Atis Shala

A Small Payment Institution (SPI) license provides a practical, affordable regulatory entry point for early-stage crypto startups to legally process fiat payments. The license permits essential services like fiat deposits and peer-to-peer transfers but caps monthly transaction volumes and generally prohibits the issuance of electronic money. Startups frequently use the SPI license as a stepping [&...

The IRS is not letting AI conduct audits on its own; human examiners still handle audits, issue notices, and apply established taxpayer-rights protections. AI is increasingly being used to help the IRS identify risk, prioritize cases, and support enforcement and compliance operations before a formal audit begins. The agency’s use of AI has expanded rapidly, […]...

Corporate mergers and acquisitions in the crypto space carry immense financial weight. Major cryptocurrency exchanges and decentralized finance protocols aggressively acquire smaller startups. These industry giants buy up competitors to capture market share, absorb innovative technology, and secure top-tier engineering talent. However, the corporate matchmaking process involves severe risks. Befor...

Starting with the 2025 tax year, the IRS is no longer relying on voluntary reporting. Centralized exchanges will report your transaction data directly to the government via the new Form 1099-DA. For 2025, brokers are only required to report your Gross Proceeds. If you do not manually prove what you originally paid (your Cost Basis) […]...

The United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has moved to aggressively regulate the cryptocurrency sector by extending its flagship Consumer Duty to cryptoasset activities. In a decisive step detailed in Consultation Paper 26/4 (CP26/4), the regulator outlined a comprehensive framework that forces crypto firms to adhere to the same high standards of transparency and fairness […]...

A pivotal Senate Agriculture Committee markup of the Digital Commodity Intermediaries Act, originally stalled by a severe winter storm, concluded Thursday with a contentious 12-11 party-line vote. The delay, caused by hazardous weather that shuttered much of Washington earlier in the week, served as a prelude to the frosty reception the legislation received from committee […]...

Lithuania has shifted from a low-barrier crypto hub (companies once formed with ~€2,500) to a high-reputation jurisdiction requiring €125,000 minimum share capital. The capital rule, in force since November 2022, acted as a “great filter,” cutting registered VASPs from 800+ to a fraction. The €125,000 must be fully paid-up equity (no borrowed funds) and maintained […]...

The cryptocurrency industry moves at a pace that traditional legal systems often struggle to match. In 2026, as global regulatory frameworks like MiCA in Europe and various VASP regimes worldwide reach full maturity, the “move fast and break things” era has shifted toward a “move fast but stay compliant” mandate. For founders, the foundational step […]...

The crypto landscape has matured rapidly, transforming from a “Wild West” of unregulated startups into a structured financial ecosystem. As global regulators tighten their grip, obtaining a cryptocurrency license is no longer a luxury but a fundamental requirement for survival. Founders today face a complex global map of regulatory options, ranging from emerging offshore hubs […...

The global cryptocurrency landscape is undergoing a decisive shift toward the East. While North American and European regulators struggle with fragmented frameworks or litigious enforcement, Asian financial centers have chosen a different path. They are building the infrastructure for the next decade of finance through clear, codified, and institutional-grade regulation. Does Asia Matters for Cryp...

The institutional adoption of crypto has moved from a speculative experiment to a core component of modern finance. As we navigate the landscape of 2026, the question is no longer whether large-scale entities should hold Bitcoin or Ethereum. Instead, the focus has shifted entirely to the legal and operational framework that governs how they do […]...

Bitcoin has moved far beyond the fringes of finance. What began as an experimental digital currency now sits on the balance sheets of publicly traded companies, private firms, and institutional vehicles. This shift forces a serious question into boardrooms and accounting departments alike. How should companies report Bitcoin in a way that reflects reality, complies […]...

Crypto regulation has entered a new phase. The early era of permissive ambiguity has given way to strategic competition. Governments no longer debate whether crypto belongs in the financial system. They now compete over where it should live, who should oversee it, and which jurisdictions capture the economic upside. Clear rules have become a form […]...

Exodus, a non-custodial cryptocurrency wallet provider, has announced a strategic partnership with global payments infrastructure firm MoonPay to develop and launch a regulated US dollar-pegged stablecoin, with a target release date set for 2026. The initiative signals a growing convergence between consumer crypto wallets and compliant digital payment systems as stablecoins continue to move toward...

The rise of crypto has reshaped how people build and preserve wealth. Crypto now sits alongside real estate, equities, and cash as a significant component of modern portfolios. As adoption grows, investors face a new responsibility. They must plan how their digital wealth will transfer to the next generation. Traditional estate planning tools do not […]...

Summary: EU DAC8 is the new EU framework for crypto tax reporting that extends existing tax information sharing rules to cryptocurrencies. It targets crypto asset service providers, including exchanges, brokers, custodial wallets, and platforms that process transactions for users. Non EU platforms that serve EU residents also fall under DAC8, so moving activity offshore no […]...

YZi Labs Management Ltd. announced that it has filed a preliminary consent statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) seeking stockholder approval to expand the Board of Directors of CEA Industries Inc. (NASDAQ: BNC). The move marks a direct challenge to the company’s current leadership and aims to introduce additional directors whom YZi […]...

The SEC has been going after the crypto industry for as long as we can remember. The phrase “Project Crypto” is suddenly everywhere in financial headlines. This new initiative from the U.S.Securities and Exchange Commission has divided traders, developers, and policymakers who want to know what it means for the future of the industry. For […]...

Cryptocurrency has evolved from an experimental industry into a mainstream asset class traded by millions worldwide. As market capitalization and trading volumes have surged, the risks tied to scams, fraud, and price manipulation have also grown. These risks do not only affect retail investors but also institutional ones who allocate capital to cryptocurrencies. Because of […]...

The regulation of the crypto market has matured dramatically over the past five years. What began as fragmented national experiments in licensing and oversight has transformed into a coordinated global effort. At the center of this transformation lies the term Virtual Asset Service Provider, or VASP. VASPs are now the main point of anti-money laundering […]...

Hong Kong’s ambitions to become a global crypto hub continue to test the resilience of international exchanges. On Thursday, BitMart confirmed that it had withdrawn its application for a virtual asset service provider (VASP) license in the city. The move places it alongside a growing list of platforms that have decided the cost of compliance […]...

AML fines almost always stem from systemic, multi-year failures, weak KYC/CDD, missed suspicious-activity reporting, poor transaction monitoring, and inadequate internal controls. Landmark cases include HSBC ($1.9B, 2012), Danske Bank ($2B, 2022), Binance ($4.3B, 2023), the largest crypto AML penalty on record, and TD Bank ($3.09B, 2024), the largest-ever penalty under the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act. [...

It’s 5:30 AM in El Salvador, and the sun is just beginning to rise over a pristine golf course’s lush, rolling greens. A gentle breeze carries the scent of freshly cut grass as a golf cart comes along the path. This is where I find Juan Carlos Reyes, the President of El Salvador’s National Commission […]...

The Polish Ministry of Finance has issued Communication No. 87, addressing Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) regarding the impending enforcement of Regulation (EU) 2023/1113, commonly known as the Transfer of Funds Regulation (TFR). Effective December 30, 2024, this regulation mandates that VASPs implement comprehensive measures to enhance transparency and security in cryptocurrency transact...