Harris emphasized the NYDFS’s commitment to maintaining a secure and compliant crypto landscape. The NYDFS has demonstrated its regulatory might by taking action against prominent players in the crypto sphere. Notably, Coinbase, a major crypto exchange, faced a hefty $50 million fine in January for allowing users to set up accounts without conducting sufficient background checks, as per NYDFS charges.

Robinhood incurred a $30 million penalty last year for alleged violations of anti-money laundering and cybersecurity regulations. Harris underscored the NYDFS’s proactive approach, stating, “We’ve really spent a lot of time doing what I call a tone reset, to say you are regulated, here are the expectations, here are the rules, and when you don’t follow them, we will bring enforcement actions.” The crypto exchange Binance recently settled with U.S. regulators in a record-setting deal.

Record-Setting Binance Settlement Sparks Global Crypto Scrutiny

The charges involved serving U.S. customers without appropriate approvals and permitting transactions with customers in sanctioned regions. Harris acknowledged the heightened attention on the illicit finance aspect of cryptocurrencies, fueled by cases like Binance’s and actions taken by the U.S. Department of Justice globally.

As regulatory bodies worldwide grapple with overseeing the crypto sector, the European Union has implemented the Markets in Crypto Assets regulation, establishing comprehensive rules for the digital asset industry across its 27 members. However, concerns persist about whether such regulations legitimize the crypto space. Peter Kerstens, an adviser at the European Commission, clarified during the same panel that there’s nothing inherently illegitimate about crypto itself—it’s a technology for record-keeping.

The key, he noted, lies in addressing illegitimate uses of the technology through moderation and regulation. U.K. Parliamentarian Lisa Cameron echoed the call for global standards for crypto, emphasizing the need for interoperability and a baseline of standards. Her stance reflects a growing consensus on the importance of collaborative efforts to establish a regulatory framework that ensures the responsible development and use of cryptocurrencies on a global scale.