Summary: SpaceX and Tesla formed independent committees to study a merger creating a $3.5 trillion AI conglomerate. No terms are set, but the deal requires 50% of all Tesla shares to approve, facing regulatory scrutiny over defense ties and China operations.
Summary: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent compared the GENIUS Act's stablecoin rules to 1863 banking reforms, calling them a watershed moment. The OCC finalized regulations requiring federal approval for US stablecoin issuers by January 2027, covering banks and nonbanks alike.
Summary: Cardano Foundation urges the EU to avoid standalone DeFi and staking rules, advocating for function-based regulation. The submission distinguishes direct network participation from custodial services, warning against MiCA overlaps amid ESMA's push for expanded crypto oversight.
Summary: Chainlink Labs, the Cardano Foundation, and four other blockchain groups urged the SEC to formally classify digital commodities as non-securities in its proposed Regulation Crypto Assets framework. The joint letter argues that interpretive guidance alone creates legal uncertainty for developers and secondary-market participants.
Summary: Kalshi partners with BitGo to offer bitcoin-backed margin loans for perpetual futures, targeting crypto-native traders who prefer holding digital assets. Simultaneously, it integrates these contracts into Webull’s platform for over six million users, aiming to compete with offshore rivals despite rising state legal challenges.
Summary: Bitcoin-backed loans enable holders to borrow against BTC without selling, preserving tax advantages and market exposure. The sector has matured post-2022, featuring investment-grade securitizations and major bank participation, though borrowers still face liquidation risks due to Bitcoin's volatility.
Summary: Trump will spotlight crypto scam crackdowns at a White House event, citing $11.3 billion in 2025 U.S. fraud losses. Enforcement includes site seizures and a strike force targeting Southeast Asian compounds, amid rising global illicit crypto flows.
Summary: Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, and Morgan Stanley captured nearly 80% of top-tier equities revenue, totaling $52 billion, driven by AI stock trading and hedge fund leverage. Their dominance stems from relaxed capital rules and superior risk absorption, though IMF warnings on $13 trillion in hedge fund assets highlight systemic vulnerabilities.
Summary: The OCC finalized GENIUS Act stablecoin rules effective January 2027, easing reserve limits and leaving third-party reward legality unresolved. The framework removes presumptive bans on exchange incentives, opting for case-by-case review while allowing longer-dated Treasury holdings.
Summary: PlayStation founder Ken Kutaragi calls fan anger over Sony's 2028 disc discontinuation a "mentality issue," citing smartphone norms. Critics argue the move boosts publisher profits and undermines ownership, amid a 385,000-signature petition.
Summary: The OCC finalized GENIUS Act rules for stablecoin issuers, setting standards for reserves and risk management ahead of the January 2027 effective date. Anti-money laundering regulations remain pending in a separate Treasury rulemaking, while the agency prepares to open applications soon.
Summary: Standard Chartered signed definitive agreements to acquire Zodia Custody's regulated entities, pending approvals. The deal integrates crypto custody into Securities Services and transfers tech assets to SC Ventures' Zodia Solutions, advancing the bank's institutional digital asset expansion.
Summary: The OCC finalized GENIUS Act rules requiring stablecoin issuers to hold full reserves and process redemptions within two days, effective Jan. 18, 2027. The agency dropped a proposed affiliate presumption but retained the ban on yielding interest for holding coins.
Summary: UK bank customers filed 10,092 complaints over blocked crypto transfers in 90 days, according to Stand With Crypto. Lloyds topped the list with 2,297 complaints despite no published restrictions, prompting calls for clearer FCA guidance before the new crypto regime launches.
Summary: France proposes revising MiCA to hold crypto platforms liable for DeFi incidents if they fail to vet protocols. Authorities seek to extend safeguards to intermediaries connecting users with decentralized services, alongside plans to transfer supervision of significant providers to ESMA.
Summary: ECB Chief Economist Philip R. Lane outlined how enhanced international liquidity lines, including the expanded EUREP facility and targeted swap lines, protect monetary policy transmission. These measures aim to stabilize euro funding markets abroad and strengthen the euro's global role by facilitating smoother cross-border financial flows.
Summary: Seven more major firms, including Microsoft and Goldman Sachs, joined 16 total issuers objecting to share trading on OKXICE TSV. The updated notice permits issuer-led tokenization, shifting from a strictly third-party model for the SEC-exempted venue.
Summary: Bitwise and Hyperliquid urged the SEC to clarify token classification and airdrop rules under proposed Regulation Crypto Assets. Meanwhile, former officials and scholars called for withdrawing the plan, citing overreach. The comment period ends Tuesday.
Summary: Swiss regulator FINMA approved the nation's first retail Bitcoin ETF, citing growing crypto interest. While exempting Bitcoin from diversification rules due to its liquidity, FINMA stressed high risks. This follows U.S. ETF successes, opening regulated access previously limited to institutions.
Summary: FINMA approved Switzerland's first retail Bitcoin ETF, waiving diversification rules due to Bitcoin's liquidity. The unnamed fund trades like stocks but faces strict custody and operational risk guidelines issued in January 2026.