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]

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The Federal Reserve’s current approach to determining whether a banking organization has control over another company for purposes of the Bank Holding Company Act can discourage fintech investments by banking organizations.  This impact was discussed in the Treasury Department’s report on nonbank financial institutions, fintech and innovation.  The report highlights…
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The Treasury Department published its fourth and final report in response to President Trump’s 2017 Executive Order that established core principles for U.S. financial regulation.  The highly anticipated report addresses the U.S. financial regulatory approach to nonbank financial institutions, financial technology, and financial innovation and includes recommendations for Congress and…
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Our public memorandum here describes the notice of proposed rulemaking published by the CFTC on June 12, 2018 that would make permanent the $8 billion temporary swap dealer de minimis registration threshold currently in effect and would make other changes to the de minimis exception.

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CFTC Chairman J. Christopher Giancarlo and CFTC Chief Economist Bruce Tuckman released a White Paper on April 26, 2018 that reflects the authors’ personal views on the need for swaps regulatory reforms in the United States in five key areas:

  1. swap execution on swap execution facilities (“SEFs”);
  2. trade

…
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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…
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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…
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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:…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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