Jai R. Massari

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Ms. Massari is a partner in Davis Polk's Financial Institutions Group and the trading and markets practice. [Full Bio]

The Senate passed the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act (S.2155) on March 14 by a filibuster-proof vote of 67 – 31.  The Senate bill still must pass the House, where Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) and other representatives have said they plan to propose a series of amendments … Read More

The past few days have seen several interesting developments in the law and regulation of digital tokens.  Each action reflects an intense focus by U.S. regulators to clarify the treatment of digital tokens, from those issued by startups in initial coin offerings (ICOs) to the more “traditional” cryptocurrencies … Read More

Among the virtual currency transactions that are within the scope of CFTC regulation are leveraged, margined, or financed transactions in virtual currencies offered to retail customers. These retail commodity transactions are illegal unless traded on a regulated futures exchange and cleared through a futures commission merchant. They include any transaction: … Read More

With virtual currency markets booming and bitcoin prices at record highs, U.S. financial regulators have been—each in its own manner—considering whether and how to regulate virtual currencies and related products.  Last week, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announced that three futures exchanges—CME, Cboe Futures Exchange, and Cantor Exchange—self-certified … Read More

Among the many topics covered by the Treasury Department’s recent report[1] on the asset management and insurance industries are recommendations to simplify the regulation of commodity pool operators (CPOs) and commodity trading advisors (CTAs), particularly for those that are regulated by both the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and … Read More

Buried in the latest Treasury Report, the third in a series, are important gems on the Volcker Rule and on the concept of controlling influence.[1]  Of the three interesting new recommendations, two are limited to the covered funds portion of the Volcker Rule and build upon the recommendations in the … Read More

CFTC Chairman Giancarlo testified this morning that he intends to delay for an additional year a decision on whether to modify the currently effective swap dealer de minimis registration threshold of $8 billion notional of dealing swaps.[1] This request follows on the heels of a recommendation by the U.S. Treasury, … Read More

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the “OCC”) took a first formal step in evaluating how the regulations implementing the Volcker Rule should be revised by issuing a request for public input on the regulations in early August, with comments due in late September.  Of the 55 comment … Read More

There has been significant attention to the first major policy speech by the CFTC’s newly-minted Enforcement Division Director, James McDonald on September 25, 2017.  Mr. McDonald’s speech outlined the Enforcement Division’s updated approach to self-reporting and cooperation, as described in an enforcement advisory update issued to coincide with his speech … Read More

Yesterday, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission brought an enforcement action against the operators of an alleged Ponzi scheme who, according to the allegations, collected approximately $600,000 from 80 investors in a pooled fund to invest in bitcoin under a high-frequency, algorithmic trading strategy. The operators instead allegedly misappropriated the funds … Read More