United States: FinTech

Explore the world's most notorious corruption scandals through compelling storytelling and expert legal analysis. From crypto fraud schemes to healthcare corruption, political bribery to corporate malfeasance, each episode examines how power corrupts, the devastating consequences for victims, and the warning signs that could have prevented these scandals from unfolding.

On April 8, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to implement the anti-money laundering/countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) and U.S. economic sanctions provisions of the GENIUS Act (the Proposed Rule).

The SEC Staff issued a statement clarifying that operators of certain crypto wallet interfaces are not required to register as a broker-dealer for five years.

The SEC's inaugural podcast episode reveals a fundamental shift in digital asset regulation, as Commissioner Peirce outlines Project Crypto's vision for principles-based rules that embrace blockchain innovation while maintaining investor protection.

The International Organization of Securities Commissions has issued two significant final reports addressing pre-hedging practices and financial asset tokenization, both carrying major implications for US and global derivatives regulation. These principles-based guidance documents may reshape how the Commodity Futures Trading Commission approaches market-conduct standards while balancing technological innovation. The reports explore frameworks for managing conduct risks in pre-hedging activities and assess

Tokenization is transforming institutional markets by converting ownership rights in real-world assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain infrastructure.

The SEC on April 7, 2026, released its enforcement results for fiscal year (FY) 2025, which ended on September 30, 2025. A day later, on April 8, the Commission announced the appointment of David Woodcock to serve as the Director of the Division of Enforcement.

The U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control has sanctioned six individuals and entities connected to Cartel del Noreste, including two casinos near the U.S.-Mexico border used for money laundering operations. This enforcement action represents a strategic shift toward targeting professional enablers and non-traditional financial institutions that facilitate cartel operations, reflecting a broader national security approach that treats major cartels as hybrid criminal-terrorist threats.

The SEC Staff has issued guidance clarifying when non-custodial crypto wallet providers must register as broker-dealers, potentially reshaping how digital asset platforms operate.