On April 1, 2019, new cybersecurity requirements outlined in the NFA’s Interpretive Notice to NFA Compliance Rules 2-9, 2-36 and 2-49 will come into effect. These new requirements apply to NFA Members, including registered futures commission merchants, commodity trading advisors, commodity pool operators, introducing brokers, retail foreign exchange dealers, and
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Jai R. Massari
Ms. Massari is a partner in Davis Polk's Financial Institutions Group and the trading and markets practice. [Full Bio]
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Visual Memorandum: A New Cut – Federal Reserve and U.S. Banking Agencies Propose Tailored Regulatory Framework
The move away from a one-size-fits-all regulatory framework based on asset size continues.
On October 31, the Federal Reserve proposed a rule to implement Section 401 of the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act, tailoring enhanced prudential standards for firms with $100 billion or more in total consolidated…
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CFTC Chairman Giancarlo’s White Paper Outlines Specific Recommendations to Cross-Border Swaps Regulation
After a several-year pause, the CFTC is again re-assessing its approach to cross-border regulation of swap activities. The CFTC’s current approach is embodied in various rulemakings, guidance, orders, and agreements with non-U.S. regulators that have been adopted, issued, and entered into since 2013. The CFTC has, over the past several…
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SEC Reopens Comment Period for Security-Based Swap Capital, Margin and Segregation Rules
On October 11, 2018, the SEC reopened the comment period and requested additional comments for previously proposed rules relating to capital, margin, and segregation requirements for security-based swap dealers (“SBSDs”), major security-based swap participants (“MSBSPs,” and together with SBSDs, “SBS Entities”) and, in some…
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The Federal Reserve Takes a Small Step toward a National Faster Payments Infrastructure
Posted in Payments
It is no secret that the United States lags behind other countries in the development of a national real-time payments infrastructure.[1] There are, of course, explanations for this lag, including widespread participation in the existing infrastructure rails and the existence of many different stakeholder interests limiting consensus over reforms. …
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The New York AG Weighs In On Virtual Currency Exchanges
The regulation and operations of virtual currency exchanges are again in the spotlight, due to the new report issued by the Office of the New York Attorney General (OAG). The report, which follows the April launch by the OAG of its Virtual Markets Integrity Initiative (VMII…
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Regulators Step Up Enforcement on Crypto Firms
After a several month lull that led some to question the SEC’s focus on crypto enforcement, this week saw a spate of enforcement activity involving crypto assets: several SEC enforcement actions, an SEC trading suspension order, the first FINRA cryptocurrency enforcement action, and a preliminary court decision consistent with the…
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The FTC’s Growing Enforcement Interest in Fintech
The FTC is expanding its enforcement efforts for fintech, particularly in the areas of online and small-business lending, payments, and cryptocurrencies. At a recent event in Washington, D.C., the FTC’s Director of Consumer Protection, Andrew Smith, stated, “Commissioners are really interested in [fintech]. Finance will be a steady part of…
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OCC Grants Conditional National Bank Charter to a Mobile-Only Bank
Posted in Bank Regulation, Fintech
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has granted conditional approval to digital-banking startup Varo Bank (previously Varo Money) of its application to form a de novo national bank. Varo Bank, N.A. would become the first mobile-only national bank in United States. This is an interesting…
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Federal Banking Regulators Can and Should Resolve Madden and True Lender Developments
The ability of banks to sell the loans they originate is a core element in the development and sustainability of a nationwide lending market. Recent legal developments threaten to undermine this ability, jeopardizing the foundation of a U.S. nationwide loan market and the core lending activities of banks.
A long-settled…
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