Crypto Advocates Cheer California Governors Veto of Regulatory Bill

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California Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed a statewide bill that would have established a regulatory framework for cryptocurrency regulationand crypto proponents are thrilled.

In a Friday memo detailing the veto decision, Newsom called Assembly Bill 2269 premature and said a more flexible approach was essential for the state because he believes blockchain technology is still evolving.

The veto came despite strong support in the state legislature, where the bill secured 71 yes votes, 0 no votes, and nine abstentions.

If it had been signed into law, crypto firms would have been required to acquire a state-approved license to operate in California.

In his veto message, Newsom also cited the substantial cost of implementing the bill, sharing that the passage of AB2269 would require a loan in the tens of millions of dollars for the state.

Notably, Newsom also wants to wait until the federal governments stance on crypto regulation is solidified and the results of his May Executive Order on cryptocurrency are presented. Earlier this year, Newsom signed Executive Order N-9-22 for his administration to research cryptocurrency and establish a transparent regulatory environment for it in California.

It is premature to lock a licensing structure in statute without considering both this work and forthcoming federal actions, Newsom wrote in the memo.

Newsom isnt the only one who had concerns about AB 2269. The Chamber of Progressa pro-crypto technology policy coalition with partners like Amazon, Apple, Circle, FTX US, and Metaalso took issue with aspects of the bill and requested multiple revisions back in June , which were incorporated into the final draft.

Chamber of Progress then issued a new memo approving of the latest version of the bill, pending a few additional revisions. Specifically, it did not want California to ban algorithmic stablecoin licenses and requested clarification on which cryptocurrencies would fall under the purview of the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation.

But Chamber of Progress CEO Adam Kovacevich is actually pleased with Newsoms veto decision.

This gives the California legislature a chance to take a less rushed, more inclusive approach to developing crypto regulations that protect consumers and allow for innovation, Kovacevich said in a statement. Theres a huge opportunity in the next few years for California and other states to get crypto regulation right.

Attorney Hailey Lennon was also pleased with Newsoms decision, calling it good news for the crypto industry.

Gavin Newsom has vetoed AB2269 (which would have introduced a Bitlicense type digital asset license requirement for crypto companies with CA customers). Good news for the industry pic.twitter.com/69hBkivwDE

Hailey Lennon (@HaileyLennonBTC) September 24, 2022

Likewise, the crypto lobbying group the Blockchain Association was thrilled with the veto news, calling the bill misguided.

We applaud Gov Gavin Newsoms veto of California Assembly Bill 2269, which threatened to choke innovation and stop Californias burgeoning crypto industry in its tracks, the group wrote in a statement.

We applaud Gov @GavinNewsom’s veto of Assembly Bill 2269. By vetoing this bill, and remaining true to the spirit and intent of his EO, Californias status as a crypto innovation leader remains a shining example for the rest of the country.

Our statement: https://t.co/SEPJQtZYhu

Blockchain Association (@BlockchainAssn) September 24, 2022

The accolades continued to flow, as Jake Chervinsky, head of policy for Blockchain Association, said Newsom deserves serious respect for rejecting AB 2269.

Govt. @GavinNewsom deserves serious respect for making the right call by vetoing AB2269, the BitLicense copycat bill that passed the California legislature by a wide margin (71-0 in the Assembly).

That takes guts, & he did it for all the right reasons. https://t.co/DPSsXLmGY2

Jake Chervinsky (@jchervinsky) September 24, 2022

JW Verret, Associate Professor of Law at George Mason University, was also pleased Newsom rejected the crazy crypto reg bill.

While crypto proponents are pleased with the veto, Assemblyman Tim Grayson who introduced the bill expressed his frustration on Twitter.

The cryptocurrency market is under-regulated at best and deliberately rigged against everyday consumers at worst, Grayson argued in a statement.

The cryptocurrency market is under-regulated at best and deliberately rigged against everyday consumers at worst. A financial market cannot be considered healthy if there are no guardrails in place to protect consumers from scams & bad actors. My statement on the veto of AB 2269: pic.twitter.com/etEDRq2I4g

Tim Grayson (@AsmGrayson) September 24, 2022

But the regulatory battle in California is far from over.

Assemblymember Grayson signaled he will reintroduce his bill, Kovacevich wrote.

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