Here at the Digital Assets Download, we are the enthusiastic crowd that looks for ways to boost builders in the marathon that is blockchain development. As part of that, in this issue we talk about California’s new digital assets law and, most importantly, how it is likely to impact specific types of companies and products. We also describe the latest crypto proposal from FinCEN and our “Lingo” may help to explain why a new type of bitcoin financial product may be on the horizon.
For the Uninitiated: Digital Assets Download is a curated mix of insights and headlines that provide a Layer 3 Legal Perspective™ on the digital assets multiverse—created by Mayer Brown’s global Digital Assets, Blockchain & Cryptocurrency group. (Check out all of our previous editions of the Digital Assets Download)
The Lead Block
News Node
UK Government Publishes Final Proposals for Crypto, Fiat-Backed Stablecoin Regulation
Standard Chartered-owned Crypto Firm Zodia Launches in Hong Kong
Thailand’s Kasikorn Bank Buys Majority Stake in Satang Crypto Exchange
Taiwan Crypto Regulation Gets Going with First Reading of Digital Asset Bill
Novogratz Reiterates that He Expects Spot Bitcoin ETF Approval This Year
Singapore, Japan, UK, Swiss Regulators Plan Asset Tokenization Pilots
Spain Brings Forward MiCA Crypto Rules by Six Months After EU Pressure
Marshall Islands Further Strengthens Law that Made DAOs Legal Entities
Grayscale-SEC Fight over Bitcoin ETF Gets Final DC Appeals Court Mandate
US Says Some Crypto Firms Not Doing Enough to Stop Illicit Finance
Bittrex's US Wind-Down Approved in Bankruptcy Court
Blockchain Will Be ‘Standard’ for Gaming in Asia: Bandai Namco Exec
Kraken Warns Users: Your Bitcoin Trading Data is Headed to the IRS
Brazil Lenders Embrace Blockchain Ahead of Central Bank’s Digital Real Launch
Select Events
Digital Assets Trading and Investing
On November 6, 2023, Mayer Brown partner Mark Leeds will speak on “Digital Assets Trading and Investing” at the Beryl Elites Investments Conference in New York City. For more information, please visit the conference website.
Hearing Entitled: Modernizing Financial Services Through Innovation and Competition
In the US House of Representatives, the Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology and Inclusion of the Financial Services Committee held a hearing on Wednesday, October 25, 2023.
Commissioner Mersinger Participates in a Fireside Chat at the State of Crypto Policy and Regulation Conference
On October 24, 2023, US CFTC Commissioner Summer K. Mersinger participated in a fireside chat at the State of Crypto Policy and Regulation Conference.
Responsible Innovation in Money and Payments
On October 17, 2023, Federal Reserve Governor Michelle W. Bowman discussed innovation in money and payments at the Harvard Law School Program on International Financial Systems Roundtable on Central Bank Digital Currency in Washington DC.
Learn the Lingo
Spot Bitcoin ETFs vs Futures Bitcoin ETFs
Spot bitcoin ETFs and futures-based (or derivatives-based) bitcoin ETFs are both investment products that can provide investors with exposure to changes in the price of bitcoin (i.e., the underlying asset). However, the type and structure of this exposure differs among them.
Spot bitcoin ETFs directly hold bitcoin and are designed to reflect the “spot,” or current price of bitcoin.
On the other hand, derivatives-based bitcoin ETFs use financial instruments like futures contracts to replicate bitcoin's prices. However, they do not directly hold bitcoin. Instead, the ETFs hold bitcoin derivatives -- financial agreements through which a party will buy or sell bitcoin at a specified price on a pre-determined date in the future.
As of November 3, 2023, US regulators have yet to approve a spot bitcoin ETF for the United States, even though many spot bitcoin ETFs already exist outside the United States and many of the world's largest traditional asset managers have made applications to the SEC for a US version. (Numerous futures bitcoin ETFs have been approved in the United States.) However, the US SEC recently lost a court case related to its rejection of an application for a spot bitcoin ETF, which has raised expectations that a spot bitcoin ETF may be approved for the US market in the near-future.
Writing on the Wall, Translating ‘Crypto’ Terms with Mayer Brown
From Airdrop to Wrapped Token, our illustrated glossary, “Writing on the Wall, Translating Securities with Mayer Brown,” has been updated with additional digital assets and cryptocurrency terms. Check out our “featured” list for the crypto terms and the full list of terms.
