<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Bits of Blocks, Blockchain & IT Law and Regulation]]></title><description><![CDATA[Updates on interesting legal and news in the Blockchain and IT space]]></description><link>https://www.bitsofblocks.io/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2026 19:54:07 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.bitsofblocks.io/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Australia’s payments system to be overhauled]]></title><description><![CDATA[Australia's multi-year payments modernisation agenda has marked another milestone with Treasury releasing the Tranche 1 exposure draft legislation for public consultation .  The draft legislation gives practical form to the new function-based regulatory perimeter that is slated to eventually replace Australia's "ageing" non-cash payment ( NCP ) facility authorisation under the financial services licensing regime and the purchased payment facility framework administered principally by the RBA...]]></description><link>https://www.bitsofblocks.io/post/australia-s-payments-system-to-be-overhauled</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69c39e388f0e652aaa30e9eb</guid><category><![CDATA[Regulation]]></category><category><![CDATA[Payments]]></category><category><![CDATA[Stablecoins]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 14:23:44 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e163b6_07b7b1eabea84a63a77f32565c414870~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Contributors</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Riding the wave: Australia passes crypto legislation and VASP regime goes live ]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Australian Senate has today approved the Corporation Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Bill 2025  ( the Bill ) which will bring cryptocurrency exchanges and custodians within the Australian financial service licensing framework requiring them to meet the same standards of transparency, integrity and consumer protection that apply to all financial services businesses. For an industry that has navigated uncertainty without clear regulatory footing for years, the passing of the Bill...]]></description><link>https://www.bitsofblocks.io/post/riding-the-wave-australia-passes-crypto-legislation-as-vasp-regime-goes-live</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69cc9332bc536ac286aa85a6</guid><category><![CDATA[Regulation]]></category><category><![CDATA[AML/KYC]]></category><category><![CDATA[Government]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 07:48:45 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4bed5a_5a9d1cfcf10f4d3a9b438b9b711b7cd9~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Contributors</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Deep freeze: FATF urges new stablecoin AML controls]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Financial Action Task Force ( FATF ) recently released its Targeted Report on Stablecoins and Unhosted Wallets , positioning stablecoin “freezing” in the secondary market as an emerging AML/CTF control. At the same time, Circle’s recent freeze of USDC across 16 operational wallets demonstrates how these controls operate in practice, and why unlimited freeze powers pose market and security risks as financial markets move on-chain and particularly for decentralised finance ( DeFi ). The...]]></description><link>https://www.bitsofblocks.io/post/deep-freeze-fatf-urges-new-stablecoin-aml-controls</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69c2033fadda444fefb01818</guid><category><![CDATA[AML/KYC]]></category><category><![CDATA[Stablecoins]]></category><category><![CDATA[Regulation]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 00:56:02 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1c8c03_c9dbd7114d204a03a77067fbf9d94852~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Contributors</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Last Chapter in the Book of Howey? SEC and CFTC Draw the Lines on Crypto]]></title><description><![CDATA[For a decade or more, web3 founders structuring projects out of the Cayman Islands which had any US token holders have had to live with a particularly uncomfortable question: is my token a security under US based laws? For projects with a substantial US token holder base or development team, the answer could mean the difference between regulatory clarity and an enforcement action or Wells notice. That question has now received its clearest answer yet. On March 17, 2026, the Securities and...]]></description><link>https://www.bitsofblocks.io/post/the-last-chapter-in-the-book-of-howey-sec-and-cftc-draw-the-lines-on-crypto</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69c17d42d25f3712fa7502fc</guid><category><![CDATA[Regulation]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 2026 17:50:26 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d98828_00f1395262ac4fcb9839c090fe89828b~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Michael Bacina</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Interest-ing times: Trump goes toe-to-toe with banks over CLARITY Act]]></title><description><![CDATA[Whether firms should be permitted to issue stablecoins that provide interest‑like returns has emerged as a key point of contention in Congress’s consideration of the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025 ( CLARITY Act ), the U.S. crypto market structure bill. In late February, U.S. stablecoin policy has moved back into focus following a series of White House‑brokered meetings between banks and crypto industry participants, alongside a further instance of direct public intervention by...]]></description><link>https://www.bitsofblocks.io/post/interest-ing-times-trump-goes-toe-to-toe-with-banks-over-clarity-act</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69a8c9edf1929985ec95656d</guid><category><![CDATA[Regulation]]></category><category><![CDATA[Stablecoins]]></category><category><![CDATA[Banking]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 18:42:28 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4bed5a_7e47bc28ac9c4da69cc0811bf2477af6~mv2.avif/v1/fit/w_722,h_722,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Contributors</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Click to trade: Unpacking contract law in DeFi]]></title><description><![CDATA[AAVE is a large player in the crypto DeFi space, enabling lending, borrowing and swapping of crypto tokens, usually on Ethereum.  It has become well known for a liquidity pool model and enabling flash loans (which enable a borrower to borrow and repay crypto within the same transaction). Users can access the Aave protocol either through direct smart contract interactions or through open source front ends, the most popular of which is operated by Aave Labs.  This week, an as-yet unidentified...]]></description><link>https://www.bitsofblocks.io/post/the-agony-of-aave-how-to-lose-us-50m-with-one-click</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69b432b24b59809bf179f21e</guid><category><![CDATA[Stablecoins]]></category><category><![CDATA[Blockchain]]></category><category><![CDATA[DeFi]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2026 20:01:35 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d98828_2e9baeb79ce642899bc97ee93deb3892~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_741,h_739,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Contributors</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sanctions spotlight: Australia targets illicit crypto flows]]></title><description><![CDATA[On the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Australian Government introduced new sanctions targeting 180 individuals, entities and vessels linked to Russia including a number of cryptocurrency related businesses . For the first time, Australia is targeting cryptocurrency entities that enable cross-border payments to sustain Russia’s military operations. The announcement makes clear that businesses using cryptocurrency to circumvent sanctions are now potential enforcement targets....]]></description><link>https://www.bitsofblocks.io/post/sanctions-spotlight-australia-targets-illicit-crypto-flows</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69a8e60cffff75773ebb2bfd</guid><category><![CDATA[AML/KYC]]></category><category><![CDATA[Blockchain]]></category><category><![CDATA[Government]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 05 Mar 2026 23:01:16 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3d2fed_f319beb1075c4203874aea16a0efe8d7~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Contributors</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Australia eyes 1% GDP gain from digital finance]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Australian Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre (DFCRC) has released a 166-page report  outlining the possible productivity gains and economic windfall available to Australia through innovation in digital finance.  The report, informed by both the DFCRC's research and industry consultation, paints a simple picture: Australia is sitting on a possible AUD $24 billion per year opportunity if it embraces digital finance innovation at scale. The report states that whilst Australia has...]]></description><link>https://www.bitsofblocks.io/post/australia-eyes-1-gdp-gain-from-digital-finance</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69a7763fa29c2f98147385fa</guid><category><![CDATA[Blockchain]]></category><category><![CDATA[Australia]]></category><category><![CDATA[Digital finance]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 05 Mar 2026 22:33:27 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e163b6_f8b1eb79ec56432ab4bd863122504753~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Contributors</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What a relief: AML transitional rules have landed]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Australian Department of Home Affairs and AUSTRAC have released the widely anticipated exposure draft of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Transitional Rules 2026   ( Transitional Rules ). The Transitional Rules are designed to guide industry through the shift to Australia's modernised AML/CTF regime, which introduces a range of new designated services for virtual assets (as well as so-called tranche 2 entities), uplifted governance and compliance obligations, and...]]></description><link>https://www.bitsofblocks.io/post/what-a-relief-aml-transitional-rules-have-landed</link><guid isPermaLink="false">699d01c29509a0da66f8604c</guid><category><![CDATA[AML/KYC]]></category><category><![CDATA[Regulation]]></category><category><![CDATA[AUSTRAC]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 25 Feb 2026 10:35:24 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e163b6_52df0ff48eff4cb3a0fb0058ab26e953~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Contributors</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[It’s the vibe: High Court to rule on Bitcoin property dispute]]></title><description><![CDATA[The High Court of Australia has granted special leave  to rule on whether bitcoin is capable of being property. The case involves a dispute between Adam Poulton and Jeff Conrad and concerns Conrad’s payment to Poulton to invest $10,000 in Bitcoin on his behalf. This development follows the Full Court of the Supreme Court of Tasmania decision , which endorsed, in obiter, a third category of property for crypto assets (beyond possession and choses in action) and suggested that control via...]]></description><link>https://www.bitsofblocks.io/post/it-s-the-vibe-high-court-to-rule-on-bitcoin-property-dispute</link><guid isPermaLink="false">698570727004b37905508062</guid><category><![CDATA[Litigation]]></category><category><![CDATA[Blockchain]]></category><category><![CDATA[Australia]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 12:15:25 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3d2fed_6ccc4ecbf7a24ee7a5cc5ca8b15f1991~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Contributors</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Some stablecoins are more equal than others: ASIC issues stablecoin relief]]></title><description><![CDATA[Following industry consultation in late 2025 , ASIC released a new regulatory instrument providing tailored licensing relief for certain stablecoins and wrapped tokens.   ASIC Corporations (Stablecoin and Wrapped Token Relief) Instrument 2025/867  ( Relief Instrument ) provides licensing and disclosure exemptions to distributors of eligible stablecoins and eligible wrapped tokens. ‘Eligible stablecoins’ must the satisfy the following core criteria, among others: the stablecoin is issued by an...]]></description><link>https://www.bitsofblocks.io/post/some-stablecoins-are-more-equal-than-others-asic-issues-stablecoin-relief</link><guid isPermaLink="false">696d6c473e23fce2937a221d</guid><category><![CDATA[Regulation]]></category><category><![CDATA[Stablecoins]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tokenization]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 12:08:42 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4bed5a_4f6a91f8ca1f4e90895a0563dba9fc56~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Contributors</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Qoin tossed $14m penalty and AFSL ban]]></title><description><![CDATA[On 27 January 2026, the long‑running litigation concerning the Qoin Wallet product reached its final chapter. The Federal Court handed down its penalty decision in Australian Securities and Investments Commission v BPS Financial Pty Ltd (Penalty) [2026] FCA 18 , imposing $14 million in civil penalties, a 10-year injunction restraining unlicensed financial services activity and corrective advertising orders against BPS Financial Pty Ltd ( BPS ). In the wake of the judgment, the Australian...]]></description><link>https://www.bitsofblocks.io/post/qoin-slapped-with-14m-penalty-and-afsl-ban</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6982ea6eaa13a366d93ed1f7</guid><category><![CDATA[Regulation]]></category><category><![CDATA[Litigation]]></category><category><![CDATA[Government]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:23:04 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4bed5a_fe8748b0860c47e3ae8772f60249bde6~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Contributors</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Last call: Australia consults on Enhanced Regulatory Sandbox]]></title><description><![CDATA[The promise of the fintech sector as an engine of economic growth has drawn increasing attention from the Australian Government. In December 2025, Treasury released a consultation paper in connection with its independent review of the enhanced regulatory sandbox ( ERS ) . The Government is seeking views on: the extent to which Australia's regulatory, policy and economic settings foster financial innovation; the effectiveness of the current ERS design and regulatory settings; and global...]]></description><link>https://www.bitsofblocks.io/post/last-call-australia-consults-on-enhanced-regulatory-sandbox</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69782daeea2eced6084747c2</guid><category><![CDATA[Regulation]]></category><category><![CDATA[Stablecoins]]></category><category><![CDATA[Security Tokens]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 05 Feb 2026 03:03:35 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1c8c03_0585c3bb5af7429893f1135fb826721d~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Contributors</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vietnam to offer crypto exchange licensing with spicy capital requirements]]></title><description><![CDATA[From 20 January, Vietnam has commenced taking applications for licensing for crypto exchanges, but the requirements for licensing have proven eye watering and designed to lock out all but the largest existing traditional operators.  Among the requirements are: a minimum capital of approximately US $380 million; ownership stipulations including at least 65% institutional holdings; and at least 35% ownership from two institutional investors who are involved in banking and finance; and a 49% cap...]]></description><link>https://www.bitsofblocks.io/post/vietnam-to-offer-crypto-exchange-licensing-with-spicy-capital-requirements</link><guid isPermaLink="false">697b628e619dd458eae4134e</guid><category><![CDATA[Regulation]]></category><category><![CDATA[Exchanges]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 29 Jan 2026 14:18:14 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d98828_6531b39551c242c99ea7812d71a02b54~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_966,h_773,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Contributors</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Wall Street’s new groove: TradFi dives deeper into digital assets]]></title><description><![CDATA[Traditional finance’s push to integrate digital assets has taken another meaningful step forward. Over the past month, several major products and pilot programs slated for 2026 have been announced, signalling that digital asset exposure is rapidly becoming a standard feature of wealth management and capital markets operations. One notable example is Morgan Stanley’s plan to roll out a proprietary digital wallet  in the second half of 2026. The wallet is touted to support both cryptocurrencies...]]></description><link>https://www.bitsofblocks.io/post/wall-street-s-new-groove-tradfi-dives-deeper-into-digital-assets</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69687142bbaf501a67da4eef</guid><category><![CDATA[Regulation]]></category><category><![CDATA[Security Tokens]]></category><category><![CDATA[ETFs]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 27 Jan 2026 23:16:12 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3d2fed_e2f3b0eeb39d42fd8d8d47825781a7e1~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Contributors</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[TLDR: 2026 crypto predictions round-up]]></title><description><![CDATA[The New Year has brought a wave of 2026 crypto and blockchain predictions from major industry and institutional players. Industry outlooks for 2026 point to a year of structural change across crypto and traditional finance. Reports from Bitcoin Suisse, Messari, Galaxy Research, A16Z, Coinbase Institutional and others highlight common themes: lower interest rates driving capital inflows, tokenisation moving from pilot operations to large-scale implementation, and of course AI reshaping...]]></description><link>https://www.bitsofblocks.io/post/tldr-2026-crypto-predictions-round-up</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69603c48957e8f6c8aa4148e</guid><pubDate>Mon, 19 Jan 2026 01:35:56 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1c8c03_53352c261120478e8226c5ec175c1bbc~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Contributors</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Place your bets: Regulators tussle over the future of prediction markets]]></title><description><![CDATA[Predictions markets have seen a huge rise in users  with sites like Polymarket and Kalishi raising large funding rounds and experiencing exponential growth.  The speed with which these offerings have grown has started to run into regulatory hurdles however, and last Friday, regulators in Tennessee sent a cease-and-desist  letter to Polymarkets, Crypto.com  and Kalshi, alleging that their predictions markets were in fact unlicensed gambling.  The same day Kalshi commenced legal proceedings...]]></description><link>https://www.bitsofblocks.io/post/kalishi-calls-time-out-on-enforcement-with-tennessee-injunction-win</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69669858e0a666a18e6b0e7a</guid><category><![CDATA[Regulation]]></category><category><![CDATA[Global]]></category><category><![CDATA[Smart Contracts]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 13 Jan 2026 20:25:57 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d98828_7fe85045985343eb83ca007b4d1a4be0~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Contributors</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Newsflash: Victorian Appeals Court finds stealing Bitcoin is theft]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Victorian Court of Appeal has endorsed the view that bitcoin (BTC) is a form of property and that its misappropriation is capable of being prosecuted as theft. The judgment follows an appellate decision of the Supreme Court of Tasmania’s recognising that Bitcoin is property but endorsing the view that it does not neatly fit within the existing categories of chose in action and chose in possession. Background In Connor Yeates (A Pseudonym) v the King  [2025] VSCA 288 , the prosecution...]]></description><link>https://www.bitsofblocks.io/post/newsflash-victorian-appeals-court-finds-stealing-bitcoin-is-a-crime</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69322f88644b95bce4b73266</guid><category><![CDATA[Litigation]]></category><category><![CDATA[Crime]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cryptocurrency]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 09 Jan 2026 08:17:01 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3d2fed_4c377445bb434dccbc453a7740364cb2~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Contributors</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[12 Days of Bobmas 2025: Highlights from Bits of Blocks]]></title><description><![CDATA[Regulatory shake-ups for digital assets continued into and throughout 2025, with newly enacted legislation and anticipated policy shifts in hopes of encouraging innovation and confidence in the digital asset space. Bits of Blocks ( Bob ) has been on the beat, delivering breaking news on legal developments affecting the blockchain and crypto industry. To celebrate, we present the '12 Days of Bobmas' – a chronological journey through our top stories of the year.   To Dystopia and Back:...]]></description><link>https://www.bitsofblocks.io/post/12-days-of-bobmas-2025-highlights-from-bits-of-blocks</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69448786142838fcf0659d74</guid><category><![CDATA[Regulation]]></category><category><![CDATA[Stablecoins]]></category><category><![CDATA[AML/KYC]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2025 05:57:44 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1c8c03_bb94a5c4eddf4151b4f57beef31201d8~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Contributors</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[One giant leap for crypto: Digital asset legislation heads to Parliament]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Australian Government has taken a significant step toward regulating digital asset platforms under the Australian Financial Services Licensing ( AFSL ) regime, with draft legislation set for its second reading in Parliament. This swift move follows public consultations with industry on exposure draft legislation which were completed on 24 October 2025 . Feedback during the consultation period was broadly supportive, though concerns remain about compliance costs, definitional scope and the...]]></description><link>https://www.bitsofblocks.io/post/one-giant-leap-for-crypto-digital-asset-legislation-heads-to-parliament</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6926aa4e05a24a4ad956f541</guid><category><![CDATA[Regulation]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cryptocurrency]]></category><category><![CDATA[Government]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 18 Dec 2025 08:35:52 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3d2fed_b0ee6a524a2f4012add6cb4a7b2f8906~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Contributors</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>