As a result of the partial federal government shutdown, the MSRB has been unable to file with the SEC a proposal to extend the February 7, 2019 effective date for previously approved amendments to MSRB Rule G-21 and new MSRB Rule G-40. The MSRB is seeking to extend the effective date of the amendments by a period of no more than six months from the date the MSRB publishes a notice announcing the extension. The MSRB noted that, in the event that the SEC does not reopen before February 7, 2019, the MSRB will seek a "retroactive change in the effective date." The MSRB stated that extending the

Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee ("HFSC") Patrick McHenry (R-NC) offered to cooperate with new Chair Maxine Waters on a list of priorities affecting the U.S. financial system. According to Mr. McHenry, the list of hearing topics concern areas that are critical to ensuring the "strength and stability of the U.S. financial system and the global competitiveness of American job creators." The list includes: Britain's withdrawal from the European Union and its effects on the U.S. economy and the international financial system; the Export-Import Bank and "its impact on the

The New York State Department of Financial Services ("NYDFS") granted virtual currency licenses to Robinhood Crypto LLC ("Robinhood Crypto"), a subsidiary of Robinhood Markets Inc., and Moon Inc., d/b/a LibertyX ("LibertyX"). NYDFS authorized Robinhood Crypto to buy, sell and store seven virtual currencies, including Bitcoin, Ether, Bitcoin Cash and Litecoin. LibertyX is the first firm authorized by the NYDFS to allow customers to use debit cards to purchase Bitcoin from ATM machines.

The U.S. Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC") designated Qeshm Fars Air (an Iranian airline), an Armenian general sales agent, and two Syria-based, Iran-backed militias. Pursuant to Executive Order ("EO") 13224, OFAC designated: Qeshm Fars Air for being owned or controlled by Mahan Air (also an Iranian airline) and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force ("IRGC-QF"); the Armenian general sales agent for "acting for or on behalf of Mahan Air by serving as a Mahan Air GSA in Armenia"; and the two Syria-based, Iran-backed militias for providing material

CFTC Chair J. Christopher Giancarlo stated that, contrary to certain news reports, he has not made a decision to retract the CFTC proposal to rewrite rules governing swap execution facilities. ( See generally " Swap Execution Facilities, the Sequel.") Mr. Giancarlo characterized claims suggesting that he was "walking away from fixing flawed SEF rules" as "absurd." He further stated that "[a]ny thought of re-proposing any elements of [the] proposal is premature before public comments [are] received and considered." Mr. Giancarlo's comments came in response to a report in The Wall Street Journal