The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission announced the San Francisco-based crypto exchange agreed to end its staking program, which the regulator called a securities offering, and pay US$30 million in penalties to settle the charges. CoinDesk first reported the news. (The Logic, CoinDesk)

Talking point: The SEC’s move offers another point of contrast between how U.S. and Canadian regulators are approaching crypto. In October, Canada’s provincial securities regulators became the first in the world to approve staking, a process that allows token holders to lock up their digital assets and contribute to the security of a crypto protocol in exchange for rewards. Regulators set up the regime in consultation with crypto-trading platforms after the firms approached them, asking for guidance. In contrast, shares of the U.S. crypto exchange giant Coinbase closed down more than 14 per cent Thursday after CEO Brian Armstrong tweeted he believes the SEC is planning a total ban on crypto staking for retail customers.