Core Insights - The Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) has removed cryptocurrency from its list of systemic financial threats in its 2025 annual report, marking a significant regulatory shift under the Trump administration [1] - The 2025 report emphasizes responsible growth and regulatory clarity for the crypto sector, contrasting sharply with the previous year's warnings about stablecoins being a vulnerability [2] Legislative Progress and Regulatory Changes - The FSOC's 2025 report acknowledges the role of digital assets in innovation and economic development, highlighting recent legislative progress that has addressed prior concerns [2][3] - The passage of the GENIUS Act in July established a comprehensive federal framework for payment stablecoins, requiring licensed issuers to maintain reserves in highly liquid assets and limiting rehypothecation [3][4] - Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent noted that the continued use of dollar-denominated stablecoins supports the dollar's role in international finance [4] Banking Access and Regulatory Environment - Federal agencies have withdrawn restrictive guidance that previously discouraged banks from engaging with crypto firms, with the SEC eliminating prior-notification requirements for offering digital asset custody services [5] - Banking regulators rescinded joint statements that pushed crypto activity outside traditional finance, and the Federal Reserve returned oversight to normal supervisory processes [5] - Preliminary findings from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency revealed that the largest national banks imposed inappropriate restrictions on lawful crypto businesses from 2020 to 2023 [6] - Comptroller Jonathan Gould criticized these practices as harmful to lawful enterprises and an inappropriate use of national bank charters [7]

LONDON, Dec 16 (Reuters) - British regulator the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) launched a wide-ranging consultation on a range of proposed ​rules for the crypto industry on Tuesday, a day ‌after the government said the industry would be regulated from October 2027. The FCA ‌set out its proposals alongside research that shows that the proportion of UK adults holding crypto has fallen by a third, from 12% to 8% in the past year. Watchdogs globally are playing catch-up ⁠on rules for the ‌crypto industr ...

Core Insights - The U.S. banking system has opened its doors to major players in the crypto industry, with the OCC conditionally approving five firms, including Ripple and Circle, to operate as national trust banks [1][2][3] Group 1: Regulatory Developments - The OCC's decision signals a move towards integrating parts of the crypto sector into the traditional financial framework [2] - Five crypto firms received conditional approval to establish or convert into national trust banks, joining approximately 60 other national trust banks already overseen by the OCC [3][4] - The approval builds on a precedent set in 2021 when Anchorage Digital became the first crypto-focused firm to receive a national trust charter [5] Group 2: Operational Scope - The approved firms are not allowed to take deposits or issue loans but can custody assets, process payments, and provide fiduciary services under federal supervision [4] - All five firms must meet capital, governance, compliance, and risk-management conditions before becoming fully operational [4] Group 3: Industry Reactions - The OCC's move is seen as a regulatory win for crypto companies, providing long-awaited regulatory clarity [6] - Ripple's inclusion could strengthen its institutional footprint over time, particularly for its dollar-backed stablecoin, RLUSD, which is now under federal and state supervision [7][9] - Traditional banking groups expressed concerns, warning about unresolved questions regarding regulatory consistency and oversight [9]

Core Insights - Ripple has received conditional approval from the United States Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to operate as a national trust bank, marking a significant milestone for the company in its efforts to integrate with the U.S. banking system [1][2] Group 1: Regulatory Approval - The OCC conditionally approved five national trust bank charter applications, including Ripple, BitGo, Fidelity Digital Assets, and Paxos, following a rigorous review process [2] - The newly approved institutions will join approximately 60 national trust banks currently supervised by the OCC, promoting competition, innovation, and consumer access to financial services [3] Group 2: Trust Bank Functionality - National trust banks are primarily used for custody, settlement, and fiduciary services, making them suitable for crypto and tokenized assets, allowing companies like Ripple to gain federal oversight without the risks associated with full consumer banking [4] Group 3: Company Response and Market Reaction - Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse stated that the approval would initially support Ripple's U.S. dollar stablecoin, RLUSD, and would be subject to federal oversight from the OCC and state-level supervision by the New York Department of Financial Services [5] - Garlinghouse criticized traditional banking lobbyists, asserting that the crypto industry is prioritizing compliance and innovation under OCC supervision [6] - Following the announcement, XRP, Ripple's native token, traded around $2, showing a slight increase of 0.8% in the past hour and a 0.6% rise overnight [6]

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]