NYDFS chief’s advice for crypto firms: ‘Never surprise your regulator’

As a seasoned researcher with years of experience in the ever-evolving world of finance and technology, I find myself constantly intrigued by the dynamic interplay between these two domains, particularly when it comes to cryptocurrency regulation. The recent conversation between Adrienne Harris, head of the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS), and Ripple’s chief legal officer Stuart Alderoty at the Ripple Swell event in Miami was a fascinating insight into this intricate dance.


Recently, the head of the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS), Adrienne Harris, had a conversation with Ripple’s top legal officer, Stuart Alderoty, about cryptocurrency regulations during the Ripple Swell gathering held in Miami, Florida.

The conversation centered on the diverse strategies employed by multiple regulatory bodies at both state and national levels, as well as advice for participants in the crypto market to successfully traverse the complex and often unclear regulatory landscape.

Five-year plan

As suggested by Harris, the most effective strategy for cryptocurrency companies regarding government regulations would be to take a transparent and active approach in their dealings with regulatory bodies.

NYDFS chief’s advice for crypto firms: ‘Never surprise your regulator’

As the discussion progressed, Alderoty posed a question to Harris: “Could you share some guidance for the industry when we engage with regulatory bodies?

Her response:

“You should never ever surprise your regulator. We don’t like surprises. The best advice I can give is that if we read about it before we hear about it, we’re already on the wrong foot.”

Instead of learning about issues within the cryptocurrency sector through news reports, regulators should anticipate transparent communication directly from the companies and their legal advisors.

As a researcher exploring the intricacies of cryptocurrency, I find it noteworthy that New York appears to be more forward-thinking in its regulatory approach compared to US federal standards. Following this progressive stance, I am encouraged by Harris’ suggestion for cryptocurrency firms to engage in dialogue with us about their five-year business strategies.

Cryptocurrency regulation

It appears that the U.S. has been slower than Europe and several other regions in establishing regulations for cryptocurrencies.

As a researcher, I initially anticipated that the 2024 US presidential election might serve as a barometer for cryptocurrency policy and priorities within the industry. However, upon closer examination of the candidates’ campaign rhetoric, it seems both have expressed favorable sentiments towards the crypto sector, suggesting a potential openness to its advancement.

This issue has sparked disagreement among industry backers, as some rally behind Donald Trump due to their perception that President Biden has not made significant strides in regulation, while others are drawn to Kamala Harris for her perceived forward-thinking economic policies.

According to a recent report from CryptoMoon, Chris Larsen, one of the co-founders and current executive chairman of Ripple, donated approximately $1 million worth of XRP to the Harris campaign.

Trump’s team, on the other hand, reports a total of 100,000 registrations for their World Liberty Financial token initiative.

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2024-10-15 22:44