Blockchain & Digital Assets

April 4, 2025 @ 4:59 pm By JD Alois  |  

The House Financial Services Committee, Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Fintech and AI, has scheduled a hearing for April 9, 2025, to discuss tokenization or digital securities. The hearing is entitled: American Innovation and the Future of Digital Assets: Aligning the US Securities Laws for the… Read More

April 4, 2025 @ 4:43 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Division of Corporate Finance (CorpFin), has issued a statement on stablecoins. During the last administration, the SEC’s position was that pretty much all crypto was deemed to be securities. Bitcoin was an exception, and perhaps Ethereum. Things have changed… Read More

April 4, 2025 @ 3:43 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The EY organization announces it has updated the public domain source code for Nightfall1, a layer-2 roll-up that enables private transactions on the public Ethereum blockchain and the “development of privacy-focused enterprise blockchain solutions.” This updated version of Nightfall replaces the optimistic roll-up with a… Read More

April 4, 2025 @ 11:39 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Kadena, the “scalable” blockchain technology provider, has announced Chainweb EVM with the addition of 20 EVM-compatible chains to its multi-chain network. Chainweb EVM reportedly positions Kadena as a decentralized alternative to Ethereum Layer 2s, with “near-zero gas fees, infinite scalability, and energy-efficient Proof of Work… Read More

April 4, 2025 @ 10:06 am By Omar Faridi  |  

North Korea has emerged as a somewhat unexpected powerhouse in the world of cryptocurrency—not as a legitimate player, but as a prolific cybercriminal state. According to a detailed investigation by The Wall Street Journal, the isolated nation has pilfered more than $6 billion in digital… Read More

April 4, 2025 @ 8:12 am By Omar Faridi  |  

CoinList is back in the U.S. and they’re bringing token sales with them, according to an update from the digital assets platform. CoinList’s return to the United States has officially begun—starting with a public token sale product for accredited investors. The digital assets firm noted… Read More

April 4, 2025 @ 8:07 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Ctrl Alt will explore tokenization in the Bank of England’s Digital Securities Sandbox, analyzing how digital ledger technology can improve efficiencies whilst working with the FCA to “integrate these innovative models into new frameworks.” As confirmed in the announcement, Ctrl Alt has been officially admitted… Read More

April 3, 2025 @ 2:20 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC), the post-trade market infrastructure for the global financial services industry, today announced a digital collateral management platform. Collateral is an essential risk mitigation tool “that helps support overall financial stability.” DTCC also noted that as the markets grow… Read More

April 3, 2025 @ 2:15 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Ripple, a provider of digital asset infrastructure for financial institutions, today announced that Ripple USD (RLUSD) has been integrated into Ripple’s  payments solution, Ripple Payments, driving enterprise “utility and demand for the asset.” RLUSD is described as an “enterprise-grade,” USD-denominated stablecoin created with utility, and… Read More

April 3, 2025 @ 8:04 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Quantoz Payments, a “regulated” issuer of electronic money tokens that are designed to be compliant with MiCA, announced the expansion of its stablecoins EURQ and USDQ to the Algorand (ALGO) blockchain. Algorand-based DeFi platform Folks Finance will offer trading pairs for EURQ and USDQ, providing… Read More

April 2, 2025 @ 11:30 pm By JD Alois  |  

Following markup, the STABLE Act was approved by the House Financial Services Committee. The legislation provides rules for issuers of stablecoins. The STABLE Act passed through the Committee markup hearing by a vote of 32-17. Representative Bryan Steil thanked Committee Chair French Hill for supporting… Read More

April 2, 2025 @ 4:04 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Gemini Trust Co., the crypto exchange founded by billionaire twins Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, have jointly requested a 60-day pause in their ongoing legal battle to explore a potential resolution. The motion, filed on April 1, 2025,… Read More

April 2, 2025 @ 11:39 am By JD Alois  |  

The Stable Act, legislation designed to clarify the issuance of stablecoins, is in markup today as the House Financial Services Committee seeks to move the bill towards approval. The legislation is bipartisan, having been sponsored by both Republicans and Democrats, including Representatives Hill, Torres, Emmer, Huizenga, Meuser,… Read More

April 2, 2025 @ 8:38 am By Omar Faridi  |  

BitPay, a cryptocurrency payments platform and wallet provider, has officially launched its UK website and wallet app in compliance with the Financial Promotions Regime. The launch gives the UK crypto community access to a “range of consumer crypto solutions, solidifying BitPay’s commitment to a growing… Read More

April 2, 2025 @ 8:37 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The PwC Global Crypto Regulation Report 2025 offers a comprehensive analysis of the evolving regulatory environment for digital assets across more than 50 jurisdictions. The PwC research report underscores significant policy shifts and emerging trends, reflecting a global push to balance innovation with financial stability… Read More

April 2, 2025 @ 8:35 am By Omar Faridi  |  

SIX, the global financial data and market infrastructure provider, has launched its Digital Assets Regulatory & Tax Service – a data package providing financial institutions with “a single information source to help identify their exposure to digital assets and remain compliant with evolving regulations.” It… Read More

April 2, 2025 @ 8:33 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Fireblocks, a digital asset security and infrastructure provider, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC Group), one of Japan’s largest banks, alongside Ava Labs and TIS Inc. This collaboration aims to explore the potential of stablecoins for wholesale payments,… Read More

April 2, 2025 @ 8:32 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Circle Internet Group, Inc., the issuer of the world’s second-largest stablecoin, USD Coin (USDC), has officially filed for an initial public offering (IPO) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This move marks a significant milestone for the cryptocurrency industry, reflecting growing mainstream acceptance… Read More

April 1, 2025 @ 8:47 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

OKX, a cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 technology company, has been making several key announcements in 2025, reinforcing its position as a global service provider in the blockchain and digital assets ecosystem. From appointing a new Chief Legal Officer to expanding its footprint across Europe and… Read More

April 1, 2025 @ 3:23 pm By JD Alois  |  

Following its first Roundtable, the new SEC Crypto Task Force says it will hold four more meetings to discuss the developing digital asset marketplace. The following gatherings are on the agenda: April 11, 2025 – Between a Block and a Hard Place: Tailoring Regulation for… Read More