Washington is rushing to regulate crypto. It’s a mess.
1 min read
Photo caption: The SEC is just one of the agencies considering new cryptocurrency regulations. | Photo: Saul Loeb / AFP / Getty Images. Article by Tomio Geron. Protocol – May 20, 2021.
The SEC, CFTC, IRS, FinCEN and Congress all want a piece of crypto oversight. The confusion has some in the industry calling for clearer regulations.
The wild swings in crypto prices this year have enthralled and disheartened investors, alarmed Wall Street and focused the attention of regulators and lawmakers who already had cryptocurrency in their sights.
With shares of Coinbase, a prize of Silicon Valley investors who placed early bets on cryptocurrency markets, swinging along with the price of Bitcoin, tech is worried too.
The soundness and stability of cryptocurrencies has gone from a fascination of early, enthusiastic adopters to a mainstream concern. One particular worry is the ability of vague tweets from a single person — Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has mixed his personal ardor for cryptocurrencies with the electric-vehicle company’s business — to send crypto prices gyrating. […]