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SEC once again postponed Bitcoin ETFs: The SEC again postponed its decision on three of the most prominent Bitcoin exchange-traded fund applications, including those proposed by Bitwise Asset Management, VanEck-SolidX, and Wilshire Phoenix The U.S. Securities Exchange Commission decided to again postpone several ETF applications to further evaluate whether the derivatives meet the conditions necessary to protect investors. The rulings for the Bitwise ETF was pushed back to Oct. 13. Meanwhile, the decisions for VanEck-SolidX was postponed until Oct. 18, and the ruling on Wilshire’s Phoenix’s proposals was scheduled for Sept. 29. Although the SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce stated earlier this year that the time is “right” for Bitcoin ETFs, the regulatory agency is concerned with market manipulation, market surveillance, and custodial services that could impact investors in the long haul. In fact, all of these issues must be resolved before a Bitcoin ETF can be approved in the U.S., according to SEC Chairman Jay Clayton.

SEC issues cease-and-desist order against ICO Rating; alleges firm got paid over $100k for promoting securities without disclosure: The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued a cease-and-desist order against ICO Rating, a cryptocurrency research and ratings firm. The commission is alleging that ICO Rating violated Section 17(b) of the Securities Act by publishing and giving publicity to reports “that describe securities in exchange for compensation received, directly or indirectly, from issuers, underwriters, or dealers, without disclosing its receipt of that compensation or the amount thereof.” According to the SEC, ICO Rating charged entities fees to rate and produce research reports on their ICO projects on its website. The firm also publicized these reports via social media channels. “During the relevant period, ICO Rating was paid consideration of $100,572, directly or indirectly, by certain issuers whose ICO projects it rated and publicized,” the SEC stated in the order. However, ICO Rating did not disclose these payments to its readers. As part of the cease-and-desist order, the SEC is ordering ICO Rating to pay “disgorgement of $100,572, prejudgment interest of $6,426, and civil money penalty of $162,000.”

SEC Approves Blockchain Tech Startup Securitize to Record Stock Transfers: Securitize, a provider of technology for issuing blockchain tokens, has registered as a transfer agent with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Administration (SEC), a move it says will boost adoption. Announced last Wednesday, the registration means Securitize can now act as the official keeper of records about changes of ownership in securities. While that might sound redundant given that blockchains are supposed to track asset transfers, the San Francisco-based startup says it’s expedient.

IRS Sends New Round of Letters to Bitcoin and Crypto Holders: Last week, the United States Internal Revenue Service sent another round of letters to crypto traders called CP2000. These notices were sent to traders of some crypto exchanges due to inconsistencies found in their tax reports. Using the information provided by third-party systems — such as crypto exchanges and payment systems — the IRS has been able to determine the amounts traders owe and included the amounts in dollars in the notices. Individuals who have received these notices are required to pay within 30 days, starting on the delivery date indicated in the letter.

Related: IRS Crypto Reporting Letter: A Wake-Up Call No Matter Who Gets One

Bakkt Announces Sept. 23 Launch of Futures and Custody Platform in US: Bakkt has announced the coming launch of its much-anticipated platform for daily and monthly futures in the United States in a blog post on Aug. 16. Having received approval from the necessary regulators, the launch is scheduled for Sept. 23. Per the announcement, Bakkt has hosted numerous events in New York and Chicago — cities critical to the U.S. futures market. They have also sat down with regulators from the CFTC as well as the Securities and Exchange Commission. Bakkt will be partnering with Intercontinental Exchange Futures U.S. and Intercontinental Exchange Clear U.S. to provide its futures contracts.

Maryland State Government Participating in Operation Cryptosweep: The attorney general of Maryland announced that the state is participating in Operation Cryptosweep. Maryland attorney general Brian E. Frosh announced that state regulators would be participating in the initiative in a press release published on Aug. 14. Operation Cryptosweep is a joint initiative of state and provincial securities regulators in the United States and Canada, wherein they launched probes into potentially fraudulent or noncompliant crypto investment programs. The initiative targeting suspicious crypto investment products is reportedly the largest such coordinated investigation by state and provincial officials. In the press release, Frosh revealed that the Maryland Securities Division is participating in the operation. The division has begun enforcement actions against a Bitcoin trading platform luring potential investors with purported 150% returns through passive investments.

New England Firm Settles With SEC Over Allegedly Unregistered $6.3M ICO: A New England-based firm has settled with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over an allegedly unregistered $6.3 million initial coin offering. According to an SEC announcement, SimplyVital Health, Inc. announced plans to conduct an ICO in order to secure funds for a healthcare-related blockchain ecosystem dubbed Health Nexus in 2017. The company offered a native token for Health Nexus called Health Cash (HLTH). The company purportedly announced a pre-sale of HLTH tokens under Simple Agreements for Future Tokens (SAFTs) that were set to be delivered to investors once they were created by SimplyVital.

Craig Wright’s Motion to Dismiss Lawsuit Rejected Over Lack of Credibility: U.S. District Court Judge Beth Bloom has rejected Craig Wright’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit against him, primarily based on a perceived lack of credibility on his part. Craig Wright, the creator of Bitcoin Cash fork Bitcoin SV and the self-proclaimed true identity behind Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin, has long been a contentious figure in the crypto asset space. The cryptocurrency community has largely condemned Wright’s lack of evidence to prove this claim. Nevertheless, Wright has aggressively defended his claim, even going so far as to pursue libel charges against a prominent Bitcoiner who disputed it. Now, this aggression has apparently come to work against Wright, as it has helped to undermine his credibility in the eyes of the court.

Nevada Crypto ATM Operators Now Require Money Transmission License: Nevada’s regulatory stance on cryptocurrency kiosks has shifted, now requiring a state money transmission license. Speaking with CoinDesk, BitAML Senior Advisor Annelise Strader said Nevada abruptly and without announcement changed its regulatory stance on cryptocurrency kiosks. Following the last legislation session closing in May without passing a proposed cryptocurrency bill, Strader says the state’s regulatory team changed its interpretation of what constituted a money transmitter within the state. Kiosks must be licensed by the state and will require a surety bond requirement.

OPSkins Group and WAX Summoned to California Court Over 2017 ICO: The United States District Court for the Central District of California has issued a summons to video game virtual goods company OPSkins Group and Worldwide Asset eXchange (WAX) in response to a complaint filed by Crypto Asset Fund.

Former SEC Cyber Unit Head Joins Coinbase’s Attorneys: Robert A. Cohen, former head of the Cyber Unit at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), is leaving the agency for private practice, joining a law firm that represents Coinbase and other cryptocurrency firms.

Dark Web vendor forfeits ‘millions of dollars’ in cryptocurrencies; sentenced to 70 months in prison: A San Diego man has been sentenced to 70 months in prison for conspiring to sell drugs through the Dark Web, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California.