Developments in the Law Affecting Electronic Payments and Financial Services


Book Description

This short article surveys developments in the law affecting electronic payments and financial services from June 1, 2017 to June 1, 2018. During this period, significant developments occurred that affected the regulation of initial coin offerings (ICOs), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency's proposal to issue “special purpose national bank charters” to FinTech companies, the CFPB's final regulation of prepaid, general-purpose cards, state regulation of payroll cards, and how lawyers taking cryptocurrencies from clients as payment for services or for safekeeping should protect them. The survey also presents newly issued BitLicenses under the New York Department of Financial Services' 2015 “BitLicense” regulation.




Virtual Uncertainty


Book Description

This article surveys developments in the laws relating to virtual currencies and their regulation by the Department of Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, and enforcement actions taken by the Departments of Treasury, Homeland Security and Justice against funds held in deposit accounts owned by Dwolla, Mt. Gox, and Mutum Sigillum, LLC, and DOJ's action against Liberty Reserve. It also analyses changes to the CFPB's cross-border remittance transfer regulations, and its first use of its preemption authority to preempt portions of the Maine and Tennessee gift card laws pertaining to expiry, and the first action by the FDIC against a bank for unsafe and unsound banking practices related to prepaid cards managed by the bank. Finally, it evaluates section 311 and designation of institutions as institutions of primary money laundering concerns and correspondent banking relationships.




The Future of Electronic Payments


Book Description




Payment Services


Book Description

The rise of Fintech and crypto-assets in the payments sector presents new opportunities and challenges for firms, regulators and policymakers, and the law is continually changing to keep pace with these developments. This book provides an overview and practical examination of key areas of payments law and regulation in the EU and UK, as well as introductions to analogous legal regimes in the United States, Hong Kong, Singapore and sub-Saharan Africa.




Keeping Pace with Change: Fintech and the Evolution of Commercial Law


Book Description

This note explores the interactions between new technologies with key areas of commercial law and potential legal changes to respond to new developments in technology and businesses. Inspired by the Bali Fintech Agenda, this note argues that country authorities need to closely examine the adequacy of their legal frameworks to accommodate the use of new technologies and implement necessary legal reform so as to reap the benefits of fintech while mitigating risks. Given the cross-border nature of new technologies, international cooperation among all relevant stakeholders is critical. The note is structured as follows: Section II describes the relations between technology, business, and law, Section III discusses the nature and functions of commercial law; Section IV provides a brief overview of developments in fintech; Section V examines the interaction between technology and commercial law; and Section VI concludes with a preliminary agenda for legal reform to accommodate the use of new technologies.




Fintech


Book Description

This fully revised and updated third edition provides a practical examination of legal and regulatory issues in FinTech, a sector whose rapid rise in recent years has produced opportunities for innovation but has also raised new challenges. Featuring insights from over 40 experts from 10 countries, this book analyses the statutory aspects of technology-enabled developments in banking and considers the impact these changes will have on the legal profession. Key Features: Three new chapters covering AI in the Financial Sector, Bank-Fintech Partnerships and Embedded Payments, and a Comparison of the Regulation of Cryptoasset Activities in Europe and the United States Examination of potential blockchain and artificial intelligence applications in the financial services industry Exploration of guidelines on data protection, payments, cybersecurity, central bank digital currencies, anti-money laundering, tokenisation and blockchain Analysis of the main regulatory and compliance issues surrounding FinTech developments, from patenting challenges to innovative solutions, including regulatory sandboxes Dissection of the EU's Regulation on Markets in Crypto-assets and DLT Pilot Regime, the US's Executive Order on Ensuring Responsible Development of Digital Assets, the UK's Financial Services and Markets Act Considering the benefits and risks of new types of financial technologies, this book will prove an invaluable guide for in-house and private lawyers interested in a comprehensive legal overview of the FinTech sector. It will also appeal to students and scholars of financial law, banking, and economics.




Fintech


Book Description

The paper finds that while there are important regional and national differences, countries are broadly embracing the opportunities of fintech to boost economic growth and inclusion, while balancing risks to stability and integrity.




Electronic Payment Systems


Book Description

This guide explores innovations and the legal and technological questions presented in the banking and payment systems industry. Written by experts in the field, this book provides a topical discussion of the principal electronic payment systems utilized today and how they are ever changing to keep current with changes in technology.




Fintech and Payments Regulation: Analytical Framework


Book Description

Financial technology (Fintech) has prompted authorities to consider their potential financial stability benefits, risks, and effective regulation. Recent developments suggest that regulatory approaches and their legal foundations need to augment entity-based regulation with increasing focus on activities and risks as market structure changes. This paper draws on recent international experiences in modernizing legal and regulatory frameworks for payment services. An analytical framework based on a four-step process is proposed—(i) identifying payment activities; (ii) licensing entities and designating systems; (iii) analyzing and managing risks, and (iv) promoting legal certainty. As payment activities evolve and potential systemic risks heighten, adherence to international standards and additional regulatory requirements should be warranted.




Oversight Issues in Mobile Payments


Book Description

This paper examines oversight issues that underlie the potential growth and risks in mobile payments. International experience suggests that financial authorities can develop effective oversight frameworks for new payment methods to safeguard public confidence and financial stability by establishing: (i) a clear legal regime; (ii) proportionate AML/CFT measures to prevent financial integrity risks; (iii) fund safeguarding measures such as insurance, similar guarantee schemes, or “pass through” deposit insurance; (iv) contingency plans for operational disruptions; and (v) risk controls and access criteria in payment systems. Such measures are particularly important for low-income countries where diffusion is becoming more widespread.