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Is The US Falling Behind In Crypto Regulation?

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By , Updated On April 03, 2023

Introduction

Over the last half a Century, the United States has been at the forefront of some of the most remarkable and innovative financial developments. As a result, new York is considered the global hub for economic activity, and the United States is the most powerful economy on the planet. 

Nations do not reach these dizzying heights without staying ahead of the latest financial innovations and providing a productive environment for companies operating within this industry to grow.

The SEC is an independent agency that regulates cryptocurrency in the States. Despite many rumors about a cryptocurrency ban and severe sanctions over the years, it has remained an innovative space for cryptocurrency and blockchain projects to develop and evolve.

 

A Staggered Approach

Following the enormous black swan event that occurred at the end of 2022 and decimated the cryptocurrency industry, the SEC was criticized for not having more oversight of the criminal mismanagement of funds on an industrial scale over at the now-bankrupt exchange FTX.

Given that the SEC has aimed at other exchanges and other big companies in the space, the fact that a poorly managed exchange has been accused of gargantuan fraud didn’t even seem to be on the radar for the SEC.

The CEO of FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried, has come under intense scrutiny and is still very much in the limelight. In fact, he has been accused of spending plenty of his time playing League of Legends, instead of managing a multi-billion-dollar exchange. While it’s no doubt that league of Legends crypto is a fun game, there’s a time and a place for everything.  

 

International Movements

There’s no denying the innovative nature of blockchain technology. Bitcoin has been credited as one of the most innovative financial creations of the 21st Century, possibly of all time. It has since become legal tender in multiple countries, and it’s relatively likely other countries will join this list in 2023.

As well as countries where you can use it for purchases, other countries have introduced clear and attractive legislation for companies within the sector who want to relocate away from the United States. 

These countries include Singapore, Malta, Germany, Puerto Rico, Portugal, Switzerland, etc. There’s no shortage of countries looking to play host to the multi-million dollar tax base that these companies provide.

 

Is The US Digging Itself Into A Hole?

Clarity and direction are vital in any financial sector. Many companies that are innovators in blockchain and cryptocurrency want a clear message. They can then set long-term plans within a specific framework to build business models that adhere to legislation.

Despite what many misguided mainstream media articles suggest, cryptocurrency and blockchain technology are used for the greater good. Moreover, some individuals and companies involved in these groundbreaking innovations are not mastermind criminals. 

They want to be able to pay taxes and operate freely while pushing the boundaries of financial innovation. With financial hubs such as Dubai and London looking to become a global epicentre for cryptocurrency, regulatory clarity is required urgently in the United States. They could easily see themselves falling behind and losing billions in tax revenue over the next decade.

Due to the fact many of the attempts to penalize cryptocurrency companies have been misguided and confusing to many who fully understand how digital assets work, many investors aren’t hopeful that the regulation will be beneficial for those companies operating from within the United States.

 

The Future Of Cryptocurrency Regulation In The United States

Many fear the US is falling behind concerning cryptocurrency as kneejerk lawsuits against Kraken for staking and long-winded, disjointed cases against XRP don’t seem to have a structure behind them.

For anti-cryptocurrency investors, severe legislation that cripples the market is what they’re looking for. Many see Bitcoin as a fraudulent Ponzi scheme. 

With tremendous respect, it is clear that this is far from what it is. Usually, when people don’t understand something, instead of admitting they don’t know how it works, they want to get on the front foot to save face.

It would also be naive to suggest there aren’t some seriously malicious operators operating in cryptocurrency like in every financial market. The FTX collapse is a painful testament to that, with many investors losing vast sums of money.

Many countries have shown that regulation isn’t something to be feared. But conversely, if it sets in place solid legislation, lucid regulation and the groundwork of a clear foundation, it could stimulate both the economy and the cryptocurrency market at the same time.

Overall, the US is losing some ground with other countries regarding legislation. However, those in the cryptocurrency market know well that things can move quickly. If the US can set some quality framework soon, it could be entirely different.