Digital media marketers are aggressively increasing the use of so-called sponsored content, or native advertising to reach new customers. Particularly with the growing use of ad blockers on web and mobile browsers, marketers have sought to present advertising in a new form that can circumvent automated blocking and somehow capture
Regulatory
New York Releases Final BitLicense Rules
By Jeffrey Neuburger on
Readers of this blog will know that we have been following the recent legal developments relating to bitcoin and other virtual currency systems [also here and here]. Yesterday, in a significant development reflecting the general maturation of virtual currencies as a recognized payment system, Benjamin M. Lawsky, Superintendent of…
FCC Adopts Net Neutrality Rules, Reclassifies Broadband Access under Title II
By Jeffrey Neuburger on
After nearly 4 million public comments, and months of vigorous public, industry, and Congressional debate, the FCC, by a 3-2 vote, approved revised net neutrality rules to “protect the Open Internet.” As expected by the Chairman’s statements in the lead-up to the vote, the FCC’s Open Internet Order reclassifies broadband…
FinCEN Releases Two Rulings Classifying a Bitcoin Payment System and Virtual Currency Trading Platform as MSBs
By Jeffrey Neuburger on
In its opening salvo bringing bitcoin under the watchful eye of the federal government, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued a Guidance (FIN-2013-G001) in March 2013 clarifying that anti-money laundering regulations concerning record keeping and recording apply to digital currency exchanges. Under this initial guidance, a bitcoin exchange that…
Proposed “Bitlicense” Regulations Published to the New York Register
By Jeffrey Neuburger on
Today’s New York State Register includes a Notice of Proposed Rule Making from the New York State Department of Financial Services (the “NYSDFS”) regarding the regulation of virtual currency (“Regulation of the Conduct of Virtual Currency Businesses,” No. DFS-29-14-00015-P). The proposed rule calls for the creation of the…
FINRA Issues Investor Alert Concerning Bitcoin Trading and Speculation
By Jeffrey Neuburger on
Bitcoin remains fixed on the front pages of the business and technology news for both the salacious and the positive. Much attention has been paid to the collapse of the former top bitcoin exchange, Mt. Gox, stemming from the purported theft of nearly $500 million in bitcoins. The temporary…