Global securities body IOSCO unveils crypto regulatory framework proposals

The International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) — an international regulatory body overseeing global securities markets — has released its conclusive report containing policy suggestions for crypto and digital asset (CDA) markets.

The suggestions within the report play a crucial role in formulating a unified global regulatory approach to address the substantial risks to investor protection and market integrity posed by centralized crypto asset intermediaries known as crypto asset service providers (CASPs).

IOSCO’s specific and focused recommendations provide a thorough explanation of regulatory expectations. According to the report, these expectations can be addressed by applying existing rules or creating new ones, depending on the jurisdiction. The aim is to tackle the identified critical areas of harm in these markets.

According to the report, the CDA recommendations establish a distinct and robust global regulatory foundation, ensuring CASPs adhere to the business conduct standards applicable in conventional financial markets.

The suggestions address crucial domains, aligning with IOSCO’s goals and principles for securities regulation and pertinent supporting standards, recommendations and best practices. The report identifies several critical domains: conflicts of interest from vertical integration, market manipulation, insider trading, fraud, custody, client asset protection, cross-border risks, regulatory cooperation, operational and technological risk and retail distribution.

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The IOSCO’s board comprises 35 regulators and top executives, such as the heads of the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority — among others.

Previously, in 2022, the organization published reports on DeFi, stablecoins and influencers. The supervisory capacities that the IOSCO recommends national regulators acquire include regulatory channels to report consumer complaints for misleading and illegal promotions and evidence-tracking processes to cope with online information’s fast pace and changing nature.

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