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Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has received approval from the United States National Futures Association to offer investments in crypto futures to eligible customers. The approval enables Coinbase to introduce Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) futures contracts through its Commodity Futures Trading Commission-regulated derivatives exchange. 

Meanwhile, citing sources familiar with the matter, The Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is likely to approve multiple applications for Ether futures exchange-traded funds (ETFs) simultaneously. So far, the SEC has not instructed the firms to withdraw their applications, unlike in 2021. This suggests the regulator won’t block the fund’s launch within a few weeks. The SEC’s decision on Bitcoin ETFs could also come in early 2024.

This could be why asset management firm Valkyrie has joined the list of companies filing for crypto ETFs. As per its application, the fund will not directly invest in Ether but will seek to purchase several ETH futures contracts. The ETF investment in Ether futures contracts will be limited to 8,000 contracts per month in compliance with position limits established by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.

SEC is allowed to appeal in the Ripple case

U.S. Judge Analisa Torres has granted a request from the SEC to file a motion for leave to file an interlocutory appeal in its case against Ripple Labs. According to U.S. law, an interlocutory appeal occurs when a ruling by a trial court is appealed while other aspects of the case are still proceeding.

The decision came just a few hours after Ripple Labs voiced opposition to a potential appeal in the case. Ripple’s lawyers argued that an appeal requires a pure question of law and that the SEC’s request raises no new legal issues needing review. They also insisted that the regulator’s claim of an incorrect court ruling is insufficient and that an immediate appeal will not advance the termination litigation proceedings.

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Singapore gets its regulatory framework for stablecoins

Singapore’s central bank has released a revised regulatory framework to ensure stability for single-currency stablecoins regulated in the city-state. The framework outlines several requirements for stablecoin issuers, including redemption timelines, disclosures, reserve management and capital requirement. The Monetary Authority of Singapore noted only stablecoin issuers that fulfill the new framework’s requirements could apply to become MAS-regulated — a label the central banks says ensures they can be distinguished from non-regulated stablecoins by users.

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U.S. House Democratic coalition creates AI working group

Democrats from the U.S. House of Representatives have formed a working group on artificial intelligence to introduce new legislation around the nascent artificial intelligence (AI) tech sector. The 97-member New Democrat Coalition promises its unit to work with President Joe Biden’s administration, stakeholders and lawmakers from both sides of the political arena to develop “sensible, bipartisan policies to address this emerging technology.” According to Representative Derek Kilmer, who will serve as chair of the working group, its primary focus will be to crack down on the spread of misinformation and air concerns about advanced AI-generated deepfakes becoming increasingly prevalent online.

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CFTC chair’s final message includes a call for crypto guardrails

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CFTC chair’s final message includes a call for crypto guardrails

In what he said would be his last remarks as CFTC chair, Rostin Behnam said he intended to advocate for the commission to address regulatory challenges over digital assets.

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MPs vote against new national inquiry into grooming gangs

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MPs vote against new national inquiry into grooming gangs

A Tory bid to launch a new national inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal has been voted down by MPs amid criticism of “political game playing”.

MPs rejected the amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing Bill by 364 to 111, a majority of 253.

However, even if the Commons had supported the measure, it wouldn’t have actually forced the government to open the desired inquiry, due to parliamentary procedure.

Instead, it would have killed the government’s legislation, the aim of which is to reform things like the children’s care system and raise educational standards in schools.

Follow politics latest: Reaction to vote

Tonight’s vote was largely symbolic – aimed at putting pressure on Labour following days of headlines after comments by Elon Musk brought grooming gangs back into the spotlight.

The world’s richest man has hit out at Sir Keir Starmer and safeguarding minister Jess Phillips, after she rejected a new national inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Oldham, saying this should be done at a local level instead.

The Tories also previously said an Oldham inquiry should be done locally and in 2015 commissioned a seven-year national inquiry into child sex abuse, led by Professor Alexis Jay, which looked at grooming gangs.

However, they didn’t implement any of its recommendations while in office – and Sir Keir has vowed to do so instead of launching a fresh investigation into the subject.

Jess Phillips exclusive:
Victims can have inquiry if they want one

The division list showed no Labour MPs voted in favour of the Conservative amendment.

Those who backed the proposal include all of Reform’s five MPs and 101 Tory MPs – though some senior figures, including former prime minister Rishi Sunak and former home secretaries James Cleverly and Suella Braverman, were recorded as not voting.

The Liberal Democrats abstained.

Speaking to Sophy Ridge on the Politics Hub before the vote, education minister Stephen Morgan condemned “political game playing”.

“What we’re seeing from the Conservatives is a wrecking amendment which would basically allow this bill not to go any further,” he said.

“That’s political game playing and not what I think victims want. Victims want to see meaningful change.”

As well as the Jay review, a number of local inquiries were also carried out, including in Telford and Rotherham.

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Grooming gangs: What happened?

Speaking earlier in the day at PMQs, Sir Keir Starmer accused Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch of “jumping on the bandwagon” after Mr Musk’s intervention and spreading “lies and misinformation”.

Referring to her time in government as children’s and equalities minister, the prime minister said: “I can’t recall her once raising this issue in the House, once calling for a national inquiry.”

He also said having spoken to victims of grooming gangs this morning, “they were clear they want action now, not the delay of a further inquiry”.

Ms Badenoch has argued that the public will start to “worry about a cover-up” if the prime minister resists calls for a national inquiry, and said no one has yet “joined up the dots” on grooming.

Girls as young as 11 were groomed and raped across a number of towns in England – including Oldham, Rochdale, Rotherham and Telford – over a decade ago in a national scandal that was exposed in 2013.

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We should hone ‘responsible AI’ before Copilot goes autopilot

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We should hone ‘responsible AI’ before Copilot goes autopilot

There is a critical need for a comprehensive, responsible AI approach to address privacy, security, bias and accountability challenges in the emerging agentic economy.

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