Another Bitcoin Startup Leaves NY Due to BitLicense
Poloniex, a U. S. -based cryptocurrency exchange, has left New York due to the restrictions and limitations of the state's BitLicense. Including Poloniex, three bitcoin startups have shut down their operations in New York during the past few months and declined to comply with BitLicense, a set of rules that restricts operations of Bitcoin exchanges and....
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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.'
Boost VC CEO Adam Draper has launched a petition seeking a number of changes to New York's proposed BitLicense framework. The petition calls for New York regulators to limit the amount of information they gather on virtual currency startups to what is mandated by federal standards; that the BitLicense avoid using duplicative language already enshrined in federal law; and that regulators give their approval for what Draper calls a "sandbox of innovation in the financial markets". In a video accompanying the petition, Draper stated that the changes are needed to reduce startup costs for....
ShapeShift, a popular cryptocurrency exchange based in Switzerland, terminated its services in New York today, due to the state’s BitLicense regulations for digital currencies. Erik Voorhees, Shapeshift Founder and CEO, told CNBC: Voorhees has decided not to to comply with the BitLicense, explaining that ShapeShift is not willing to take the risk of exposing its users’ personal information, leaving them susceptible to potential data breaches or hacking attacks. The exchange is known for its ease of use because it doesn’t require users to create accounts. "We either would have to do....
Yet another bitcoin startup left New York State and declined to comply with the BitLicense. BitFinex, the largest cryptocurrency trading platform in the U.S has followed the lead of Poloniex and Shapeshift, announcing the closure of their operations on their blog this week. The BitFinex team wrote: BitLicense requires any digital currency related startups and exchanges to pay US$5,000 in application fees, US$20,000 in legal fees. “Due to financial regulation changes in the State of New York, certain Bitfinex services are no longer available for New York Residents. Bitfinex is not applying....
Circle Internet Financial Ltd., a Boston-based bitcoin startup backed by Goldman Sachs Group Inc., has become the first firm to receive a New York State BitLicense, allowing it to offer digital-currency services in New York. The issuance of the first BitLicense marks a victory for both Circle and the State of New York. The BitLicense is considered the most restrictive state regulation for bitcoin and has caused some bitcoin companies to discontinue serving New York State. The goal of the license is to provide a framework that allows digital-currency firms to build their services, but at....