Swiss Parliament Moves to Deregulate Blockchain Startups
Switzerland takes another large step in the direction of a crypto paradise with the introduction of a motion to redefine client deposits, exempting Bitcoin businesses from the stringent financial regulations banks face. Members of the Swiss parliament moved to lessen regulations on Bitcoin- and blockchain-based startups. Federal Assembly member Franz Grüter, along with 23 of his colleagues across several parties, filed the motion last Wednesday (though a vote would likely not take place until the fall). The motion aims to clarify the definition of financial institutions. Currently,....
Related News
In early December there was a mention of members in the Swiss Parliament wanting to treat bitcoin as a foreign currency. In that article, we wrote, "Forty-five members of the Swiss parliament have agreed to sign a postulate that considers bitcoin a foreign currency." Now, the Swiss Parliament is gearing up to vote on proposals that treat the digital currency as such. According to Finextra, "If approved by Parliament, the questions will be posed to the Swiss executive arm of government, the Federal Council for judgment." Approval from high office could set an example to other governments,....
Various members of Switzerland’s parliament have proposed a motion to reduce the regulatory burdens of blockchain startups. This could be a significant more for the future of Bitcoin technology in the country. Regulatory guidelines burden startups active in the world of blockchain technology. Especially those companies who deal with financial....
While bitcoin has had the history of being seen as a voucher in the United Kingdom and a hobby in places like China, Switzerland is taking a much difference approach. Forty-five members of the Swiss parliament have agreed to sign a postulate that considers bitcoin a foreign currency (that effectively puts the cryptocurrency in the same boat as the United States dollar or the Chinese yuan). This postulate is also the beginning of research into what kinds of opportunities bitcoin can hold for Swiss finance. According to this post on Bitcointalk, "The next formal step is for the Swiss....
The Swiss parliament has made a lot of headway since lawmaker Jean Christophe Schwaab first asked to look into cryptocurrencies back in September. Just three months ago, Schwaab was on record as describing Bitcoin as something for “geeks, criminals and special police units.” Fast forward to this week: Schwaab himself was among 45 Swiss parliament members who signed a proposal, or postulate, that would treat Bitcoin as a foreign currency. This could be a big step forward in legitimizing Bitcoin in Switzerland and Europe. Ultimately, it would allow the Swiss banking sector substantial peace....
UBS has shown particular interest in fintech developments, creating an innovations lab to explore potential applications of bitcoin and the blockchain technology. Just recently, the company announced the launch of the Future of Finance Challenge, which is a competition open to fintech entrepreneurs and bitcoin startups. UBS is a Swiss global financial services company based in Zurich. It provides investment banking, asset management and wealth management services for private, corporate, and institutional clients worldwide and operates in more than 50 countries with about 60,000 employees....