According to U.Today, Ripple's chief legal officer, Stuart Alderoty, recently discussed the possibility of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) appealing the court's decision regarding XRP's legal status. Alderoty mentioned that he would not be surprised if the SEC decides to appeal. However, he emphasized that XRP's classification as a non-security would remain unchanged despite any potential appeal. Judge Analisa Torres had previously ruled that the secondary sales of XRP were not securities, a decision that Alderoty insists will stand regardless of the SEC's actions.Earlier this month, Judge Torres issued a final judgment in the Ripple case, requiring the San Francisco-based company to pay $125 million in penalties. Despite the significant fine, Ripple viewed the outcome as a victory over the SEC, which it has criticized for years. Following the ruling, Alderoty appeared on CNBC, asserting that the SEC lost on all critical points. He also noted that the agency had sixty days to file an appeal.Bloomberg's senior litigation analyst, Elliott Stein, suggested that the Ripple case could have a positive impact on Coinbase's ongoing legal battle with the SEC. Alderoty echoed this sentiment, stating that the court's decision would significantly influence the broader cryptocurrency industry. He also criticized the SEC's approach to regulating the crypto sector, arguing that it had deviated from its primary mission. Despite the ongoing regulatory challenges, Alderoty expressed optimism that Ripple's legal victory would help the industry move forward.

According to U.Today, Better Markets CEO Dennis Kelleher believes that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has a 90% chance of winning the Ripple case on appeal. Kelleher criticized the July 2023 ruling by Judge Analisa Torres, stating that it misinterpreted decades of securities law and deprived unsophisticated investors of necessary protections. Judge Torres had ruled that only Ripple's institutional sales violated securities laws, a decision that has sparked significant debate.The ruling was later rejected by U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff, who argued that the method of sale should not influence the legal status of a token. This ongoing legal battle has seen various opinions and predictions, with Ripple's top lawyer, Stuart Alderoty, expressing confidence that XRP's legal status will remain unaffected by any appeal. He noted that the current ruling is already established law.In a recent development, Judge Torres issued a summary judgment, ordering Ripple to pay $125 million in penalties. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has indicated his willingness to take the case to the Supreme Court if necessary, highlighting the company's determination to contest the SEC's stance.

According to Odaily, the United Arab Emirates has made significant updates to its judicial approach towards cryptocurrency. The Dubai Court of First Instance has acknowledged the validity of wages paid in cryptocurrency under employment contracts. Irina Heaver, a partner at UAE law firm NeosLegal, explained that the ruling in Case No. 1739 of 2024 marks a departure from the court's stance earlier in 2023, when similar claims were dismissed due to the lack of accurate valuation of the involved cryptocurrency. Heaver believes this indicates a 'progressive approach' towards integrating digital currencies into the national legal and economic framework.The recent case involved an employee who sued their employer for unpaid wages, wrongful termination compensation, and other benefits. The uniqueness of the case lies in the employment contract, which stipulated not only traditional statutory currency wages but also a monthly payment of 5,250 EcoWatt tokens as part of the salary. The core of the dispute was the employer's failure to pay the EcoWatt token portion of the wages for six months. In 2023, the court initially recognized the validity of the EcoWatt tokens in the contract but did not enforce payment in cryptocurrency due to the employee's inability to provide a clear method for converting the tokens to statutory currency.However, in 2024, the court took a significant step forward on this issue. It ruled in favor of the employee, explicitly requiring the employer to pay the wages in cryptocurrency as stipulated in the employment contract, without the need to convert it to statutory currency. Heaver stated that this ruling not only reflects the court's growing acceptance of cryptocurrency in employment contracts but also underscores the court's recognition of the transformative nature of financial transactions in the Web3 economy.

According to Odaily, the Bank of Ghana (BoG) has introduced new regulatory measures for digital assets following an extensive internal review of Bitcoin, USDT, and other cryptocurrencies. On August 16, the central bank released draft guidelines for digital assets and is seeking feedback from the public and industry stakeholders on the forthcoming cryptocurrency regulations.The Bank of Ghana's data collected over the past three years indicates a significant increase in the demand for cryptocurrencies within the country. In response, the bank plans to implement laws addressing risks associated with money laundering, terrorism financing, and fraud, alongside other measures aimed at protecting consumers.The central bank has proposed an eight-pillar framework for cryptocurrency regulation, focusing primarily on enhancing registration and reporting requirements for cryptocurrency trading platforms or virtual asset service providers (VASPs).

According to PANews, Russian officials are discussing the creation of a legal cryptocurrency exchange as the country continues to pivot towards digital assets. Moscow's ministers and the central bank are in talks about establishing a 'Russian crypto exchange.' Finance Minister Anton Siluanov has been in discussions with the central bank regarding the proposal to set up a legal cryptocurrency exchange in Russia. Siluanov mentioned that while no mutually acceptable solution has been reached yet, a breakthrough might be imminent, with relevant legislation potentially ready for submission to the State Duma during the autumn session. He also noted that existing Russian cryptocurrency exchanges operate in a regulatory 'gray area,' but recent legislative efforts in cryptocurrency regulation mark significant progress for the country.Long-serving Finance Minister Siluanov and Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina, both close allies of President Putin, have historically had differing views on cryptocurrency regulation. Nabiullina is a staunch cryptocurrency skeptic, whereas Siluanov favors a more progressive approach. This divergence has led to a prolonged stalemate in cryptocurrency policy. However, this deadlock was recently broken when President Putin ordered an acceleration in regulatory efforts. This directive has resulted in the swift introduction of regulations concerning cryptocurrency mining and the use of cryptocurrencies in cross-border trade.

According to Odaily, the latest unemployment claims data is set to be released at 8:30 PM Beijing time on Thursday. Economists forecast that initial claims will reach 235,000, a slight increase from last week's 233,000. Last week, the unexpected drop in initial claims provided some relief to those concerned about further deterioration in the US labor market. Moody's Chief Economist Mark Zandi believes that while the Federal Reserve's focus on inflation remains, the risks to the labor market are higher than those posed by inflation. If this trend continues, further deterioration in the labor market could prompt the Federal Reserve to begin cutting interest rates sooner.

According to BlockBeats, Hong Kong is rapidly advancing the establishment of a regulatory framework for stablecoin issuers. Recently, the city released a public consultation summary on stablecoin regulation. The report highlights that the next phase of development for Web3.0 in Hong Kong and globally focuses on bridging the gap between the virtual and real worlds, enabling seamless asset and fund transfers between the two systems. Real-World Assets (RWA) are seen as a crucial innovation to overcome technical barriers and accelerate the integration of virtual and real economies. In the foreseeable future, the majority of RWA transactions in Hong Kong are expected to be conducted using compliant Hong Kong dollar stablecoins, facilitating connections and interoperability with traditional finance. Without a compliant Hong Kong dollar stablecoin, the convenience and security of Hong Kong's RWA practices would face significant challenges. Therefore, the introduction of a stablecoin regulatory framework may lay the foundation for innovative development within Hong Kong's RWA ecosystem. As the RWA ecosystem thrives, the role and value of the Hong Kong dollar stablecoin as a bridge for Hong Kong's Web3.0 external connections will become increasingly prominent.

According to PANews, Switzerland is contemplating the inclusion of cryptocurrency tax data in its international information exchange agreements. The Swiss Federal Council initiated a consultation process on Wednesday for a new bill aimed at facilitating the sharing of crypto asset information with 111 jurisdictions. These jurisdictions are currently part of the automatic information exchange framework. The sharing will be contingent on their compliance with the OECD's crypto asset reporting framework.Switzerland has long been a leader in cryptocurrency adoption. Regions like Lugano have pioneered the acceptance of cryptocurrencies such as Tether (USDT) and Bitcoin for tax payments. The country's political framework allows the Federal Tax Administration to classify Bitcoin as a payment method, thereby exempting it from Value Added Tax (VAT).The Swiss Federal Council aims to determine the start date for the automatic exchange of crypto-related information with partner states. The consultation period for this legislative proposal will conclude on November 15, 2024.

According to Odaily, Bank of America has increased its holdings in IBIT and FBTC as per its second-quarter 13-F filing submitted to the SEC. As of June 30, the bank holds $2.8 million worth of IBIT, marking a 31% increase. Additionally, it holds $1.5 million worth of FBTC, reflecting a 21% increase.

According to Bloomberg, Singapore is preparing to charge two former Chinese bankers on Thursday in connection with the country's largest money-laundering case. The individuals, who were relationship managers at two foreign banks in Singapore, are accused of serving criminals involved in a S$3 billion ($2.3 billion) laundering scheme, as stated by the Singapore Police Force in an emailed statement on Wednesday. The names of the banks were not disclosed.The case has caused significant concern in the Asian financial hub, following the authorities' seizure of cash, properties, cryptocurrencies, and other assets totaling S$3 billion last year. Ten individuals of Chinese origin were imprisoned for laundering illicit funds from illegal overseas gambling operations and other offenses, while additional suspects remain at large.David Chew, director of the police force’s commercial affairs department, emphasized the seriousness with which Singapore views the laundering of criminal proceeds through its financial system. “Those who help clients circumvent their financial institutions’ due diligence processes or who help clients forge documents to conceal the true nature of their assets, must be dealt with robustly under our laws,” Chew stated.The first banker is a 26-year-old male, and the second is a 35-year-old male. Additionally, a Singaporean driver is also set to be charged in connection with the case.