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This weekend sees the scheduled release date of Bitcoin Core version 30 (v30) and an incredibly contentious moment in Bitcoin’s history. Although reports of alleged plans for a hard fork have circulated in the run-up to this controversial software release, it is technically possible — albeit incredibly unlikely — that Bitcoin could experience a blockchain split. In the event of a surprise chain fork, the role of spot exchange traded fund (ETF) sponsors in judging which chain will retain the bitcoin name and its BTC ticker symbol is underreported and poorly understood. Regulatory filings for US-based BTC spot ETFs reveal that their sponsors have the discretion to choose which Bitcoin fork they regard as the valid one in the event of a hard fork. This upends the usual practice of letting miners or node operators decide, which usually choose the fork with the most processing power as the valid Bitcoin chain. The largest spot bitcoin ETFs. (Source: ETF.com) ...

Buried beneath yesterday’s tragedies was some groundbreaking financial news: the CFTC Chairman nominee and Head of Policy for a16z crypto, Brian Quintenz, posted personal messages from the Winklevii regarding whether or not he would support their whims once he became chairman.  The messages, which were lengthy and purposely vague, seem to ask Quintenz to “rectify what happened to [Gemini]” and implement “cultural reform” within the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Quintenz didn’t push back on these requests and implied that when it comes to the CFTC, he does “not have anything close to a full picture of what is going on inside.” Quintenz shared screenshots of his conversions with the Winklevoss twins yesterday on X. The publicly shared Signal messages call into question numerous possible issues with regulators and the industry billionaires they’re supposed to be monitoring. For instance, is it acceptable for Quintenz to be in a private ...

The US Senate passed the landmark GENIUS stablecoin bill, marking a major step forward for crypto regulation. The bill, formally known as the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins of 2025 (GENIUS) Act, passed 68–30 after a wave of Democrats joined Republicans to support it. It now heads to the House, where Republicans hold a slim majority. If approved, the bill will go to President Donald Trump’s desk. Trump’s crypto czar David Sacks said in May that Trump will likely sign it into law. “With this bill the United States is one step closer to becoming the global leader in crypto,” said Republican Tennessee Senator Bill Hagerty, who introduced the bill about six weeks ago. Republicans Could Push Stablecoin Bill Through House The GENIUS Act is the first major crypto-related bill to clear the Senate. However, the House does have its own Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, which is a more sweeping crypto bill that would provide a f...

The SEC Ripple lawsuit has just reached a pivotal turning point as the Securities and Exchange Commission recently filed a motion seeking court approval for a settlement with Ripple Labs. Under the proposed deal that’s currently being reviewed, Ripple would actually recover $75 million of the $125 million that was held in escrow, while the SEC would receive the remaining $50 million. Also Read: Trump’s UK Trade Deal Unlocks $5B in US Exports, Slams China Ripple’s $75M SEC Settlement: What It Means for XRP and Crypto Regulation Source: Watcher Guru The SEC Ripple lawsuit settlement marks what appears to be the potential end to a legal battle that first began back in December 2020. As per the May 8 court filings that just came out, both parties now have agreed to withdraw their appeals and it’s virtually ending one of the most important and keenly followed cases in crypto regulation news. SEC Court Filing showing settlement motion – Source: SEC Commissioner’s...

Zodia Markets is a Standard Chartered-backed digital asset exchange and brokerage platform. The company has announced its registration as a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) by Ireland’s central bank. Zodia is looking to position itself for European expansion amid the upcoming MiCA laws. Zodia Markets, a digital asset exchange backed by Standard Chartered, is now registered as a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) in Ireland. An announcement by the company on Friday stated that the VASP approval was granted to Zodia Markets (Ireland) Limited by the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI). This follows similar registration s by the Abu Dhabi Global Markets (ADGM) and the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) – in September 2023 and in July 2022 respectively. Ireland is a burgeoning crypto market Zodia Markets’ registration in Ireland means the company now has regulatory approval in the EU , with this allowing it to expand its services i...

Banco de España has backed the digital euro. The digital euro promises offline payments and privacy, akin to cash. European central banks, including the Bank of Finland, are supportive of the digital euro project. In a significant move towards digital ization, Banco de España, Spain’s central bank, is aligning with its European counterparts to introduce a digital euro. This initiative aims to revolutionize the way financial transactions are conducted, offering a range of potential benefits for consumers and businesses. A new era in finance with the digital euro Banco de España has joined the growing chorus of European central banks in endorsing the digital euro, a central bank digital currency (CBDC). The traditional form of physical cash, according to the central bank, falls short of harnessing the advantages presented by the increasingly digitalized economy and society. As a response, the digital euro is set to emerge as a piv...