Politics, Legal & Regulation

February 18, 2026 @ 3:29 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Elliptic indicated in a blog post that as part of an ongoing effort to further solidify the US’s position as a global enabler of web3 and digital assets, lawmakers and the White House are working urgently to advance the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act—widely known… Read More

February 18, 2026 @ 12:03 pm By JD Alois  |  

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong joined Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno on CNBC today, as both appeared at the World Liberty Forum at Mar-a-Lago. Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) is the first crypto exchange to go public and one of the largest marketplaces of its kind. Moreno, at one point, was… Read More

February 17, 2026 @ 4:28 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Digital assets firm Circle has formally responded to the Bank of England‘s consultation on establishing a regulatory framework for systemic sterling-denominated stablecoins. This move underscores the UK’s efforts to balance financial stability with the promotion of various payment solutions. The debate over payment stablecoins, or… Read More

February 17, 2026 @ 2:59 pm By JD Alois  |  

A battle line has been drawn between states that want to maintain control over wagering and betting and prediction markets that offer event-driven markets for a wide range of binary outcomes. Earlier today, CFTC Chairman Mike Selig threw down the gauntlet, declaring that the Commission is ready… Read More

February 17, 2026 @ 10:53 am By JD Alois  |  

A wealth confiscation tax has never been widely successful anywhere it has ever been attempted. Yet, some policymakers and pundits continue to support the concept of taxing unrealized gains and wealth thresholds. As the Laffer Curve explained decades ago, excessive taxation will have the opposite… Read More

February 17, 2026 @ 10:06 am By JD Alois  |  

The Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is supporting the fast emerging prediction markets. Following an onslaught of state-based lawsuits, CFTC Chairman Mike Selig has issued a statement defending these marketplaces and filed a friend-of-the-court brief advocating federal oversight rather than piecemeal state regulation. Chairman Selig… Read More

February 17, 2026 @ 8:04 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Digital assets platform OKX announced a regulatory milestone: it has obtained a Payment Institution (PI) license in Malta. This authorization strengthens the company’s foothold across the European Union and enables fully compliant stablecoin-based payment services just ahead of critical EU rules taking effect in March… Read More

February 14, 2026 @ 11:11 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Blockchain security firm CertiK has recently shared critical analyses on the shifting landscapes of cryptocurrency regulation, highlighting both hurdles in the United States and progressive advancements in Dubai. These updates underscore the firm’s expertise in navigating security and compliance amid global crypto developments, offering key… Read More

February 13, 2026 @ 4:49 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In a recent development in the ongoing battle against international financial fraud, a U.S. federal judge has handed down a 20-year prison term to Daren Li, a 42-year-old man holding dual citizenship in China and St. Kitts and Nevis. The sentence, delivered in absentia in… Read More

February 13, 2026 @ 1:25 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Netherlands is the next jurisdiction that seeks to punish investors by taxing unrealized capital gains. The state of California has been in the news quite a bit recently in regard to its possible confiscation tax that targets wealth investors and shareholders. The obtuse policy,… Read More

February 13, 2026 @ 11:22 am By Omar Faridi  |  

A federal court in Brooklyn has imposed a substantial penalty on the ex-leader of a prominent crypto firm. Braden John Karony, previously at the helm of SafeMoon US LLC, received a 100-month incarceration period for his role in a deceptive operation that misled numerous backers…. Read More

February 13, 2026 @ 8:57 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Paxful Holdings Inc., a peer-to-peer virtual asset exchange that is no longer operational and has been processing withdrawals for the past few months, has been ordered to pay a $4 million criminal fine. The sentencing, handed down on February 10, 2026, follows the company’s admission… Read More

February 12, 2026 @ 10:25 am By Omar Faridi  |  

CryptoUK, the trade association for cryptocurrency and blockchain enterprises, has issued its formal reply to the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) Consultation Paper CP25/40. Released on December 16, 2025, this document outlines proposals to integrate essential crypto operations into the nation’s financial oversight system. The initiative… Read More

February 12, 2026 @ 9:26 am By JD Alois  |  

The UK government has selected HSBC for its Digital Gilt Instrument (DIGIT) pilot program. The selection was made following a competitive review process. The UK government published its invitation to tender in October of last year. Lucy Rigby KC MP, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, said they… Read More

February 11, 2026 @ 11:52 am By JD Alois  |  

While the US financial markets are the deepest and most efficient in the world, there is always room for improvement. Public markets have been in decline for many years. Meanwhile, private markets have grown dramatically, which is good for many, but too often, retail investors… Read More

February 11, 2026 @ 11:29 am By Omar Faridi  |  

In a recent development for the cryptocurrency and derivatives sectors, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has intervened in a high-profile legal battle, signaling a shift toward more supportive federal oversight of prediction markets. On February 5, 2026, the agency filed a motion to submit… Read More

February 11, 2026 @ 7:55 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The vote on the CLARITY Act, derailed by a last-minute loss of support from cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN), had been forcing the government to reevaluate its crypto policy once again. Despite the delays, could this be a good thing? Xin Yan, Co-founder and CEO of Sign believes… Read More

February 11, 2026 @ 7:51 am By Omar Faridi  |  

In a recent appearance on CNBC’s Halftime Report, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized the transformative potential of the Trump Accounts program, aiming to expand access to stock market investments for millions of Americans. Speaking from the Treasury Department, Bessent pointed out that nearly two-fifths… Read More

February 10, 2026 @ 9:24 pm By JD Alois  |  

Today, the second Crypto powow at the White House took place, bringing together teams representing the digital asset sector and the establishment banking industry. The goal is to garner reconciliation between the two groups who remain in disagreement over several issues, perhaps most importantly, the… Read More

February 10, 2026 @ 9:39 am By JD Alois  |  

The California confiscation tax is doing wonders for at least one state. That would be Florida. The confiscation tax is designed to take money from wealthy residents by taxing unrealized gains and total wealth. As California remains an economy driven by innovation and entrepreneurship, wealthy… Read More