As crypto markets entered 2026, one theme became increasingly clear: Last year was less about speculation and more about infrastructure, regulation and real-world use. Across jurisdictions, regulators and institutions moved from theory to implementation, reshaping how digital assets are supervised and used. A defining feature of this shift was the rise of stablecoins. While Bitcoin…
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The United Kingdom is taking a decisive step toward fully regulating its crypto market. This week, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) launched a wide-ranging consultation outlining proposed rules for crypto exchanges, staking services, lending platforms and decentralized finance. The proposals follow new secondary legislation from the UK Treasury that formally brings crypto activities into the…
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Europe’s crypto regulatory framework is entering a new phase of scrutiny as policymakers weigh whether enforcement of the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation should remain with national authorities or be centralized under the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA). MiCA, which came largely into force at the beginning of 2025, was designed to create a…
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Texas has become the first US state to officially purchase and hold Bitcoin (BTC), acquiring $5 million worth of BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) and authorizing another $5 million for direct, self-custodied BTC. The move comes at an unexpected moment: a market downturn marked by exchange-traded fund (ETF) outflows, institutional caution and stalled legislative efforts…
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The crypto market’s most turbulent period of 2025 resulted in a drawdown that erased more than $1.2 trillion in value and sent Bitcoin (BTC) plunging from its brief $120,000 peak to the $80,000 range. For many investors, the speed and severity of the selloff stirred déjà vu from 2017 and 2022. This week’s episode of…
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Across the United States, Bitcoin is gaining traction far from coastal tech hubs, driven by cultural alignment, local educators and emerging state-level legislation. Source link
Following a presidential pardon that sparked debate over influence and access, crypto companies and PACs are ramping up political spending as the sector matures into a Washington power player. Source link
Crypto’s relationship with Washington is rapidly evolving as the industry takes a more assertive role in US politics, signaling a shift from outsider status to growing influence across the federal landscape. This week on Byte-Sized Insight, we examine how lobbying, political spending and access are reshaping crypto’s presence in the Capitol and what that may…
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October 2025 is shaping up to be a big month for crypto markets, as the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) faces final deadlines on 16 exchange-traded fund (ETF) applications. Unlike past waves, many of these proposals go beyond Bitcoin and Ether, targeting altcoins like Solana, XRP and Litecoin. This week on “Byte-Sized Insight,” we…
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In 2025, the crypto industry is shifting from hype to utility. Stablecoin frameworks are taking shape, tokenized assets are entering mainstream markets, and artificial intelligence is beginning to transact on-chain. At the center of these changes, layer-1 blockchains are being redefined not as experiments, but as the infrastructure powering real-world adoption. “Layer-1s are still the…
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