This article provides an overview of the German regime for crypto securities and of the recent and future expansion of the scope of the German Act on Electronic Securities, which will allow for more use cases. The eWpG provides a reliable regime for crypto securities. It entered into force in the summer of 2021, but its scope has recently been expanded. Under even more ambitious plans, the German government intends to expand its scope further.
On 28 December 2022, significant amendments to the ordinance on notifications pursuant to Section 2c of the German Banking Act and Section 17 of the German Insurance Supervision Act, the Ownership Control Ordinance went into force.
With a significant delay, the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority has issued detailed rules on the new notification requirement regarding proposed outsourcings introduced in the Financial Market Integrity Strengthening Act, a law passed on 3 June 2021 in reaction to market failures.
On 14 December 2022, the Securities and Exchange Commission proposed four separate rulemakings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that would create a federally defined best execution standard for broker-dealers and overhaul the US equities market structure. If adopted in their current form, these proposals would meaningfully impact market participants and practices. Given the nearly 1,700 pages of combined rules proposals, firms may need to devote significant resources just to digest their potential impact on particular business models. In a series of Client Alerts, baker McKenzie associates attempt to dissect each of these Market Structure Proposals. This Client Alert provides an overview, insights, and key takeaways for the Order Competition Rule Proposal.
On 1 February 2023, the Austrian National Council passed the so-called Whistleblower Protection Act (HinweisgeberInnenschutzgesetz). This law regulates a set of obligations for companies in relation to whistleblowing, with the setup of an internal “whistle-blowing system” a priority. This new law will come into force shortly — following a formal confirmation by the Federal Council of Austria, which is still pending. The Austrian legislator is finally implementing the requirements of the EU Whistleblower Directive, although with a delay of more than a year.
Baker McKenzie are pleased to share with you their annual briefing looking at financial services regulation and enforcement in 2023, “What does 2023 hold? Key upcoming developments and enforcement trends”. The London Financial Institutions Regulatory and Enforcement experts explore the key developments and trends expected to dominate the regulatory landscape this year.
HM Treasury has finally published its much anticipated consultation and call for evidence on a future financial services regulatory regime for cryptoassets. Building on the forthcoming stablecoin regulatory regime, the Treasury’s consultation sets out proposals to bring a broad set of cryptoassets within the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 regulatory perimeter. This will result in a fundamental change in the way that cryptoasset businesses operate in the UK: the key outcomes of the consultation are that (a) cryptoasset service providers will require full FCA authorization to operate where they do so in the UK (or have customers in the UK), and (b) a new bespoke regime will be brought in governing public offers of cryptoassets and admission to trading of those assets on platforms.
This is the fourth in a series of client alerts in relation to Law No. 4 of 2023 on the Development and Strengthening of the Financial Sector (“P2SK Law”), dated 12 January 2023. Aside from asserting the provisions that have been stipulated by the Financial Service Authority, the P2SK Law sets out several new provisions that open a new chapter in the financial conglomeration and consolidation. The P2SK Law now requires financial conglomerates to establish or appoint a financial holding company, a legal entity that is expected to control, consolidate and be responsible for all of the financial conglomerate’s activities. The P2SK Law also affirms OJK’s authority to give written orders to financial services companies to push for financial consolidation.
Crypto asset advertisers should be aware that they must now comply with new regulatory requirements around the publishing of crypt asset advertisements in South Africa. The South African Advertising Regulatory Board’s Code of Advertising Practice was broadened to include new requirements for crypto assets in January 2023. Crypto asset advertisers should prioritize compliance with new requirements under the ARB Code because, although the ARB’s rulings are not binding, an adverse decision is usually accepted by the advertising and publishing community and can result in reputational consequences for advertisers.
The Federal Court’s recent decision in Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) v Scholz (No 2) [2022] FCA 1542 has important implications for those who discuss financial products and services on social media platforms. Handed down on 20 December 2022, the Court’s judgment heralds a warning that social media ‘finfluencers’ may be considered to be carrying on a financial service business and thus are required to have an Australian Financial Services License.