Global newsletter: BlackRock calls out Gensler in crypto staredown

The following is an excerpt from today’s Global Newsletter.

The high-stakes poker game of crypto regulation just leveled up.

Asset management behemoth BlackRock doubled down on crypto Thursday by filing an application with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to launch the iShares Bitcoin Trust. Oh, and they listed Coinbase as the bitcoin custodian in the filing. Daaaaayum.

Your move, Gary.

It may have been easy for Gensler to say no to Grayscale, but BlackRock is another beast altogether.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see, “Go ahead, call our bluff,” written somewhere in the filing.

Whether BlackRock truly plans to go ahead with this plan if approved is not the most interesting aspect of this story, that would be the SEC’s response.

We’ll get our lawn chair and bag of popcorn ready.

Share this article  USA
BlackRock files for spot bitcoin ETF, with Coinbase as a crypto custodian
By Jesse Pound  
The firm filed an application with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to launch the iShares Bitcoin Trust.

Sponsored

Share this article  Fintech Blueprint
Calling all builders
By Fintech Nexus   
Subscribe to The Fintech Blueprint for an
in-depth analysis of fintechs, DeFi & investing. From the mind of Lex Sokolin, Chief Economist, ConsenSys.

From Fintech Nexus

Share this article  Global
Long Take: Strategic analysis of Apple’s mixed reality launch and impact on Fintech & Web3 
By Lex Sokolin   
An AI digital twin avatar is the hidden surprise.
Share this article  USA
Capturing unfulfilled automotive loan potential
By Matt Roe   
Open Lending’s latest research, “Loans Within Reach: Lending Enablement Benchmark 2023,” surveyed 95 automotive lending leaders at U.S. financial institutions to understand their current challenges and how technology is helping them adapt.
Share this article  Global
Fintech Nexus Five: June 15, 2023
By Peter Renton   
Top five fintech stories of the week in two minutes.

Podcast

Exploring Stripe’s growth in embedded finance, with Stripe Head of Startups for Banking-as-a-Service, Ashwin Kumar
Lex interviews Ashwin Kumar – Stripe’s Head of Startups for Banking-as-a-Service.
Listen Now

Webinars

Transformation is a must for Community Banks and Credit Unions to Compete
June 20, 2 p.m. EDT
The digitization of credit has transformed the customer experience. This panel is looking to explore the challenges associated…
Register Now
June 28: Double Whammy: How Criminals Exploit Economic Turbulence
Register Now

Also making news

  • John K. White

    John has been in communications since graduating from Creative Communications at Red River College Polytechnic in Winnipeg in 1992. He launched one of Canada's first digital-only local news sites called Winnipeg First in 2007, which led to digital editor postings with the Winnipeg Free Press and Edmonton Journal. In 2012 he joined Bankless Times as managing editor, later becoming president and CEO. He and the Bankless Media co-founders completed a sale and exit in August 2021.