On June 20, the Louisiana Office for Financial Institutions (OFI) proposed a Rule on licensure, registration, and regulation of persons engaging, or planning to engage, in virtual currency business activity in Louisiana. The Rule follows the mandate set by Louisiana’s Virtual Currency Business Act (VCBA), effective August 1, 2020, requiring virtual currency businesses to hold
On January 13, a coalition of 39 state attorneys general — led by AGs from Pennsylvania, Washington, Illinois, Massachusetts, and California — reached a settlement with student loan servicer Navient over allegedly unfair, deceptive, and abusive student loan origination and servicing practices. The $1.8 billion settlement will undoubtedly draw eyes, but perhaps just as important
Data breaches and ransomware attacks are on the rise. On October 7, Oregon Attorney General Rosenblum announced an increase in data breaches reported to his office. The first nine months of 2021 involved 131 reported breaches, exceeding the 2020 total of 110. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) also announced an increase in ransomware-related activities in the U.S. earlier this year. The first half of 2021 saw $590 million reported ransomware activities, exceeding the 2020 total of $416 million.