Today, November 14, 2018, the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) announced that it has approved the application of NYDIG Execution LLC, a subsidiary of NYDIG LLC, for a virtual currency license and a money transmission license. The approval of this so-called “BitLicense” or “Virtual Currency License” application is the 14th of its kind and is required under New York State law in order for a company to engage in “any Virtual Currency Business Activity.”Under the BitLicense, NYDIG Execution LLC is allowed to offer secure custody and trade execution services, as well as to operate as a custodian for virtual currencies, including bitcoin, bitcoin cash, ether, ripple and litecoin.DFS Superintendent Maria T. Vullo approved the request, stating, “Today’s approval further demonstrates that operating within New York’s robust state regulatory system leads to a stronger fintech marketplace and promotes innovation and necessary compliance with effective risk-based controls.” First enacted in August 2015, BitLicense regulations caused an outcry from the community. Some industry companies such as Circle pursued a BitLicense, and others such as itBit (now Paxos Trust Company) received approval to operate as a “chartered trust company” with DFS oversight. However, many left the state for more accomodating jurisdictions in what the New York Business Journal called “the Great Bitcoin Exodus,” citing ov...
