On Oct. 9, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued additional guidance regarding the taxation of cryptocurrency. The guidance comes more than five years after the IRS issued Notice 2014-21, the first and, until now, only official guidance regarding cryptocurrency. Revenue Ruling 2019-24 (the Revenue Ruling) reaffirms that virtual currency is treated as property and does not constitute currency. The Revenue Ruling distinguishes virtual currencies from foreign currencies. According to the Revenue Ruling, foreign currency, unlike…

In this issue: • Smart Contracts Deployed by Icelandic Retailer, Blockchain for Sneakers and DHS • Cryptocurrency Service Providers Target Mainstream Investors, FINRA Application Approved • SEC, DOJ and State Agency Enforcement Actions for ICOs and Crypto Fraud Schemes • Regulatory Problems and Solutions in the Cryptocurrency and Digital Asset Arena Smart Contracts Deployed by Icelandic Retailer, Blockchain for Sneakers and DHS By: Robert A. Musiala Jr. A press release issued this week announced the…

In this issue: • Blockchain Clearing, Settlement, Custody and Capital Markets Developments • Cryptocurrency Exchanges and Payment Applications Continue to Expand Services • Blockchain Pilots for Mortgages, Recycling, Supply Chain and Digital Identity • Cryptomining Malware Found in Study Materials, Other Malware Uses Bitcoin to Proliferate Blockchain Clearing, Settlement, Custody and Capital Markets Developments By: Diana J. Stern This week, R3 and a major multinational financial services company announced a partnership to develop and pilot…

In this issue: • Blockchain Developments for Energy Grids, Automobiles, Enterprise Protocols • International Developments in Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Regulation • NY DFS Approves Gold-Backed Stablecoin, Financial Institutions Pursue Blockchain Pilots • SEC Settles Charges, Treasury Hears Testimony, Cryptojacking Report Released Blockchain Developments for Energy Grids, Automobiles, Enterprise Protocols By: Simone O. Otenaike Earlier this week, TFA Labs, an internet-of-things security startup, announced plans to explore Factom’s protocol as a solution for validating the health…

In this issue: • Blockchain Capital Markets Platforms Achieve and File for Regulatory Approvals • New Initiatives by Cryptocurrency Exchanges, Payment Platforms and Financial Institutions • U.S. Enforcement Actions Continue from OFAC, SEC, DoJ and IRS • Study of Ethereum Vulnerabilities and Defenses Released, While Dusting and Mining Malware Attacks and Cryptojacking Continue Blockchain Capital Markets Platforms Achieve and File for Regulatory Approvals By: Simone O. Otenaike The Intercontinental Exchange recently received approval from the…