Category:FinTech Industry & Regulation

1
The CFPB Turns Its Focus To Credit Card Reward Programs
2
In an About-Face, Pennsylvania to Regulate Virtual Currency as Money
3
Australia: BNPL Regulation Takes Another Step Forward
4
SFC Circular on SFC-Authorized Funds with Exposure to Virtual Assets–Part 1
5
The Aloha State Finally Welcomes Crypto
6
CFPB Wants to Oversee Large Nonbank Digital Payment Providers
7
Hong Kong Monetary Authority Unveils Fintech Promotion Roadmap
8
Connecticut Stifles Employees’ Access to their Earned Wages
9
New FTC Guidance: The INFORM Consumers Act’s Impact on Online Marketplaces’ Third-Party Sellers
10
First SEC Enforcement Action Arising Out of the New Marketing Rule Targets FinTech Investment Advisor Titan Global Management

The CFPB Turns Its Focus To Credit Card Reward Programs

By: Jeremy McLaughlin and Chelsie Rimel

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or Bureau) released a new report spotlighting common consumer complaints for credit card rewards programs. The Bureau and its Director, Rohit Chopra, have been focused on payments oversight, including by proposing a rule last Fall that would apply to nonbank entities that provide digital wallets. The new report discusses the relationship between consumers and the providers of reward programs, and it stresses the need for fairness and transparency.

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In an About-Face, Pennsylvania to Regulate Virtual Currency as Money

By: Jeremy McLaughlin and Joshua Durham

Based on a new statement of policy (“Statement”) issued on 20 April 2024 by Pennsylvania’s Department of Banking and Securities (“Department”), effective 15 October 2024, the Department will include virtual currency in the definition of “money” for purposes of the state’s money transmission law (“Law”). Previously, in January 2019, the Department had issued guidance concluding the opposite, that only fiat currency constituted “money” under the Law. The Department’s about-face follows other state regulators that have increasingly concluded that virtual currency is regulated under their state money transmission laws.

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Australia: BNPL Regulation Takes Another Step Forward

By: Dan Knight and Ben Kneebush

On 12 March 2024, the Australian Treasury released for consultation an exposure draft legislative package that proposes to amend the current regulatory framework to regulate low cost credit contracts (LCCCs), including Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) arrangements and other types of credit contracts. These changes are designed to be flexible, adaptable and proportionate to the risk of consumer harm.

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SFC Circular on SFC-Authorized Funds with Exposure to Virtual Assets–Part 1

By: Jay Lee and Anson Chan

Earlier this year, the US Securities and Exchange Commission approved 11 spot Bitcoin ETFs. In Hong Kong, in view of rapid developments of virtual asset (VA) products and growing investment products offering exposure to VAs, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) issued a circular, on 22 December 2023, detailing requirements for investment funds with exposure of more than 10% of net asset value (NAV) to VA seeking authorization for public offerings in Hong Kong (Circular).

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The Aloha State Finally Welcomes Crypto

By: Jeremy McLaughlin and Joshua Durham

Hawaii has long been a thorn in the side of crypto companies. That thorn has finally been removed: on 25 January 2024, the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs issued a press release summarizing its findings on the proper regulatory framework for cryptocurrency—its conclusion is that it will not apply the state’s money transmitter law to cryptocurrency activities. Hawaii initially worked with cryptocurrency companies to create an alternative licensing framework, but was ultimately unable to conceive of an adequate digital asset license.

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CFPB Wants to Oversee Large Nonbank Digital Payment Providers

By Jeremy McLaughlin, Andrew Hinkes, and Josh Durham

Yesterday the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that, according to the agency, aims to “crack down on [fintech] regulatory arbitrage by ensuring large technology firms and other nonbank payment providers are subjected to appropriate oversight.”

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Hong Kong Monetary Authority Unveils Fintech Promotion Roadmap

By Jay Lee and Beatrice Wun

In a transformative step for the financial technology (fintech) industry, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) recently announced a new Fintech Promotion Roadmap (Roadmap), which outlines its key initiatives to be taken over the next 12 months to expedite the growth of the Fintech ecosystem and give stronger impetus to fintech adoption in the Hong Kong financial services sector.

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Connecticut Stifles Employees’ Access to their Earned Wages

By John ReVeal and Jeremy McLaughlin

Earned Wage Access (or EWA) programs are popular programs that allow employees to access their salary or wages that have already been earned, prior to the scheduled payroll date. Many argue that these beneficial programs are not truly “loans” because employees are accessing their own money without paying the high fees charged by payday lenders. However, some state regulators disagree, making EWA programs more difficult to access, depending on what state in which the employee lives.

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New FTC Guidance: The INFORM Consumers Act’s Impact on Online Marketplaces’ Third-Party Sellers

By Adam Husik and John ReVeal

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued guidance on how the Integrity, Notification, and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces for Consumers Act (the “INFORM Consumers Act” or “Act”) may impact online sellers who offer consumer products through online marketplaces.

The Act, as described in our prior blog post, is aimed at addressing consumer complaints about online purchases of stolen, counterfeit, or defective products. As of the Act’s 27 June 2023 effective date, online marketplaces are now generally required to obtain, verify, and disclose certain financial and business information about high-volume sellers on their platforms.

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First SEC Enforcement Action Arising Out of the New Marketing Rule Targets FinTech Investment Advisor Titan Global Management

By Judie Rinearson, Richard Kerr, and Josh Durham

Effective in 2022, the SEC adopted a new Marketing Rule for investment advisers to modernize the regulation of investment adviser advertising and solicitation practices. The adoption of the new Marketing Rule was the first substantive amendment to Rule 206(4)-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 since its adoption in 1961. A discussion of the impact of the new Marketing Rule can be found here.

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