California Governor Signs Law Bringing State 'New Tools' to Regulate Crypto

The California department responsible for the regulation of financial services will soon have more powers to supervise the cryptocurrency industry.

• California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law Friday to rename the California Department of Business Oversight as the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation.
• The bill (AB 1864), introduced by lead author Assemblywoman Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) on Jan. 7, will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2021.
• The changes will equip the regulator with "new tools to shape the regulation of virtual currency," the department's commissioner, Manuel P. Alvarez, told CoinDesk via email.
• The new California Consumer Financial Protection Law will, among other things, provide the department with greater enforcement powers designed to protect Californians from "pandemic-inspired scams," per a Friday press release.
• The move means the department will have new regulatory authority to begin cracking down on deceptive or abusive practices undertaken by unlicensed financial services or products.
• But the new law will also see the creation of an Office of Financial Technology Innovation designed to engage with new industries and consumer advocates to encourage consumer-friendly innovation and job creation within the state.
• In addition, a new Division of Consumer Financial Protection will be created to monitor markets, with a research arm that will keep up with emerging financial products such as cryptocurrencies.
• With the expansion of the department, 90 additional employees will be added to the government payroll representing a 13% increase in staffing.
• The legislation would allow his department to increase consumer protections without hamstringing "honest and fair operations," Alvarez said.

See also: California Assembly Considers Exempting Some Digital Assets From State Securities Law