规体系与人员以满足上述规定内规定的例如suitability requirement、anti-fraud/anti-trust requirement等。 注册成功后,还需要面临SEC每季度/每年的合规与财务审计,以及不定期的on-premise抽查。 如果大多数加密货币被认定为‘Securities’从而受到SEC监管,甚至采取prohibited unless registered的方式对加密货币进行监管,对于交易所来说最大的问题就是各币种发行方需要独立向SEC进行证券的注册,抑或是提交FormD以申请豁免披露与注册义务,但是绝大多数的项目方都不具备这种能力,或者说就算具备,那么可能带来的时间成本增加会打消多数依靠去中心化社群运营的项目方的注册想法。 这样的话,出于合规考虑,交易所将在注册BDL的同时不得不下线未经SEC许可或豁免的币种,对市场的流动性、多样性以及深度都可能有重大不利影响。 02 CFTC 另一方面,如果由CFTC对加密货币市场进行监管,那么交易所面临的合规负担则在某种程度上减轻许多。 首先,CFTC仅监管现货衍生品市场,加密货币现货交易仅受到FINCEN对于反洗钱合规义务的牵制,而这种合规负担与成本只要在美国展业,绝大多数交易所都需遵循。 而如果SEC将现货币种本身认定为‘securities’,那么除了由FINCEN监管的反洗钱合规要求,交易所还需单独并同时遵守SEC上述BDL合规要求。 其次,对于现货衍生品市场,目前来说CFTC要求进行衍生品交易的交易所向CFTC注册成为FCM(Futures Commission Merchant)。 注册成为FCM的要求相比SEC的BDL没有任何意义上的减负,甚至在某些方面更加严格,注册要求包括向联邦行业协会NFA(National Futures Association)申请会员资格、保持至少100万美金的流动性资本、用户资产剥离、对用户的披露以及suitability义务、全套的内控与合规体系及人员等; 注册成功后,需要每月向NFA递交未审计财报、并每年递交审计报告。 监管现状分析 首先,从现行制度来看,美国在联邦层面的立法有着明显的漏洞,即没有联邦层面的法律对加密货币进行明确的定义,而是通过各行政部门、法院、以及执法机构将每个个案分别适用于现有的商品/证券的定义。 这也代表SEC以及CFTC皆可以在权力允许的范围能用行政处罚的手段对从业者进行强力监管,而绕开正常的司法程序。 如此一来,不论是交易所、项目方、还是做市商,都面临着巨大的合规不确定性,导致合规工作无法进展,亦或是冒着被处罚的风险开展业务。 甚至于近期熊市的低迷,一部分原因也是因为美国的政策不确定性。 其次,将加密货币的监管权划规给SEC,这标志着所有ICO/IEO项目方发行前都需要向SEC寻求注册,亦或是取得SEC的不行政处罚决定书(No Action Letter),而美国境内合规交易所已经上线并开展交易的币种,不论是主流币种或小币种,将会面临要么被交易所下线,要么需要向SEC申请许可、注册、或No Action Letter的合规境地,这可能对本来就基于去中心化、mininal centralised intervention的区块链行业造成严重打击,并负面影响整个行业的信心、深度、以及多样化。 对于在美国展业的交易所来说,如果SEC取得加密货币的监管权,那么首先交易所需要向SEC申请注册成为Broker-Dealer,但这些交易所,如果之前不提供衍生品/杠杆服务,本来是不接受CFTC或SEC监管的,这相当于凭空多了一份合规负担。 就算注册成为Broker-Dealer,交易所也需要对上线交易的币种进行重新分析,下线未能取得SEC许可、注册、或豁免的币种,这将导致严重的流动性以及多样性危机。 最后,证券行业的衍生品单个产品都需要向SEC递交许可申请,且不属于证券币币种的衍生品需要向CFTC进行注册,届时交易所会面临如何满足三个强力监管部门要求的合规难题,亦或是舍弃绝大多数业务,仅满足一个或两个监管部门的合规要求,并缩小交易量、减少交易币对,增加交易费用,甚至退出美国市场。 最新立法动态 Responsible Financial Innocation Act 2022年6月6日,美国参议院参议员Kirsten Gillibrand 以及 Cynthia Lummis向国会递交了Responsible Financial Innovation Act草案,该法案将‘激励区块链领域的创新’并‘设立有史以来最完整的加密货币监管框架’。 其中,该法案: 1. 将多数加密货币与资产定义为‘商品’; 2. 要求稳定币发行方持有所发行稳定币的100%法币保证金资产; 3. 将免除加密货币买卖中低于200美金的资本利得税; 4. 加密货币矿工将不需缴纳资本利得税,直至其最终兑换法币。 该法案如果生效,将对现行监管框架进行进一步的明确,且将大大扩大CFTC对加密货币现货以及衍生品的监管范围,并将SEC对于加密货币的监管职能限制在极小的范围内 SEC/CFTC MOU 2022年6月28日,SEC局长Gensler在采访中表示正在与CFTC商讨签订谅解备忘录(MOU),以寻求两部门更好地配合监管加密货币行业的可能性。 Gensler曾在2009-2013年出任CFTC委员长。 Digital Commodities Consumer Protection Act 2022年8月3日,美国参议院参议员Debbie Stabenow向国会递交了Digital Commodities Consumer Protection Act草案,该法案将‘几乎所有加密货币置于CFTC的监管职权下’,且‘SEC将只能监管证券’。 其中,该法案: 1. 明确了比特币以及以太币为‘商品’; 2. 将绝大多数加密货币现货交易置于CFTC监管下; 3. 设立Digital Commodities Broker、Dealer、Custodian、Platform等服务供应商分类,由CFTC进行统一监管,并且通过向旗下监管主体收取费用的形式允许CFTC进行扩张。 该法案如果生效,将对现行监管框架进行进一步的明确,将极大程度上扩大CFTC的监管职能,并将‘sideline’SEC对于加密货币行业的监管,但SEC还将保留部分职能,例如对构成securities的ICO的监管。 References [1] www.congress.gov: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/4760/text?r=3&s=1[2] Futures Commission Merchants (FCMs) | CFTC: https://www.cftc.gov/IndustryOversight/Intermediaries/FCMs/fcmibfilingreportreqs.html[3] SEC.gov | Guide to Broker-Dealer Registration: https://www.sec.gov/reportspubs/investor-publications/divisionsmarketregbdguidehtm.html#VII[4] eCFR :: 17 CFR Part 230 - Regulation A - Conditional Small Issues Exemption: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-17/chapter-II/part-230/subject-group-ECFR68d879261fb42fb[5] SEC.gov | Exempt Offerings: https://www.sec.gov/education/smallbusiness/exemptofferings[6] SEC.gov | SEC Charges Former Coinbase Manager, Two Others in Crypto Asset Insider Trading Action: https://www.sec.gov/news/press-release/2022-127[7] Coinbase does not list securities. End of story.: https://blog.coinbase.com/coinbase-does-not-list-securities-end-of-story-e58dc873be79[8] finance.yahoo.com: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/coinbase-insider-trading-case-sparks-203910943.html[9] Crypto framework would define SEC, CFTC oversight purview: https://www.bankingdive.com/news/crypto-framework-would-define-sec-cftc-oversight-purview/625044/[10] Bitcoin, Ether To Be Regulated as Commodities by CFTC, per New Senate Bill: https://blockworks.co/bitcoin-ether-to-be-regulated-as-commodities-by-cftc-per-new-senate-bill/[11] New CFTC Bill Could Overrule SEC but Leaves Fate of Many Crypto Tokens Unresolved: https://blockworks.co/new-cftc-bill-could-overrule-sec-but-leaves-fate-of-many-crypto-tokens-unresolved/[12] Subscribe to read | Financial Times: https://www.ft.com/content/b9466a10-a2a6-412d-acf4-086609283df2[13] SEC Chair Seeks Formal Deal With the CFTC for Crypto Regulation: https://cryptopotato.com/sec-chair-seeks-formal-deal-with-the-cftc-for-crypto-regulation/[14] The Battle Over Crypto: SEC versus CFTC | Strauss Troy Co., LPA: https://www.strausstroy.com/articles/crypto-sec-vs-cftc/[15] CFTC and SEC Perspectives on Cryptocurrency and Digital Assets – Volume I: A Jurisdictional Overview: https://www.klgates.com/CFTC-and-SEC-Perspectives-on-Cryptocurrency-and-Digital-Assets-Volume-I-A-Jurisdictional-Overview-5-6-2022[16] Former CFTC Chair: Here's How SEC and CFTC Can Work Together to Regulate Crypto: https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2022/08/22/former-cftc-chair-heres-how-sec-and-cftc-can-work-together-to-regulate-crypto/[17] No small-fry ICOs spared: SEC sues Opporty, says bounty program was an investment of money: https://www.theblockcrypto.com/news+/53997/no-small-fry-icos-spared-sec-sues-opporty-says-bounty-program-was-an-investment-of-money[18] Another ICO issuer settles with the SEC as the long tail of enforcement continues to wag: https://www.theblockcrypto.com/news+/56748/another-ico-issuer-settles-with-the-sec-as-the-long-tail-of-enforcement-continues-to-wag[19] Ripple's Larsen: XRP Being Singled Out by SEC 'Perplexing': https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2021-04-27/ripple-s-larsen-xrp-being-singled-out-by-sec-perplexing-video[20] BitClave winds up with a SEC settlement greater than the amount raised in its public ICO: https://www.theblockcrypto.com/news+/67376/bitclave-winds-up-with-a-sec-settlement-greater-than-the-amount-raised-in-its-public-ico[21] DeFi projects could come under SEC's oversight, says chairman Gensler: https://www.theblock.co/linked/115016/defi-projects-regulation-sec-chairman-gensler[22] How the SEC's reported Uniswap Labs investigation could signal a new era of enforcement: https://www.theblock.co/post/116633/how-the-secs-reported-uniswap-labs-investigation-could-signal-a-new-era-of-enforcement[23] SEC's handling of Coinbase Lend signals sea change for US crypto lending: https://www.theblock.co/post/117140/secs-handling-of-coinbase-lend-signals-sea-change-for-us-crypto-lending[24] Custodial crypto lending and staking products 'take on all the indicia' of securities, Gensler tells: https://www.theblock.co/post/117675/crypto-lending-staking-custody-gensler-sec[25] www.sec.gov: https://www.sec.gov/news/speech/gensler-aspen-security-forum-2021-08-03[26] A class-action lawsuit against Uniswap spotlights gaps in DeFi regulation: https://www.theblockcrypto.com/news+/143661/a-class-action-lawsuit-against-uniswap-spotlights-gaps-in-defi-regulation[27] https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/06/07/crypto-lummis-gillibrand-regulation/ 罗Sir说 罗Sir说 是全球区块链合规联盟官方自媒体, 全球区块链合规联盟提供相关企业业务合规资质服务,欢迎通过邮箱 service@gbcuf.com 与我们进行更详细的业务沟通。 来源:金色财经lg...