BitLicense Deadline Looms Overhead, What's in Store for NY?
The digital currency ecosystem in New York State is currently hanging on a string as the deadline to apply for BitLicense closes. Today, the 8th of August 2015 marks the end of 45 day grace period extended to Bitcoin and digital currency companies in the state to apply for BitLicense. Few Bitcoin companies like ShapeShift, Eobot and Poloniex have already left New York State for good. ItBit became the first company to receive BitLicense and Gemini, the exchange whose promoters are Winklevoss Twins is still awaiting confirmation. All these companies falls on either side of the spectrum,....
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UPDATE (10th August 10:16 BST): Since the publication of this article, bitcoin exchanges Kraken and Bitfinex have also confirmed they will not apply for a BitLicense to operate in New York. Bitcoin businesses wanting to continue serving New York residents have approximately 24 hours left to file their BitLicense application. The deadline, set for 8th August, marks the end of a 45-day grace period following the publication of the BitLicense in the New York State register. Formulated by the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS), the long-awaited regulatory framework has....
BitLicense has been a huge pain to many bitcoin and digital currency based startups operating in the State of New York. Once BitLicense was made mandatory and the deadline to apply for BitLicense surpassed, few of the companies decided to withdraw their services from New York while other companies who considered New York to be an important market decided to stick on and apply for it. Circle, a bitcoin based money transfer application was one among the many bitcoin companies that applied for BitLicense and recently it went on to become the first company to receive BitLicense from New York....
Genesis Mining is the latest company to announce its departure from New York, following the formal introduction of the state's BitLicense. In a blog post released yesterday, the cloud mining firm - which claims to serve over 50,000 customers - said it had no choice but to block anyone with a New York IP address from using its services. 'While advocates for the BitLicense say they want to protect consumers, what the act really does is stifle innovation. It's complex, expensive, and comes with a set of guidelines that make it nearly impossible for any startup to comply with.'
Barry Silbert, CEO of SecondMarket, has posted an official letter requesting that the NYDFS extend the deadline for filing public comment by 45 days, on their "BitLicense" proposal. He urges affected companies and individuals to sign. Currently, the list of signatures includes many A-Listers such as Elizabeth Ploshay, a board member of the Bitcoin Foundation, Erik Voorhees, several prestigious universities such as Harvard and Stanford, and of course Barry Silbert himself. The more signatures the letter receives, the greater the chances we have to help shape or oppose the NYDFS BitLicense....
The New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) has officially adopted the BitLicense following the framework's publication in the New York State Register. Now in effect, the BitLicense makes New York the first US state to formally launch a custom-made regulatory approach to bitcoin and digital currencies. The publication in the register also kicks off a 45-day grace period, during which time companies and individuals that offer digital currency services to New York residents must apply for a BitLicense. The application deadline is 8th August. Obtaining the BitLicense means....