Get the scoop on finance - sign up for mobile alerts
Categories: Bitcoin
| On
August 16, 2022

Crypto Behemoth Digital Currency Group Files Registration To Become Lobbyist

By Daily Hodl Staff

Crypto investment giant Digital Currency Group (DCG) has filed for one of its executives to lobby on the company’s behalf.

An August 15th filing shows DCG’s vice president of public policy Julie Stitzel registering to be DCG’s representative to “support Bitcoin & blockchain companies by leveraging insights, network & access to capital.”

ADVERTISEMENT

DCG owns equity in a long list of the industry’s biggest heavyweights, including stablecoin-issuer Circle, analytics firm Chainalysis, crypto exchange Coinbase and digital asset manager Grayscale.

As of September 2021, DCG had $50 billion in assets under management.

The registration will be the group’s first official foray into lobbying and comes as the crypto industry clashes with regulators on several pressing issues.

Last week, the U.S. Treasury Department banned American citizens from using Tornado Cash, a popular coin mixing service designed to obfuscate transactions for the purpose of on-chain anonymity.

ADVERTISEMENT

According to the Treasury, Tornado Cash is too often used to facilitate money laundering by criminals, including North Korean hackers. Its developer was subsequently arrested in the Netherlands.

The developments triggered a response from crypto advocacy group Coin Center, which is now considering a court challenge of the Treasury Department’s move.

“Tornado Cash Entity does not have a property interest in the Tornado Cash Application. It has no legal right to control that Application, and, perhaps more importantly, it has no physical ability to control that application. Moreover, that application is not even ‘property’ in any reasonable sense of the word.”

Also in the works is the bipartisan Digital Commodities Consumer Protection Act of 2022 proposal.

Michigan Democrat Debbie Stabenow who chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee joined Arkansas Republican John Boozman to allow the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to regulate crypto spot markets via a new asset class called “digital commodities.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Says Boozman,

“This fast-growing industry is currently governed largely by a patchwork of regulations at the state level. That simply is not an effective way to protect consumers from fraud.

Our bill will empower the CFTC with exclusive jurisdiction over the digital commodities spot market, which will lead to more safeguards for consumers, market integrity and innovation in the digital commodities space.”

Don't Miss a Beat – Subscribe to get email alerts delivered directly to your inbox
Check Price Action
Follow us on X, Facebook and Telegram
Surf The Daily Hodl Mix

&nbsp
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed at The Daily Hodl are not investment advice. Investors should do their due diligence before making any high-risk investments in Bitcoin, cryptocurrency or digital assets. Please be advised that your transfers and trades are at your own risk, and any losses you may incur are your responsibility. The Daily Hodl does not recommend the buying or selling of any cryptocurrencies or digital assets, nor is The Daily Hodl an investment advisor. Please note that The Daily Hodl participates in affiliate marketing.

Featured Image: Shutterstock/Tithi Luadthong/VELvector