News linked to both this project and an event.
the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Group (CME Group) announced plans to launch gold and WTI crude oil futures products available for trading 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to meet global investors' demand for around-the-clock markets. It is reported that CME Group will launch the Micro WTI Crude Oil Futures contract on August 30, which will be one-tenth the size of the standard WTI crude oil futures contract. Meanwhile, the 1-ounce gold futures contract is planned to support 24/7 trading starting July 26. However, these products are still subject to regulatory approval. They will be listed for trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) and the New York Mercantile Exchange's precious metals market (COMEX), respectively, and will be cash-settled. (Bloomberg)
the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has proposed allowing authorized investment funds (including UCITS schemes and most non-UCITS retail schemes) to allocate up to 10% of their assets to crypto Exchange Traded Notes (ETNs). This proposal is included in the FCA's Consultation Paper 52, with a five-week public and institutional comment period ending on July 13.The FCA stated that this move aims to bridge the regulatory gap between individual retail investors and authorized funds. Since the FCA lifted its four-year retail ban on crypto ETNs in August 2025, individual investors have been able to invest directly in ETNs, but funds had remained subject to an "effective ban." The FCA emphasized that the 10% limit is intentionally set, and exceeding this threshold could force a fund to be reclassified as a restricted mass-market investment product, impacting its retail fund status.Under the proposal, professional and qualified investor schemes are not subject to the cap; long-term asset funds and non-UCITS retail schemes operating as alternative investment funds are excluded. The FCA noted that cryptocurrencies do not align with the investment objectives of these funds.On the industry side, the Investment Association supports the proposal, believing that gaining exposure to crypto assets through regulated listed products is manageable in terms of risk, and that the 10% cap helps manage fund risk. Fund managers will need to ensure that holdings are consistent with the fund's disclosed investment objectives and risk profile, and disclose significant crypto ETN holdings.The FCA emphasized that it is not currently considering allowing authorized funds to hold crypto assets directly for investment purposes, and will decide after evaluating the impact of the upcoming crypto asset regulatory regime and client asset protection rules. (The Block)
the US Senate has returned from its Memorial Day recess, but with only about a four-week legislative window remaining before entering a two-week recess related to the July 4th Independence Day holiday, the crypto market structure bill, the Clarity Act, is facing time pressure to advance.The report indicates that during this period, the Senate must prioritize several agenda items, including the Department of Homeland Security appropriations, Pentagon budget supplements, and the extension of FISA Section 702 authorization, creating a highly congested legislative schedule. Even if the bill enters the deliberation phase, the associated voting process could take one to two weeks.Meanwhile, the bill itself is still in the coordination phase between versions from the Senate Banking Committee and the Agriculture Committee, with disagreements remaining on some key provisions, making negotiations relatively complex. The prolonged battles over issues such as stablecoin yields have already consumed significant political capital, while the current focus has shifted to unresolved clause differences within the Agriculture Committee's version.As the bill needs 60 votes in the Senate to overcome a filibuster, bipartisan consensus is critical. Several Democratic senators have indicated that ethical constraints on government officials' crypto asset holdings and the regulatory authority of enforcement agencies in the DeFi sector will be important prerequisites for supporting the bill.Analysts point out that even if it fails to pass before July 4, the bill could still advance before the August recess. However, if it is postponed deeper into the election cycle, its political momentum may face uncertainty. (Crypto In America)
According to CoinTelegraph, Kraken announced on May 30 that it plans to launch CFTC-regulated Bitcoin perpetual futures contracts via its subsidiary Bitnomial exchange within the next 30 days, targeting U.S. institutional clients. Earlier the same day, the CFTC formally approved perpetual futures contracts linked to the Bitcoin spot price, with KalshiEX becoming the first exchange to receive approval for listing such products. Meanwhile, Coinbase Financial Markets swiftly followed suit, leveraging Deribit—the world’s largest crypto options exchange, which it acquired in August 2025—to provide U.S. institutional clients with access to global crypto options and perpetual futures markets.
According to CoinDesk, prediction market platform Kalshi has filed a federal lawsuit challenging a new Minnesota law set to take effect on August 1 that criminalizes operating, hosting, or promoting prediction market platforms. Kalshi argues the law is unconstitutional, asserting it infringes upon the Commodity Exchange Act’s grant of exclusive federal jurisdiction over derivatives markets to the CFTC and violates the First Amendment by restricting advertising. Earlier, on May 19, the CFTC filed a motion making the same constitutional challenge against the state law. U.S. President Trump has also publicly voiced support for the CFTC’s sole regulatory authority over prediction markets. Kalshi previously secured preliminary injunctions in similar enforcement actions brought by New Jersey and Arizona.
blockchain infrastructure platform and stablecoin issuer Paxos has announced that its subsidiary, Paxos Securities Settlement Company, has obtained registration as a clearing agency with the U.S. SEC, allowing it to provide clearing and settlement services as a central securities depository in the United States. In October 2019, the SEC issued a no-action letter to Paxos, permitting a pilot for blockchain-based U.S. stock settlement services, which went live in February 2020. Paxos stated that the pilot achieved same-day settlement, reduced costs, and improved operational efficiency within a regulated framework. Stablecoins and digital assets issued by Paxos include PayPal USD, Global Dollar, and Pax Gold. The SEC issued a Wells Notice to Paxos in 2023 regarding the issuance of Binance USD and concluded its investigation in 2024. Additionally, Paxos reached a $48.5 million settlement with the NYDFS in August 2025 concerning compliance issues related to Binance and BUSD. (Cointelegraph)
crypto journalist Eleanor Terrett posted on platform X, stating that due to ongoing disagreements within the Republican party over the border security coordination bill, the US Senate failed to advance relevant agenda items before the Memorial Day recess. As a result, the crypto market structure bill, the CLARITY Act, will need to compete for Senate floor time again after Congress reconvenes in early June. The Senate's current schedule is already very tight, with housing legislation, the farm bill, and the FISA Act deadline on June 12 also needing to be addressed. Therefore, the crypto market structure legislation is likely to be postponed for consideration until July, thereby affecting the probability of its final passage before the August recess. It is reported that staff from the Senate Agriculture Committee and the Banking Committee have already begun coordinating and merging bill texts behind the scenes, and related technical drafting work will continue during the recess.
: Galaxy Digital founder Mike Novogratz testified in the Delaware Court of Chancery that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) made it very difficult for the company to proceed with the planned $1.2 billion merger with BitGo in 2021. The merger was the largest cryptocurrency merger plan at the time. Galaxy Digital canceled the deal in August 2022, and BitGo subsequently demanded a $100 million termination fee from Galaxy Digital.Mike Novogratz stated that regulatory approval was unlikely to be achieved, and BitGo failed to provide the required financial information on time, thus forfeiting its right to the $100 million termination fee. BitGo CEO Mike Belshe, however, said BitGo had provided all necessary information. The trial is currently expected to conclude this week, and the judge will decide whether BitGo is entitled to the $100 million fee. (Cointelegraph)
Odaily Odaily The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has filed a lawsuit against Minnesota, Governor Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Public Safety Director Jon Anglin. The lawsuit stems from Minnesota's legislative approval of SF 4760, which imposes a comprehensive ban on prediction markets.The bill prohibits advertising, creating, operating, or promoting prediction market platforms, classifying event contracts on platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket as wagers and banning them, with an original effective date of August 1. In the lawsuit, the CFTC argues that under the Commodity Exchange Act, it has exclusive jurisdiction over prediction markets, and is seeking a court order to block the state law. (cointelegraph)
the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Department of Justice have filed a lawsuit against the state of Minnesota and Governor Tim Walz, opposing the state's newly signed ban on prediction markets.The new Minnesota law, set to take effect on August 1, prohibits users from engaging in prediction market trading related to outcomes in sports, weather, company valuations, and government events. In the lawsuit, the CFTC stated this is the first state-level law in the U.S. to explicitly impose a comprehensive ban on prediction markets.The CFTC and the Department of Justice argue that the relevant products fall under federally regulated derivatives and "swap" contracts, over which the CFTC holds exclusive regulatory authority, and that state governments are not permitted to classify them as illegal gambling or prohibit them.This lawsuit further escalates the jurisdictional conflict between federal regulators and state-level gambling oversight authorities. Previously, the CFTC had sued states such as Illinois, Arizona, and Connecticut to oppose their attempts to shut down prediction market platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket.
the U.S. state of Minnesota has officially passed and signed into law Bill HF 3709, allowing banks and credit unions to offer cryptocurrency custody services, further clarifying the business boundaries of financial institutions in the digital asset space. The bill, signed by Governor Tim Walz, will take effect on August 1, 2026. It stipulates that relevant financial institutions must establish risk management, internal control, and security policies before engaging in crypto custody, submit a notification to the state's Department of Commerce 60 days prior to launching services, and ensure that client assets are strictly segregated from the institution's own assets.The bill aims to enable local financial institutions to offer crypto services within a regulatory framework, reducing users' reliance on overseas or unregulated platforms and enhancing asset security. At the same time, Minnesota recently passed Bill SF 3868, which prohibits the establishment of new crypto ATMs within the state and requires existing machines to be phased out, sparking market concerns about further tightening of on-ramp access for cryptocurrencies.Currently, several U.S. states, including New York, Wyoming, and Virginia, already permit banks to engage in crypto custody services, indicating a divergence in regulatory paths at the state level. (The Block)
According to CoinDesk, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed a virtual currency bill that will allow state-chartered banks and credit unions to offer cryptocurrency custody services to customers starting August 1. Minnesota thus becomes the first Midwestern U.S. state to establish a unified legislative framework for this purpose. The law explicitly requires that customers’ digital assets be segregated from the institutions’ own assets, and mandates that institutions submit risk management and cybersecurity plans to the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce at least 60 days prior to offering such services. Meanwhile, Walz separately signed another bill banning cryptocurrency ATMs and kiosks statewide effective August 1, citing their widespread use as tools for fraud—particularly harmful to elderly populations.
Odaily News: Greg Cipolaro, Research Director at financial services firm NYDIG, stated that the most realistic legislative window for the U.S. Senate's crypto market structure bill is June to early August. If progress cannot be made during this period, the bill may face uncertainty extending beyond the midterm elections or even longer.Earlier, White House crypto advisor Patrick Witt had proposed July 4 as an ideal legislative timeline, but NYDIG considers this target overly optimistic. The bill still needs to clear multiple hurdles, including committee review, a full Senate vote, and House procedures.The bill aims to establish a clear regulatory framework for U.S. crypto assets and is regarded as one of the most critical pieces of legislation this year. However, it has faced repeated delays due to disagreements over stablecoin regulation, ethical clauses, and DeFi rules. The Senate Banking Committee has advanced the draft for a full Senate vote, but it still requires at least 60 votes to pass.Analysts point out that if the bill fails to pass before the election cycle, shifts in Republican and Democratic control of the Senate could further reduce legislative certainty, keeping the industry in a state of regulatory ambiguity.However, if the bill is ultimately passed and signed into law, it would bring regulatory clarity to the market. In particular, Bitcoin is expected to be clearly classified as a commodity, thereby reducing uncertainty for institutional entry. (Cointelegraph)
Alex Thorn, Head of Research at Galaxy, posted on X that the U.S. Senate Banking Committee voted 15–9 this week to advance the CLARITY Act to a full Senate vote. With time running short—approximately nine weeks remain—the projected timeline for next steps is as follows: June 1: Begin reconciling the Senate Banking Committee’s and Senate Agriculture Committee’s versions of the bill; June 15: Full Senate debate begins; June 22: The Senate may complete its final vote; July 13: Senate–House reconciliation concludes; Early August: President Trump signs the bill into law (assuming the schedule stays on track). Alex Thorn analyzed that Democrats are focusing heavily on “ethics provisions” designed to restrict digital asset holdings and profits by senior officials and their family members. Meanwhile, negotiations continue on the Decentralized Finance Regulation and Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act (BRCA). The CLARITY Act will lay the groundwork for innovation in the U.S. digital asset market and for investor protection.
According to Crowdfund Insider, digital asset management firm Grayscale Investments plans to launch an exchange-traded fund (ETF) focused on Cardano (ADA) by the end of 2026. The product is expected to trade under the ticker symbol GADA and would convert Grayscale’s existing Cardano Trust into a listed ETF—rather than filing a new application. If the relevant regulatory filings take effect by mid-August, the application may enter the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) streamlined review process and could begin trading in late October 2026. Grayscale has also recently increased ADA’s weight in its Smart Contract Fund from approximately 17.96% to 18.33%.
According to Odaily, the value of cryptocurrency holdings held by South Korean investors has more than halved over the past year, dropping from 121.8 trillion won at the end of January 2025 to 60.6 trillion won (approximately $41.4 billion) by the end of February 2026.Daily trading volume on the five major exchanges—Upbit, Bithumb, Korbit, Coinone, and Gopax—fell from $11.6 billion in December 2024 to $3 billion in February 2026. Korean won deposits on these exchanges also decreased from 10.7 trillion won to 7.8 trillion won.Stablecoin holdings declined from 597 million units in December 2024 to 41 million units in February 2026.South Korean regulators plan to implement revised anti-money laundering rules in August, under which crypto transactions involving overseas exchanges or private wallets exceeding 10 million won will be automatically flagged as suspicious. Additionally, a 22% tax on crypto gains is set to take effect on January 1, 2027.
that, according to data submitted by the Bank of Korea to the National Assembly, the total value of crypto assets held by South Korean investors fell from 121.8 trillion won (approximately $83.3 billion) at the end of January 2025 to 60.6 trillion won (approximately $41.4 billion) at the end of February 2026, a decline of over 50% within a year. During the same period, the average daily trading volume on South Korea's top five exchanges—Upbit, Bithumb, Korbit, Coinone, and Gopax—dropped from $11.6 billion in December 2024 to $3 billion in February this year. The total Korean won deposits on these exchanges also decreased from 10.7 trillion won to 7.8 trillion won, reflecting that some funds are flowing into the South Korean stock market.However, stablecoin holdings have remained relatively resilient. Data shows that South Korean stablecoin holdings peaked at $597 million in December 2024 before falling to $41 million in February this year, a decline significantly smaller than that of the broader crypto market.Additionally, South Korean regulators plan to implement stricter anti-money laundering rules in August, which will automatically flag as suspicious any transactions involving overseas exchanges or private wallets exceeding 10 million won. The Digital Asset Exchange Alliance (DAXA) has warned that this measure could drive users toward offshore platforms such as Binance.Meanwhile, the South Korean Ministry of Economy and Finance recently confirmed for the first time that a 22% tax rate on crypto gains will officially take effect on January 1, 2027. (Cointelegraph)
Odaily reports, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand stated at the Consensus conference that cryptocurrency market structure legislation will not receive a floor vote unless it includes an ethics clause. Gillibrand pointed out that it is necessary to prohibit members of Congress, senior government officials, and the President and Vice President from using their insider positions to profit in the crypto industry. Currently, multiple Democratic senators have expressed concerns about President Trump and his family's crypto connections. Bloomberg estimates that Trump has already profited at least $1.4 billion through crypto ventures. The bill had previously stalled in the Senate over issues related to stablecoin reward handling. While a compromise has now been reached, the ethics clause has become a new obstacle. Gillibrand stated that she is working with the White House and both parties to ensure the clause is included, and is also pushing for the addition of consumer protection and anti-terrorism financing provisions. The bill is expected to pass before the August recess.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Korea Digital Asset Exchange Alliance (DAXA) submitted its official comments on the draft Enforcement Decree of the Act on Reporting and Using Specified Financial Transaction Information (“Special Financial Information Act”) to the National Participation Legislative Center of the Ministry of Government Legislation on April 29. The comments reflect the collective views of 27 Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs), including the five major exchanges Upbit and Bithumb. DAXA raised objections to two core provisions in the draft revision: First, the proposal to categorize all virtual asset transactions exceeding KRW 10 million as suspicious transactions—mandating compulsory reporting to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). This change is projected to increase the annual number of suspicious transaction reports filed by the five major exchanges from 63,000 to 5.445 million, an 85-fold surge. Second, the draft introduces a new obligation to verify the accuracy of customer information, going beyond existing customer identification requirements—and exceeding the scope of authority granted under the higher-level law. Moreover, penalties for noncompliance are significantly harsher than those applied to other financial sectors. While DAXA supports the legislative intent behind the revision—to strengthen the anti-money laundering (AML) framework—it contends that certain provisions overstep the statutory delegation of authority and impose discriminatory treatment on the virtual asset industry. The draft revision’s public consultation period ends on May 11, with formal adoption expected in July. The relevant provisions will be implemented in phases between August 2026 and 2027.
with the revision of the Clarity Act expected to move forward in May, the crypto industry is closely watching its legislative window before the August congressional recess. Ji Kim, CEO of the Crypto Council for Innovation, stated that the Senate has limited time remaining, and the industry hopes to get the bill to President Trump's desk for signature before August.However, after accounting for recess periods and other legislative agendas, the Senate effectively has only about 9 to 10 working weeks left to advance the bill. Currently, the bill still needs to first pass through the Senate Banking Committee, with disagreements over stablecoin yield and rewards remaining key obstacles.