KPMG's cryptoasset report | SEC cracks down on two ICOs | OKEx settles futures contract without warning, causing $24M in trader losses
Bitcoin $4,975
▼
Ethereum $152.12
▼
Crypto Mkt Cap $162B
▼
BTC Dominance 52.50%
The SEC cracks down on two ICOs, creating a template for future enforcement
OKEx settled futures contracts early and without warning, causing $24 million in trader losses
Nomics Research: The problems with using ‘market cap’ in crypto
“We must not allow cybercriminals to hide behind cryptocurrencies.” — Rod Rosenstein, U.S. Deputy Attorney General
The Big Block
KPMG says that it is focused on helping organizations build the infrastructure and capabilities required to scale crypto. The Big Four accounting firm is convinced that for cryptoassets to realize their potential, institutionalization is needed. In a recently issued report, the firm said: “We believe [institutionalization] is a necessary next step for crypto to create trust and scale.”
In the 42-page report, KPMG identifies the key challenges to the adoption of crypto in the global financial services ecosystem and introduces “KPMGs Cryptoasset Framework” to help address them. The report was created with contribution from Coinbase plus insights and guidance from Fundstrat Global Advisors and Morgan Creek Digital.
KPMG notes that “cryptoassets are now impossible to ignore.” The firm believes that in 2017, crypto started competing against the traditional asset classes from an investment perspective. This development accelerated in 2018 as new financial vehicles entered the crypto space — security token platforms, stablecoins and more. Furthermore, KPMG pointed out that established financial services institutions are launching crypto products and services. However, it acknowledges that crypto is still dwarfed by the traditional asset markets with a size of more than $300 trillion globally.
Read More on The Block (6 Minutes)
Around The Block
The SEC cracks down on two ICOs, creating a template for future enforcement
There was huge news on the ICO/token sale front from the SEC on Friday regarding two initial coin offering (ICO) issuers. Let’s break it down.
What happened? Cease-and-desist orders were entered under the Securities Act of 1933 against two companies that raised money in token sales in late 2017. The SEC says:
(1) each company’s token was a security
(2) each broke U.S. securities laws because they
(a) failed to register with the SEC
(b) did not qualify for an exemption
— More
OKEx settled futures contracts early and without warning, causing $24 million in trader losses
OKEx, a Hong Kong-based exchange that is currently the second largest in the world by volume, settled bitcoin cash contracts early without warning on November 14. This unorthodox move caused aggregate losses for short-positions of roughly $24 million. According to Bloomberg, one trader lost $700,000 because his hedging position was closed prematurely. — More
Nomics Research: The problems with using ‘market cap’ in crypto — More
Parent of cryptocurrency exchange giant Huobi creates Community Party committee to work with Chinese government — More
Bitcoin drops to a 13-month low — More
Deloitte: Negative crypto headlines are distracting clients — More
Kraken launches Bitcoin SV trading but warns traders of ‘red flags’ — More
Bitcoin’s hash rate declines by more than 10% — More
ICOs’ arbiter: the Howey Test — More
The Block wants to understand who our readers are. Please take a few minutes to respond to our short survey. Your participation will give us a better understanding of our readers and what interests them! Please note that the survey results will be anonymized and aggregated. Please take the survey here.