Category: crypto

Belarus is progressing with plans to launch its central bank digital currency (CBDC), the digital ruble, by the latter half of 2026. National Bank Chairman Roman Golovchenko emphasized the importance of security and traceability of funds. The CBDC initiative aims to establish independent financial channels and reduce exposure to external economic pressures.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance plans to establish a pilot crypto trading platform with technical assistance from Bybit. The platform aims to create a controlled environment for transparent and safe transactions, while also helping the country manage risks. Bybit will help design the platform and offer expertise in anti-money laundering controls.

The DeFi Education Fund proposed five core principles for a “token safe harbor” framework to support decentralized finance initiatives while broader regulatory legislation is pending. The recommendations aim to provide a regulatory environment that facilitates disclosure without prematurely classifying assets as securities, with a focus on technology-agnostic regulation, broad eligibility criteria, balanced disclosure requirements, clear…

Arizona is close to becoming the first US state to hold Bitcoin and other digital assets in its Treasury with Senate Bill 1373. Governor Katie Hobbs’ standoff could derail the effort. A companion bill, Senate Bill 1025, would allow investment of state funds in Bitcoin. Hobbs threatens to veto until a funding shortfall is addressed.…

Coinbase is facing a legal challenge from Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, which the company’s chief legal officer, Paul Grewal, called a “copycat case” mirroring a dismissed SEC lawsuit. Grewal criticized the state for reviving outdated arguments and hindering progress in digital asset regulation. Coinbase vows to defend its customers and the industry.

The STABLE Act would benefit regulated players in the US financial and crypto sectors, with advantages for firms like Coinbase, PayPal, Visa, and Mastercard. Traditional custodians and infrastructure providers could also benefit, while decentralized stablecoins may face challenges. The Act bans direct interest payments to stablecoin holders, favoring compliant products in the future.

Ethereum needs to address scalability issues to support the growth of layer-2 networks and prevent transaction bottlenecks. The current blob capacity may not be enough to handle increased user adoption and transaction throughput. Without sufficient upgrades, Ethereum risks congestion and increased transaction fees, potentially threatening its role as a leading blockchain platform.

Kyrgyzstan has approved the development of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) called the “digital som.” The National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic will have sole authority to issue and regulate it. The decision on whether to implement the digital som is expected by late 2026, with testing to begin this year. Kyrgyzstan joins over…

Canary Capital has filed for a new ETF with the SEC called the Canary Staked TRX ETF, offering exposure to TRX price movements with staking features. The ETF would hold TRX tokens with custody by BitGo Trust Company, the first TRX-related ETF. However, staking in US-listed crypto ETFs faces regulatory hurdles.

Bitcoin traded flat near $84,500 on Friday as U.S. markets observed Good Friday. Gold and oil prices surged due to various factors, while the U.S. dollar weakened. Risk assets retreated on policy and legal uncertainty, with S&P 500 futures dropping. Bitcoin remained rangebound, reflecting reduced institutional volume and absence of a dominant catalyst.