Everything web3, crypto, defi, degen
In brief Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed the Digital Assets and Consumer Protection Act (SB1797), giving regulators authority over crypto exchanges and mandating fraud safeguards. Pritzker also signed the Digital Asset Kiosk Act (SB2319), requiring ATM operators to register, cap fees at 18%, limit transactions, and refund scam victims. Illinois now has about 1,482 crypto…
In brief Powerful crypto companies including Coinbase, DCG, Kraken and Paradigm are teaming up with top lobbyists to introduce a new nonprofit focused on educating policymakers about decentralized technologies. As a 501(c)(3), the American Innovation Project (AIP) will enjoy key benefits including tax exempt status and limited liability for operators and participants. By law, however,…
In brief Japan’s FSA is expected to approve JPYC’s yen-backed stablecoin, making it the first regulated one in the country. Circle’s USDC entered the Japanese market earlier this year in partnership with local firm SBI. JPYC’s CEO has distanced the stablecoin from cryptocurrency, calling it a fiat-linked digital payment method. Japanese fintech firm JPYC is…
In brief On- and off-ramp companies are attractive M&A targets, according to VanEck Ventures’ Juan Lopez. They are increasingly being viewed as valuable touch points for facilitating payments through stablecoins, he said. In the past, they were viewed primarily as a way to fund crypto exchange accounts. Companies that serve as connective tissue between digital…
In brief New York State Assemblymember Phil Steck proposed a 0.2% excise tax on cryptocurrency transactions. He estimates that the tax would generate $158 million annually, based on Chainalysis data from 2022 to 2023 and recent GDP statistics. The revenue would help combat substance abuse in upstate New York. New York Assemblymember Phil Steck introduced…
The momentum has shifted in the yearslong battle between top crypto companies and protocols and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the new Trump administration. The regulator, which now has a crypto-friendly chairman in Paul Atkins and a crypto task force led by longtime industry advocate Hester Peirce, is moving away from what Pierce and…
In brief Spot Ethereum ETFs have attracted $2.3 billion in the U.S. this month, equating to roughly 500,000 ETH. The network has issued 450,000 ETH since the “merge” took place in 2022. Ethereum treasury firms have bought lots of ETH recently, but ETFs are still a larger source of demand, according to Standard Chartered. Spot…
In brief Standard Chartered has massively raised its Ethereum forecast to $7,500 by 2025, $12,000 in 2026, $18,000 in 2027, and $25,000 in 2028 and 2029, up from just $4,000 for 2025 in March. The bank points to heavy institutional buying, the GENIUS Act’s boost for stablecoins, etc, as key growth drivers. ETH is trading…
In brief Banking groups have demanded that Congress close “loopholes” in the new GENIUS Act that allow stablecoin interest payments through exchanges and third parties. The banks warned of a $6.6 trillion deposit flight risk that could disrupt traditional lending and increase borrowing costs. Industry momentum continues with major crypto firms such as Paxos and…
In brief Kaia registered four KRW-related trademarks earlier this month; Kakao and Kakao Pay sit on its governance council. Competing bills and an administration framework would set rules on licensing, reserves, equity requirements, interest treatment, and banks’ roles. Foreign exchange controls and planned reporting for cross-border crypto flows could limit early use cases, relative to…
