dollar stablecoin in 2024.  According to Ripple CTO David Schwartz, the stablecoin will be backed by dollar deposits and short-term government securities. 

Tether, under its parent company Tether Holdings, is the largest stablecoin issuer by market capitalization and has 

 over the years. In 2021, Tether settled with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for $41 million after being accused of misrepresenting the reserve holdings that backed its USDT tokens. Additionally, U.S. authorities have been investigating Tether since at least 2022 for potential misconduct, including the alleged concealment of transactions linked to cryptocurrencies.

U.S. politicians have also raised concerns about Tether's operations, with some even suggesting the company may have been involved in activities that could support terrorism. Tether 

 to these allegations by pointing out its commitment to 

Tether Boosts Investment in Eastern European Crypto Market

 is actively being targeted by US authorities and Senators, the stablecoin company is 

 its investment in the Eastern European crypto market by funding CityPay.io, a Georgia-based crypto payment provider. This follows Tether's initial investment in 

 after committing to boost crypto use in the region.

CityPay.io allows people to pay for services like Wendy’s and Radisson Hotels with cryptocurrencies like 

. With Tether's additional investment that was announced on May 8, CityPay.io now plans to expand its services across Eastern Europe, targeting countries like Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.

Currently, CityPay.io operates in over 600 locations in Georgia and is developing its own e-wallet and card solutions, which are expected to launch within the next two years. The company also has very ambitious plans to establish more than 500,000 crypto payment points throughout its target markets.

Tether's CEO, Paolo Ardoino, believes that the initial collaboration with CityPay.io already greatly improved crypto accessibility in Georgia. He now hopes that the new investment will further disrupt traditional payment systems. CityPay.io integrated with Tether for payments using the 

 network in October of 2023, and the two companies seem excited to extend their working partnership into the future.

Georgia's government is also playing a big role in creating a more crypto-friendly environment. Georgia signed a memorandum of understanding with Tether in June of 2023 to develop Bitcoin and peer-to-peer infrastructure. The country is now working towards  positioning itself as a global crypto hub, supported by the presence of other major firms like Binance and an extensive network of 

 are a type of cryptocurrency that is designed to minimize the volatility often associated with digital currencies like Bitcoin. They do this by pegging their value to other stable assets like fiat currencies, commodities, or financial instruments. This linkage helps stablecoins maintain a consistent value, making them more suitable for everyday transactions when compared to more 

The importance of stablecoins stems from the erratic nature of popular cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, which can experience large price fluctuations in very short periods. This volatility can be very beneficial for traders but poses risks for ordinary transactions, where both 

 are looking for price stability to preserve value.

By offering a more stable alternative, stablecoins cater to users looking for more reliable mediums of exchange in the digital economy. They are particularly crucial for businesses and consumers who want to use cryptocurrencies without the risk of drastic price changes affecting their spending power or investment value shortly after a transaction. This stability helps bridge the gap between traditional fiat currencies and cryptocurrencies by providing a less volatile digital currency option.

Philippines' Peso-Backed Stablecoin Enters Pilot Phase

Although stablecoins are facing some legal and regulatory hurdles in the U.S., it seems like the 

 is embracing the technology. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)  

 a pilot project for a Philippine Peso-backed stablecoin, PHPC, in collaboration with crypto wallet provider 

. The grant was approved under BSP’s Regulatory Sandbox Framework.

Coins.ph will hold cash reserves in pesos equivalent to the circulating supply of the PHPC stablecoin in the controlled sandbox environment. The peg to the local currency will make it easy to seamlessly convert back to physical pesos.

The pilot project will test the stablecoin’s performance in real-world scenarios and its impact on the existing fiat ecosystem. Some of the potential applications for PHPC include domestic and cross-border payments, trading with other digital assets, hedging against market volatility, and serving as collateral in decentralized finance (

The duration of the sandbox testing could range from three to twelve months, depending on the complexity of the project. While a formal public rollout will require final evaluations and approvals from the BSP, this is still a big step towards integrating digital currencies into the Philippine financial landscape.

This move is very similar to an initiative from 

, which launched its own peso-backed stablecoin, PHX, in July of 2019. 

At the Crypto and Digital Assets Summit hosted by FT Live in London, Elizabeth Stark, the CEO of Lightning Labs, revealed some interesting advancements when it comes to  integrating stablecoins and other 

 assets into the Bitcoin network by using the recent Taproot upgrade. Stark also talked about how the development team at Lightning Labs launched an early version of the code and successfully demonstrated the first transaction of an asset over the 

The Taproot assets protocol spearheaded by Lightning Labs plans to address the high fees and other issues that are associated with digital assets on other blockchains. Stark believes in Bitcoin's robust security and decentralization and sees it as ideal for facilitating stablecoins. She also made sure to point out the increased adoption of stablecoins, especially in emerging markets where they serve as a reliable store of value amidst economic volatility.

The Lightning Labs CEO shed some light on the low transaction costs possible through the Lightning Network, comparing favorably to traditional financial systems like 

, which can charge fees up to 3%. This development promises more accessible global transactions at significantly reduced rates, boosting the potential of Bitcoin and the Lightning Network to revolutionize financial interactions with stablecoins and tokenized assets.