Top stories in the Crypto Roundup today:

• German Banks Receive Approval to Sell and Custody Crypto in 2020
• Russia’s Central Bank Says It’s Open to a Cryptocurrency Ban
• U.S. Authorities Arrest Ethereum Researcher for Teaching North Koreans About Crypto and Blockchain

At the time of writing, bitcoin (BTC) is trading at $7,252.35 (-0.81 %) with a daily Top Tier volume of $3.019 billion. As for ether (ETH), it is trading at $148.48 (0.76 %) with a daily Top Tier volume of $775.52 mn. The MVIS CryptoCompare Digital Assets 10 Index is currently tracking at 2,463.11 (-2.10%).

German Banks Receive Approval to Sell and Custody Crypto in 2020

A new piece of legislation passed by the German parliament will allow banks in the country to sell and custody cryptocurrencies. The new law will be effective on January 1, 2020 and comes as an amendment to the fourth EU Money Laundering Directive.

While the law initially required banks to seek third-party custodians, its final version will allow them to get a license to custody cryptocurrencies themselves. While some claimed the new legislation will allow Germany to become a cryptocurrency haven, others expressed concern when it comes to consumer protection, as people may try test investing in crypto via their banks, without understanding the risks.

Russia’s Central Bank Says It’s Open to a Cryptocurrency Ban

A state-run news agency asked Russia’s central bank about cryptocurrencies, and the financial institution shared it believes “private cryptocurrencies cannot be equated with fiat money and cannot be legal tender.”

The banking authority reportedly added:

"If it is decided to ban cryptocurrencies as a means of payment at the legislative level, we consider it appropriate to support this position.”

The Bank of Russia further justified its support for a potential cryptocurrency ban adding that it believes “cryptocurrencies carry significant risks” related to money laundering and terrorism financing.

U.S. Authorities Arrest Ethereum Researcher for Allegedly Teaching North Koreans About Crypto

The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and the FBI have announced the arrest of Virgil Griffith, an Ethereum research scientist, for allegedly violating U.S. sanctions and traveling to North Korea to give the country “a presentation and technical advice on using cryptocurrency and blockchain technology to evade sanctions.”

Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said in a statement Griffith “jeopardize the sanctions” that have been enacted to “place maximum pressure on North Korea’s dangerous regime.” Berman said:

“As alleged, Virgil Griffith provided highly technical information to North Korea, knowing that this information could be used to help North Korea launder money and evade sanctions."

Griffith reportedly attended a North Korean cryptocurrency conference in April of last year, and in it discussed with other attendees “how the DPRK [North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea] could use blockchain and cryptocurrency technology to launder money and evade sanctions.”

Many on social media has been making it clear the Ethereum Foundation didn’t have anything to do with Griffith’s trip, claiming it was a personal choice of his. Vitalik Buterin, one of Ethereum’s co-founders, showed support for a petition to free Griffith.

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