The biggest federation of commerce unions within the US says it has “severe issues” concerning the Senate’s draft invoice to manage crypto, claiming it lacks employee protections and poorly regulates the sector.
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) opposed the Accountable Monetary Innovation Act (RFIA), arguing in a letter to the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday that it will pose important dangers to staff and the monetary system.
The invoice’s remedy of crypto belongings “poses dangers to each retirement funds and to the general monetary stability of the US economic system,” mentioned AFL-CIO director Jody Calemine.
He added that the invoice will allow the crypto trade to “function in wider and deeper methods in our monetary system with out ample oversight or significant safeguards.”
Senators Cynthia Lummis and Kirsten Gillibrand initially introduced the RFIA in 2022 and revised it earlier this yr. The Senate Banking Committee is developing the bill instead strategy to regulating crypto with a distinct scope and regulatory emphasis, somewhat than advancing the CLARITY Act, a market construction invoice the Home handed in July.
Defending staff and pensions
Calemine mentioned that the AFL-CIO “helps efforts to replace regulatory regimes to raised defend staff from the volatility of this asset class,” however the invoice solely “supplies the facade of regulation.”
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He added that somewhat than insulating staff from the crypto volatility, the invoice “would enhance staff’ publicity by greenlighting retirement plans like 401(ok)s and pensions to carry this dangerous asset.”
Extra systemic dangers
Calemine additionally claimed that the taxpayer-backed Deposit Insurance coverage Fund, which protects client financial institution deposits, could be topic to larger threat if banks have been allowed to custody crypto.
He additionally mentioned that the legislation “codifies the tokenization of securities and belongings” such that non-public corporations have a pathway to “create a shadow public inventory” outdoors of Securities and Trade Fee oversight.
AFL-CIO headquarters in Washington, DC. Supply: AFL-CIO
2008 monetary disaster redux
The AFL-CIO in contrast these potential dangers to those who precipitated the 2008 financial crisis, which was high-risk lending by business banks.
“Banks partaking in crypto-based hedge fund buying and selling exercise, which might be allowed beneath this regime, could possibly be even riskier than among the harmful monetary actions carried out earlier than the 2008 monetary disaster.”
Calemine concluded with a name to oppose the Accountable Monetary Innovation Act, which remains to be a dialogue draft and never but formally launched.
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