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Regulation of the Crypto-Economy: Managing Risks, Challenges, and Regulatory Uncertainty

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  • Douglas J. Cumming

    (Finance Department, FAU College of Business, Florida Atlantic University, Barry Kaye Hall (KH-25), Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA
    Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK)

  • Sofia Johan

    (Finance Department, FAU College of Business, Florida Atlantic University, Barry Kaye Hall (KH-25), Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA
    Tilburg Law and Economics Centre (TILEC), Extramural Research Fellow, University of Tilburg, Postbus 90153, 5000 LE Tilburg, The Netherlands)

  • Anshum Pant

    (Schulich School of Business, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada)

Abstract

Distributed ledger technology, also known as the blockchain, is gaining traction globally. Blockchain offers a secure validation mechanism and decentralized mass collaboration. Cryptocurrencies make use of this technology as a new asset class for investors worldwide. Cryptocurrencies are being used by companies to raise capital via initial coin offerings (ICOs). The substantial inflow of unregulated capital into a transactional and transnational industry has aroused interest from not just investors, but also national securities and monetary regulatory agencies. In this paper, we review the Security and Exchange Commission’s initial statements and subsequent pronouncements on ICO’s to illustrate the potential problems with applying an older legal framework to an ever-evolving ecosystem. Recognizing the inability of enforcement within existing regulatory frameworks, we discuss the importance of regulation of the crypto asset class and internal collaboration between government agencies and developers in the establishment of an ecosystem that integrates investor protection and investments.

Suggested Citation

  • Douglas J. Cumming & Sofia Johan & Anshum Pant, 2019. "Regulation of the Crypto-Economy: Managing Risks, Challenges, and Regulatory Uncertainty," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-14, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jjrfmx:v:12:y:2019:i:3:p:126-:d:251073
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Cited by:

    1. Ioana Raluca DIACONU, 2022. "Bitcoin: Medium of Exchange or Speculative Asset?," Finante - provocarile viitorului (Finance - Challenges of the Future), University of Craiova, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, vol. 1(24), pages 72-82, November.
    2. Paul P. Momtaz, 2024. "Decentralized finance (DeFi) markets for startups: search frictions, intermediation, and the efficiency of the ICO market," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 63(4), pages 1415-1447, December.
    3. Leander Bindewald, 2021. "Inconsistent Definitions of Money and Currency in Financial Legislation as a Threat to Innovation and Sustainability," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-17, January.
    4. Anton Miglo, 2022. "Choice between IEO and ICO: Speed vs. Liquidity vs. Risk," FinTech, MDPI, vol. 1(3), pages 1-18, September.
    5. Alaassar, Ahmad & Mention, Anne-Laure & Aas, Tor Helge, 2020. "Exploring how social interactions influence regulators and innovators: The case of regulatory sandboxes," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    6. Cole, Rebel & Johan, Sofia & Schweizer, Denis, 2021. "Corporate failures: Declines, collapses, and scandals," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    7. Ahmad Alaassar & Anne-Laure Mention & Tor Helge Aas, 2023. "Facilitating innovation in FinTech: a review and research agenda," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 33-66, January.
    8. Rehman, Mobeen Ur & Katsiampa, Paraskevi & Zeitun, Rami & Vo, Xuan Vinh, 2023. "Conditional dependence structure and risk spillovers between Bitcoin and fiat currencies," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    9. Saleem Malik & Mehmood Chadhar & Savanid Vatanasakdakul & Madhu Chetty, 2021. "Factors Affecting the Organizational Adoption of Blockchain Technology: Extending the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) Framework in the Australian Context," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-33, August.
    10. Reza-Gharehbagh, Raziyeh & Asian, Sobhan & Hafezalkotob, Ashkan & Wei, Chen, 2021. "Reframing supply chain finance in an era of reglobalization: On the value of multi-sided crowdfunding platforms," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    11. Benedetti, Hugo & Nikbakht, Ehsan, 2021. "Returns and network growth of digital tokens after cross-listings," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    12. Bellavitis, Cristiano & Fisch, Christian & Wiklund, Johan, 2021. "A comprehensive review of the global development of initial coin offerings (ICOs) and their regulation," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 15(C).
    13. Klaus Grobys & Timothy King & Niranjan Sapkota, 2022. "A Fractal View on Losses Attributable to Scams in the Market for Initial Coin Offerings," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-18, December.
    14. Hao Fu & Yue Liu & Pengfei Cheng & Sijie Cheng, 2022. "Evolutionary Game Analysis on Innovation Behavior of Digital Financial Enterprises under the Dynamic Reward and Punishment Mechanism of Government," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-18, October.
    15. Yuze Li & Shangrong Jiang & Xuerong Li & Shouyang Wang, 2022. "Hybrid data decomposition-based deep learning for Bitcoin prediction and algorithm trading," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 8(1), pages 1-24, December.
    16. David Ahlstrom & Amber Y. Chang & Jessie S. T. Cheung, 2019. "Encouraging Entrepreneurship and Economic Growth," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-14, November.
    17. Farag, Hisham & Johan, Sofia, 2021. "How alternative finance informs central themes in corporate finance," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).

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