It’s no secret that New York is a bit of a tough nut to crack when it comes to cryptocurrencies. The state has been slow to warm up to the idea of digital assets, and its BitLicense requirements have been a thorn in the side of many companies looking to do business there.
One company that has been working hard to get a foothold in the Empire State is Coinbase. The popular cryptocurrency exchange has been working with regulators to try and get approval to operate in New York, and it looks like they may finally be making some progress.
In September of 2018, Coinbase announced that it had applied for a BitLicense from the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS). This was a significant move, as Coinbase is one of the largest and most well-known cryptocurrency companies in operation today.
If they were able to obtain a BitLicense, it would open up a lot of doors for them in terms of doing business in New York.
Unfortunately, the process of obtaining a BitLicense is notoriously slow and difficult. The DFS has only issued 28 of them since the license was created back in 2015.
So far, Coinbase’s application has been stuck in limbo. But recent reports indicate that the DFS may be close to making a decision on Coinbase’s application.
If Coinbase is approved for a BitLicense, it would be a huge win not just for the company, but for cryptocurrencies as a whole. It would show that New York is finally starting to warm up to digital assets, and could pave the way for other crypto companies to obtain licenses as well.
It would also give Coinbase access to a large pool of potential customers in New York.
Right now, it’s impossible to say for sure if Coinbase will ultimately be approved for a BitLicense. But the fact that they’re even close to getting one is a positive sign for the future of cryptocurrencies in New York.