Insights & Commentary

Regulation meant to curb financial crime can leave the businesses carrying its costs feeling like ‘victims’ of government policy, particularly when the effort is high, the effects are hard to measure and the solution has leaks. Matthijs Nelemans applies this to anti-money laundering rules for crypto-assets: mined data from financial institutions that goes unused, back doors abroad, and a focus on regulating central exchanges. His recommendation is that governments set out the limits of new regulation openly and show how it fits a broader societal approach.

“Pump and dump” is one of the oldest forms of market manipulation, and it keeps finding new ground. Matthijs Nelemans explains why: cheaper ways to reach retail investors, AI tools that make messages easier to time and target, and exchanges that admit more penny stocks. He also looks at how Nasdaq, the SEC and European supervisors responded, and what investors can do themselves.