Cryptocurrency industry

The operator of Bitcoin Fog, a cryptocurrency mixing service, has lost his appeal against his money laundering conviction. Roman Sterlingov was found guilty of running the service, which prosecutors said laundered hundreds of millions of dollars in bitcoin, including funds linked to dark web markets. The upheld conviction is being watched closely as a test case for how far criminal liability extends to crypto privacy tools.

Efforts to pass the Clarity Act, a bill to establish clear regulatory rules for the cryptocurrency industry, have stalled amid political tensions tied to the Trump family's crypto business ventures. Lawmakers' concerns over potential conflicts of interest surrounding those ventures have complicated negotiations, leaving the industry without the regulatory framework the legislation was meant to provide.

Cryptocurrency regulation has grown murky, and efforts are underway to restore clear rules for the industry. According to reporting by PYMNTS, both industry players and government bodies are working to rebuild regulatory clarity, defining how digital assets should be governed and overseen. The discussion centers on how policymakers and crypto firms can align on frameworks that give businesses certainty while protecting consumers and markets.

Brazil has introduced new rules targeting self-custody cryptocurrency: transfers of $10,000 or more would need to be reported, and such transfers could face a 24-hour delay. The measures are aimed at tightening oversight of crypto held outside exchanges, and are drawing attention from investors and industry watchers concerned about privacy and the practical impact on moving funds.

Hunter Biden, son of former US President Joe Biden, has publicly predicted that Bitcoin will reach $220,000 by 2028. He also sharply criticized Senator Elizabeth Warren's stance on cryptocurrency, calling her views 'so wrong'. The comments add a political dimension to the ongoing debate over crypto regulation in Washington, where Warren has been one of the industry's most prominent critics.

A jury has been told that a cybersecurity professional stole $53 million in the hack of Uranium Finance, the cryptocurrency exchange that suffered a major exploit. Prosecutors presented the case against the defendant, whose technical background is central to allegations that he orchestrated the theft of digital assets. The trial is drawing attention within the crypto industry, where Uranium Finance's loss remains one of the notable exchange breaches.

Fortune argues that cryptocurrency, once a rebellious outsider movement of hackers and free-market idealists, has become institutionalized, with major exchanges, stablecoin issuers and lobbying groups now operating like established financial powers aligned with regulators and governments. The piece asks what happens next for an industry that has traded its pirate roots for mainstream power, and what that shift means for its original ethos and users.

Hester Peirce, the SEC commissioner long known as a defender of the cryptocurrency industry, is leaving the agency after years of internal resistance to what she called its punitive regulatory approach to crypto. Her departure does not stop the SEC's regulatory work, but commentators say it marks the end of an era for Bitcoin and the broader digital asset sector, which saw her as one of its few allies inside the regulator.

MicroStrategy executive chairman Michael Saylor urged US policymakers to recognize Bitcoin rights at a policy summit in Washington, DC. His remarks add to an ongoing debate in the United States over how digital assets should be regulated and what protections holders should receive. The appeal has drawn attention across the cryptocurrency community, with observers weighing its implications for future US crypto legislation and the industry's growing presence in policy discussions.

The artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency industries are spending hundreds of millions of dollars on advertising campaigns across the United States. The money aims to shape American public opinion on the two technologies and to elect allies to Congress and key state offices ahead of the midterm elections. The effort reflects how deeply both sectors now invest in politics as regulation of AI and digital assets becomes a live issue in Washington.

A new analysis argues that Donald Trump's financial gains from cryptocurrency ventures have backfired on the industry, making it harder to win the looser regulation crypto firms hoped a second Trump term would deliver. The report suggests that Trump's personal crypto profits have drawn scrutiny and complicated efforts in Washington to pass friendly legislation, leaving the industry worse off on the regulatory front.

A new profile examines how Changpeng Zhao, the founder of the Binance cryptocurrency exchange, has been living since his release from prison. Zhao served a short sentence after pleading guilty to US violations of anti-money-laundering rules at Binance. The piece draws fresh attention to his current activities and standing in the crypto industry.

US lawmakers are discussing legislation that would establish durable regulatory rules for banks and the cryptocurrency industry, replacing shifting regulatory guidance with more permanent statutory frameworks. The debate covers how much oversight banks should have over digital assets and how crypto firms should be integrated into the traditional financial system. Details of specific bills and their prospects remain unclear.

New payment infrastructure is taking shape in crypto: stablecoins are being positioned as a checkout option for merchants, while Bitcoin is being offered to consumers on installment plans. The developments point to cryptocurrencies moving beyond trading into everyday retail payments, with payment industry observers watching whether stablecoin checkout and financed Bitcoin purchases gain real adoption among mainstream shoppers and merchants.

Bloomberg Government reports that congressional efforts to pass legislation providing regulatory clarity for the cryptocurrency industry are fizzling. Lawmakers had been working on bills to define how digital assets should be overseen, but momentum has stalled. The report suggests partisan divisions and competing proposals are preventing agreement on a framework, leaving the crypto industry without the clear rules it has been lobbying for.

US lawmakers are working to clarify and refine how digital assets are taxed, addressing long-standing gray areas that have left investors and businesses uncertain about their obligations. Current rules were largely designed before cryptocurrencies existed, creating ambiguity around staking, trading, and asset treatment. Tax professionals and industry participants are closely watching the effort, which could significantly change how crypto holders report and pay taxes.

Tech investors and the Winklevoss twins are pouring money into a campaign against an Ohio candidate who has been critical of cryptocurrency. The spending highlights how the crypto industry is using its financial muscle in US elections to defeat politicians seen as hostile to digital assets, raising questions about outside influence in state-level races.

Law firm Lowenstein Sandler LLP has published a new edition of its 'Crypto Brief', a regular roundup covering legal and regulatory developments in the cryptocurrency sector. The item outlines recent issues facing digital asset businesses, though no specific developments are detailed. Firms in the crypto industry follow such briefs for guidance on compliance and regulation.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is working to make it easier for investment funds and financial advisers to hold cryptocurrencies. The move would relax custody requirements that have limited how traditional investment firms can offer crypto exposure to clients, and is being closely watched by asset managers and the digital asset industry.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission has put forward new rules governing how cryptocurrency assets are held in custody, according to Bitcoin Magazine. The proposal would set fresh requirements for firms safeguarding digital assets on behalf of clients, a long-contentious area for exchanges and custodians. Crypto industry observers are watching closely, as custody standards shape how exchanges, brokers and funds can operate and how investors' holdings are protected.

A claim circulating online in French argues that the banking system is the most polluting industry and that home heating wastes energy, suggesting Bitcoin could responsibly replace both banks and radiators. No evidence is offered for the environmental comparison, and the framing echoes common pro-cryptocurrency arguments about Bitcoin's energy use and its role as an alternative to traditional finance.

Coinbase is reportedly set to turn down an offer of associate membership of UK Finance, the UK banking industry's main trade body. The move would signal the crypto exchange's unwillingness to align itself with the traditional banking lobby, and is being read as a sign of continued distance between the cryptocurrency sector and established UK financial institutions.

Solmate has appointed Scott Buchanan as its chief financial officer. Buchanan joins from Bitcoin Depot, where he built his reputation as a finance executive in the cryptocurrency sector. The move signals the company's intent to strengthen its leadership as it navigates the digital assets market. Details on his start date and remit were not immediately available.

A major cryptocurrency advocacy group has rolled out a slate of bipartisan political endorsements in key races ahead of upcoming elections. The group is backing candidates from both major parties who support favorable digital asset policy, signaling that crypto interests are positioning themselves as a cross-partisan force. The move highlights the industry's growing political spending and its effort to shape regulation through campaign influence.