A group of five senators in the United States has united to oppose President Joe Biden’s plans to introduce a “digital dollar” by introducing a bill that calls for a ban on central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). Senators Ted Cruz, Bill Hagerty, Rick Scott, Ted Budd, and Mike Braun have co-signed the CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act, which challenges the authority of the Federal Reserve to implement a CBDC. The bill explicitly goes against the Federal Reserve’s authority to offer certain products or services directly to individuals, to prohibit the use of CBDCs for monetary policy, and for other purposes.
In another development, the U.S. House Financial Services Committee (HSFC) has voted in favor of a resolution that aims to reverse a guideline from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that has prevented banks from providing crypto custody services. The guideline, known as Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 121, requires institutions that custody crypto assets to record them as liabilities on their balance sheets. The HSFC stated that overturning this guideline will protect consumers by removing obstacles that prevent regulated banks from acting as custodians of digital assets.
SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce, also known as “Crypto Mom,” has expressed the need for less centralization and softer regulation in the United States. Speaking at the ETHDenver conference, Peirce emphasized that decentralization brings resilience and strength to the financial system. She also discussed various crypto-related topics, including the future of the SEC after the 2024 U.S. presidential election, spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), CBDCs, and the threat of state financial surveillance.
Indonesia’s Commodity Futures Trading Regulatory Agency (Bappebti) has reportedly requested the Ministry of Finance to review the country’s cryptocurrency taxation policies. Bappebti wants to reassess the 0.11% value-added tax on each crypto transaction and the 0.1% income tax on crypto. The agency believes that crypto will play a significant role in Indonesia’s economy in the near future and should be subject to an annual review, similar to other tax laws. In January, the government collected approximately $2.49 million from crypto taxes.
A Nigerian government representative has denied rumors of a $10 billion fine for crypto exchange Binance. Bayo Onanuga, a special adviser to the Nigerian president, stated that the allegations reported by the BBC were a misquotation. While acknowledging the possibility of a fine, Onanuga clarified that nothing has been finalized, and Binance has not been officially informed of any fines. This statement comes as crypto exchanges face increased regulatory scrutiny in Nigeria, with several platforms recently banned to protect the country’s national currency, the Nigerian naira.
South Korea’s ruling People Power Party has indefinitely postponed its proposal to relax cryptocurrency restrictions, including lifting the ban on local spot Bitcoin ETFs. The party’s decision to reverse its pledges may be due to challenges in aligning with the government and financial authorities on cryptocurrency policies. The opposition Democratic Party, on the other hand, has officially announced its crypto campaign promises, including support for crypto ETFs. The People Power Party had initially planned to make similar promises but has now removed virtual assets from its policy priorities.