<?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>Fri, 12 Jun 2026 20:45:25 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.bitsofblocks.io/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Tokyo stock-take: Japan passes law to make crypto assets financial instruments]]></title><description><![CDATA[Japan's parliament has passed legislation bringing crypto assets under the country's Financial Instruments and Exchange Act (FIEA), placing them on the same regulatory footing as stocks and other financial products. The bill, which was approved by Cabinet in April 2026, completes a deliberate shift in Japan's regulatory approach — moving crypto from its longstanding home under the Payment Services Act, where it was treated primarily as a means of payment, to a securities-style framework...]]></description><link>https://www.bitsofblocks.io/post/tokyo-stock-take-japan-passes-law-to-make-crypto-assets-financial-instruments</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a2b1e0716a9a8229e029ab8</guid><category><![CDATA[Regulation]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 20:44:42 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d98828_6485e940e1a246b2ad91bb1b69b350a3~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[Cite Unseen: Courts requiring lawyers to certify AI-cited cases actually exist]]></title><description><![CDATA[Within the last year, a serious problem has emerged in the legal system: lawyers submitting briefs and other documents containing hallucinated cases, quotes and made up legal arguments.  As courts becomes increasingly frustrated by the problem, we are seeing amendments to the rules of court to make very clear what the lawyer on record for a matter has to deliver up to the court. ChatGPT - Double check my citations! One of the most widely reported instance remains the case of Mata v. Avianca,...]]></description><link>https://www.bitsofblocks.io/post/cite-unseen-courts-requiring-lawyers-to-certify-ai-cited-cases-actually-exist</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a27cb0699361b5d20d3bec2</guid><category><![CDATA[Regulation]]></category><category><![CDATA[artificial intelligence]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 08:46:10 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d98828_5fa0f8740967482099fca880cfa3ae2a~mv2.png/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[Tokenisation, tested: Australia drops Project Acacia report]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has announced the findings of Project Acacia, a collaborative research initiative between the RBA and the Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre (DFCRC) that sought to explore the role of tokenised finance in Australia’s wholesale asset market.   The final report provides a detailed and practical exploration of how tokenised finance could reshape wholesale markets in Australia. Drawing on 20 industry-led use cases, the report demonstrates that while...]]></description><link>https://www.bitsofblocks.io/post/tokenisation-tested-australia-drops-project-acacia-report</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a0ebbbfb2731dece7524837</guid><category><![CDATA[Stablecoins]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tokenization]]></category><category><![CDATA[Smart Contracts]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 20:39:48 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3d2fed_e7de252796c24846ace29208a4d3f879~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[Ramp and Rails: AUSTRAC steps up VASP supervision]]></title><description><![CDATA[AUSTRAC has recently launched two supervisory campaigns targeting virtual asset businesses as new AML/CTF reforms come into effect. One of these initiatives, the “ramps and rails” campaign, specifically targets over-the-counter crypto-to-cash operators. The other targets local digital currency exchange operators. This follows the transition from the “digital currency exchange” regime to the expanded “virtual asset service provider” (VASP) framework earlier this year. The VASP framework was...]]></description><link>https://www.bitsofblocks.io/post/ramp-and-rails-austrac-steps-up-vasp-supervision</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a0e64ffb2731dece7519927</guid><category><![CDATA[Regulation]]></category><category><![CDATA[Crime]]></category><category><![CDATA[AML/CTF]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 20:09:48 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1c8c03_be76b304869a4ca19dee913fb4a258d5~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[Pardon the interruption - the ATO enters bitcoin property debate]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Australian High Court’s docket does not often feature bitcoin as a central character. That was until recently, when the High Court granted special leave to Adam Poulton in a dispute with Jeff Conrad, who paid Poulton to invest $10,000 in bitcoin on his behalf. On 7 May 2026, the Federal Commissioner of Taxation filed submissions seeking leave to intervene in the matter (Poulton v Conrad (H1/2026)), a Hobart Registry appeal that raises a direct question at the boundary of private law and...]]></description><link>https://www.bitsofblocks.io/post/pardon-the-interruption-the-ato-enters-bitcoin-property-debate</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a066aee7326fc782b550a76</guid><category><![CDATA[Cryptocurrency]]></category><category><![CDATA[Tax]]></category><category><![CDATA[Blockchain]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 00:51:56 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e163b6_6e77124a41d64a53a1b35d4a4a5135a7~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[ASIC no-action deadline looms]]></title><description><![CDATA[ASIC issued a press release this week emphasising that digital asset businesses should move quickly to determine whether they are required to apply for an Australian financial services licence (AFSL), or a variation to an existing AFSL before ASIC’s no-action position expires on 30 June 2026. ASIC’s no‑action relief is a transitional position under which ASIC has indicated it does not intend to take enforcement action in respect of certain unlicensed financial services involving digital...]]></description><link>https://www.bitsofblocks.io/post/asic-no-action-deadline-looms</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69fd1722ff1f3255572b4cf5</guid><category><![CDATA[Regulation]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cryptocurrency]]></category><category><![CDATA[Government]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 23:43:51 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3d2fed_d53a3810b50243e68927f7ed0e840db4~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[Service in cyberspace: Victorian judgment targets crypto scams]]></title><description><![CDATA[The County Court of Victoria has delivered a significant ruling in Siegers v Nest Services Ltd &#38; Ors [2026] VCC 15,  confirming that orthodox civil procedure rules can be deployed to pursue cryptocurrency fraud, even where perpetrators are unidentified and exchanges are offshore. In a practical win for scam victims, the Court allowed preliminary discovery against multiple cryptocurrency exchanges to obtain information capable of identifying the controllers of wallets through which allegedly...]]></description><link>https://www.bitsofblocks.io/post/service-in-cyberspace-victorian-judgment-targets-crypto-scams</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69f8192b5caf4ed272b90a37</guid><category><![CDATA[Cryptocurrency]]></category><category><![CDATA[Litigation]]></category><category><![CDATA[Crime]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 13:39:58 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3d2fed_dbc736a780d24044b1f080f4cd1fe2e0~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[Rewiring the system: ASIC consults on financial market infrastructure guidance]]></title><description><![CDATA[Following the commencement of Australia’s reformed financial market infrastructure (FMI) regime late last year under the Treasury Laws Amendment (Financial Market Infrastructure and Other Measures) Act 2024 (Cth), ASIC has released Consultation Paper 50 (CS 50). CS 50 proposes targeted updates to ASIC’s regulatory guidance to give practical effect to the new framework and ASIC’s expanded powers. What guidance is changing? ASIC is proposing updates to three cornerstone Regulatory Guides: RG...]]></description><link>https://www.bitsofblocks.io/post/rewiring-the-system-asic-consults-on-financial-market-infrastructure-guidance</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69eea9e47c7678baade9f9d5</guid><category><![CDATA[Regulation]]></category><category><![CDATA[Government]]></category><category><![CDATA[ASIC]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 13:16:39 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3d2fed_3a0afec47ce548bdb46a83616dfa9a58~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[Road work ahead: ASIC releases roadmap for digital assets bill ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Following the passage of the Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Act 2026 (Cth) (DAF Act) earlier this month, ASIC has published its roadmap for implementing Australia’s new digital assets regulatory framework. The roadmap outlines ASIC’s planned consultation and implementation program over the next 18 months ahead of commencement in April 2027, covering two new financial products: digital asset platforms (DAPs) and tokenised custody platforms (TCPs). This is a welcome...]]></description><link>https://www.bitsofblocks.io/post/road-work-ahead-asic-releases-roadmap-for-digital-assets-bill</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69e70f948b2f11ff8e582f04</guid><pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 13:56:13 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3d2fed_42a8529772c2499199c7bfb86a06e707~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’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></channel></rss>