Ripple received conditional approval from the United States Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to operate as a national trust bank. This marks a significant milestone for the crypto firm seeking deeper integration with the U.S. banking system. Related: Ripple beat the SEC — but did XRP really win? Ripple and others receive regulatory nod In an announcement released on Dec. 12, the OCC said it had conditionally approved five national trust bank charter applications following a rigorous revi ...

Core Viewpoint - The chair of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Paul Atkins, is leading an initiative to reform crypto regulations to ensure long-term stability and prevent future administrations from reversing these changes [1][2]. Group 1: Project Crypto Initiative - Atkins announced "Project Crypto" at the Blockchain Association's policy summit, aiming to establish a "plan for crypto market primacy" that evaluates the benefits and risks of transitioning markets from off-chain to on-chain environments [2]. - The SEC staff has been instructed to create proposals to clarify the regulatory status of crypto assets, facilitate traditional financial institutions in holding crypto, and promote the development of comprehensive financial "super-apps" [2]. - Atkins categorized crypto assets into four types: digital commodities, digital collectibles, digital tools, and tokenised securities, with a focus on tokenised securities for future SEC efforts [2][3]. Group 2: Regulatory Focus and Changes - Only tokenised securities will be treated as securities under SEC regulation, with proposed changes to existing rules governing the trading of securities to accommodate on-chain trading of tokenised equities [3]. - Atkins indicated that many current regulations may not be suitable for a tokenised on-chain environment, suggesting a need for reform [4]. Group 3: Industry Reactions - The initiative has received support from the crypto industry, but there are concerns from traditional market players, such as Citadel Securities, which warned that relaxing regulations could disrupt US equity markets by favoring decentralized exchanges [4]. - Atkins has ruled out the possibility of isolating traditional markets from the more volatile crypto market, indicating a desire for integration rather than separation [5].

A US national bank regulator has confirmed that banks can act as intermediaries in “riskless principal” crypto transactions, positioning them closer to broker-style roles in the digital asset market. In these deals, a bank buys crypto from one party and simultaneously sells it to another, holding little or no asset exposure on its own balance sheet except in limited cases. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) said such activities will not be treated as novel or presumptively unsafe, easing ...

Core Insights - Argentina's central bank is considering regulations that would allow traditional banks to offer trading and custody services for cryptocurrencies, marking a significant shift in the country's crypto landscape [1][2] - The potential approval of these regulations could occur around April 2026, indicating a near-term change in the regulatory environment for crypto in Argentina [2] - The demand for cryptocurrencies in Argentina has surged due to high inflation and currency controls, with Argentines being six times more likely to use crypto daily compared to the average Latin American resident [3] Regulatory Developments - The proposed regulations aim to integrate crypto activities into the formal financial system, allowing banks to handle cryptocurrencies directly [1][2] - Analysts suggest that regulated banks could provide clearer disclosures and compliance checks, making digital assets more appealing as standard investment options [4] Market Context - The crypto demand in Argentina is driven by the need for stability amid economic challenges, with digital assets serving as a parallel store of value for many households [3] - The recent Libra meme coin scandal has raised concerns about the political promotion of speculative tokens, impacting confidence in the crypto market [5][6] Historical Events - The Libra token scandal, which occurred in February 2025, involved President Javier Milei endorsing the token, leading to a rapid price increase followed by a significant collapse, highlighting the risks associated with speculative crypto investments [6][7]

South Korea is moving to impose bank-level liability standards on crypto exchanges following a $30.1 million hack at Upbit last month, shifting toward treating major platforms with the same regulatory rigor as traditional financial institutions. According to The Korea Times, the Financial Services Commission is reviewing provisions that would require crypto exchanges to compensate users for losses caused by hacking or system failures, regardless of fault, mirroring rules currently applied only to banks an ...

Today, Bitcoin falls below the $90,000 level to end the [music] week. And Blockchain Association CEO Summer Mercinger previews the policy summit, which kicks off on Monday. Welcome to CNBC's Crypto World.I'm Mackenzie [music] Sagalos. Crypto prices are in the red to end the week. In contrast with the S&P 500, which actually rose as traders digested inflation data that could inform the Fed's upcoming rate decision.Now, as of noon Eastern, Bitcoin traded below 90K once again after spending the past 3 days abo ...

Core Insights - Bitnomial has received the first approval from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to list leveraged crypto products, marking a significant shift in U.S. crypto regulation [1][6] - The CFTC's Acting Chair Caroline Pham criticized previous enforcement-based regulations that hindered the development of a safe trading environment for retail investors [2][4] - Major exchanges like Coinbase and Kraken are now positioned to follow Bitnomial in offering leveraged trading products, as they have the necessary licenses [6][7] Regulatory Changes - The CFTC's recent approval signifies a move towards a more crypto-friendly regulatory environment, with expectations for more exchanges to introduce leveraged trading products by 2025 [2][7] - The previous restrictive guidance from the CFTC led to a reduction in margin trading features among U.S. exchanges, with Kraken and Bitfinex facing penalties [4][5] Market Implications - The approval for Bitnomial is seen as a catalyst for other exchanges, which are now eager to reintroduce spot leverage features [6][7] - Kraken's acquisition of Small Exchange is part of a strategy to integrate various trading products into a single regulated system, indicating a trend towards consolidation in the crypto trading space [7]

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission is ushering in a new form of federally regulated crypto trading, having encouraged its regulated platforms to open up leveraged spot digital assets products, which is set to begin next week with Bitnomial. The Bitnomial exchange is regulated by the U.S. derivatives watchdog as a designated contract market (DCM), meaning this new activity will be launching in a fully regulated space, following strong encouragement from the federal agency — including direct meet ...

Market Overview - Cryptocurrencies are experiencing a rise, with Bitcoin increasing by 1.5% to around $92,000 and Ether climbing 3% to $3,88 [2] - American Bitcoin, a mining stock linked to the Trump family, is recovering after a significant drop of about 40% [3] Company Developments - Binance has appointed a new co-CEO, Yihei, to work alongside Richard Tang, who took over leadership after CZ stepped down in 2023 [4] - BlackRock's CEO, Larry Fink, reaffirmed his belief in Bitcoin's long-term potential, highlighting the growing number of long-term holders [5] - Coinbase's CEO, Brian Armstrong, emphasized the company's efforts in Washington to advocate for crypto-related legislation [7] Legislative Efforts - Coinbase's chief legal officer, Paul Greywall, is heading to Washington, D.C. to discuss crypto market structure legislation, which is a priority for both Coinbase and the broader crypto industry [10][18] - There is a bipartisan consensus emerging in Congress regarding the definition of digital asset securities and the regulatory roles of the SEC and CFTC [21][22] - The Senate Agriculture Committee has released a draft bill for crypto market structure, which includes provisions for the CFTC to have more regulatory authority [22] Future Outlook - The crypto industry is hopeful for the passage of market structure legislation by the end of the year, despite potential delays due to the upcoming elections [28][30] - The focus on crypto legislation remains bipartisan, with past successes indicating a strong possibility for future advancements [30]

Bitcoin and companies tied to cryptocurrencies extended a nearly two-month swoon Monday, tracking with a broader market sell-off in technology companies that many see as overvalued.Bitcoin slid 5.6% after being down nearly 12% earlier in the day, settling in just above $85,000. The most-traded cryptocurrency is down about 33% since hitting a record $126,210.50 on Oct. 6, according to crypto trading platform Coinbase. Bitcoin had soared since April in line with the stock market and driven partly by a more cr ...