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Social Media’s Hesitation to Promote Cryptocurrencies Explained
Feb 5, 2018
Social Media’s Hesitation to Promote Cryptocurrencies Explained
In a paradox of sorts, cryptocurrency’s continued survival may hinge on its submission to greater regulatory oversight. Such a notion is paradoxical in the sense that cryptocurrency’s origins can be traced to a “stick it to the man” mentality in which currency is decentralized and not tied to any one governmental body. Thus, submitting to…
2018: The End of Cryptocurrencies?
Jan 22, 2018
2018: The End of Cryptocurrencies?
Cryptocurrencies (e.g. Bitcoin) took the broader public by storm in 2017 and had a breakout year. There were outsized and even unprecedented returns, along with extreme volatility and even more extreme volatility. The question for 2018 is whether cryptocurrencies had their “fifteen minutes of fame” or they are here to stay? Blockchain technology (which is…
Will Big Cyber Hacks Cause the SEC to Issue New Guidelines?
Jan 11, 2018
Will Big Cyber Hacks Cause the SEC to Issue New Guidelines?
Following a change of heart from a top Securities and Exchange Commission regulator, public companies will likely soon face new guidelines for how they report cybersecurity breaches to investors. SEC Corporate Finance Division Director Bill Hinman was quoted as saying that when Chairman Jay Clayton first asked him if the existing SEC guidance needed to…
The Risks of Cryptocurrency and How the Government Will Protect Consumers
Nov 30, 2017
The Risks of Cryptocurrency and How the Government Will Protect Consumers
Bitcoin and a host of cryptocurrencies have taken both Wall Street and Main Street by storm in 2017. The nearly continuous gains in the price of Bitcoin have spawned numerous imitators and led a number of companies to raise critical start-up funds by selling their own token/cryptocurrency in a process similar to an initial public…
CFTC Regulated Markets May Give Bitcoin the Stability It Needs
Nov 28, 2017
CFTC Regulated Markets May Give Bitcoin the Stability It Needs
The unregulated nature of virtual currencies like Bitcoin plays a big role in their appeal. However, wild swings in prices in addition to the perception that these markets are subject to manipulation, make it difficult—if not impossible—for the average person to rely heavily on Bitcoin and other virtual currencies as a currency, much less as…
SEC and FTC Warn Celebrities Must Disclose Financial Connection For ICO Endorsements
Nov 27, 2017
SEC and FTC Warn Celebrities Must Disclose Financial Connection For ICO Endorsements
Cryptocurrency is the latest trend to be embraced by celebrities, so much so that the federal government this month issued a warning about the possible risks involved. Both the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have made clear that if a celebrity is being paid to promote a product…
Deadline Fast Approaches for Final DMCA Registration
Nov 7, 2017
Deadline Fast Approaches for Final DMCA Registration
The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) provides a safe harbor from copyright infringement liability for online service providers. While not a particularly famous law, it is a critical law because it enables websites to accommodate user-generated content without being concerned for copyright infringement claims by hosting that content. However, in order to preserve their safe…
ICOs: Proceed with Caution
Jul 25, 2017
ICOs: Proceed with Caution
Today, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) issued an investor bulletin and an investigative report. The investigative report found that companies involved in sales of digital assets via distributed ledger or blockchain technology may be engaged in conduct subject to federal securities laws. While this report is the first of its kind to address initial…
Chargebacks Can Be a Major Problem for Small Businesses
Feb 17, 2011
Chargebacks Can Be a Major Problem for Small Businesses
The Wall Street Journal has acknowledged the serious problem that chargebacks pose to businesses in an article posted on its website. Merchants pay a heavy price for these reverse credit card transactions, which cost them a lost sale, the lost product, and a fine imposed by the credit card company. What’s more, courts have equated…
