In the landmark “US vs Roman Storm” case, the Tornado Cash founder was found guilty of conspiracy to run an unlicensed money transmittal business and innocent of others. This case has been a landmark battle for privacy rights and the decentralized nature of crypto. Roman Storm argued that he wasn’t responsible for other actors’ usage…
Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn announced her candidacy for Governor today. A prominent crypto advocate, her victory could spell a new initiative for a local Bitcoin Reserve. Blackburn supported a national Bitcoin Strategic Reserve bill and has co-sponsored other proposals, like the GENIUS Act. She has spoken at industry events in the state, and her campaign…
The SEC issued a statement on liquid staking tokens (LSTs), clarifying how these and other staking activities fit within securities laws. The Commission generally loosened existing rules, but it’s not a laissez-faire approach. To be clear, this is a non-binding statement, and the SEC’s position on the subject could change in the future. For now,…
As the Tornado Cash trial nears its conclusion, SEC Commissioner Peirce gave a speech defending crypto privacy. She criticized federal regulators’ approach and defended crypto mixers as a beneficial technology. For now, this statement won’t impact Roman Storm’s trial. Still, it emphasizes that crypto privacy is still popular, even within federal regulators. This could help…
A former SEC official has clarified that Ripple, not the Commission, was the driving force behind this year’s prolonged appeals process. The general public perception was that the SEC was dragging its feet. Now, with both sides moving to end litigation, the final resolution is likely close. Ripple and the SEC in Court The Ripple…
The SEC’s Crypto Task Force is about to go on a five-month tour of the US, in a new series of roundtables. Hester “Crypto Mom” Peirce is looking for small entrepreneurs nationwide to help inform federal crypto policy. Meanwhile, the Commission is also building a new Task Force to tackle AI questions. So far, its…
On August 1, Hong Kong’s Stablecoin Ordinance officially came into effect. The HKMA released detailed licensing guidelines covering capital, custody, KYC, reserves, and governance requirements. Banks Lead the Race Top banknote-issuing banks like BOCHK and Standard Chartered are expected to apply first. They hold regulatory and institutional advantages under Hong Kong’s currency system. Each stablecoin…
Hong Kong officially enforces its comprehensive Stablecoin Ordinance today, August 1, 2025. This regulatory milestone transitions stablecoins from speculative crypto narratives into programmable financial infrastructure. The framework positions Hong Kong as a strategic hub for compliant digital finance. Regulatory Transformation and Market Dynamics Why Important: The passage of the GENIUS Act legitimizes dollar-backed stablecoins in…
A new report claims that Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss asked President Trump to remove Brian Quintenz’s nomination as CFTC Chair. If these rumors are true, they highlight a key tension in crypto politics. The Commission is set to have more authority over crypto regulation, and Quintenz wants to increase its budget to meet these challenges….
Japan advances tougher crypto regulation, transitioning oversight from the Payment Services Act to investment-focused Financial Instruments Exchange Act. The move aims to enhance investor protection as crypto markets expand rapidly. FSA Initiates Strategic Regulatory Recalibration Amid Market Evolution The Financial Services Agency (FSA) convened the first meeting of its Crypto Assets Working Group on July…