The U.S. Federal Reserve kept its interest rate steady at 4.25%–4.50% after yesterday's FOMC meeting, marking the fourth consecutive pause. Crypto.com and Deribit now accept BlackRock’s tokenized money market fund (BUIDL) as trading collateral. Stablecoin market capitalization surpassed $250 billion following Senate approval of the GENIUS Act. Coinbase and Circle shares rose significantly after the regulatory milestone, reflecting increased optimism for stablecoin adoption in mainstream financial markets.
The US Federal Reserve has kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 4.25%–4.50% following yesterday's FOMC meeting, marking the fourth consecutive pause since December 2024. This decision aligns with expectations that the central bank is unlikely to begin quantitative easing until later in the year.
The first half of 2025 has seen a notable increase in altcoin ETF applications, with at least 31 filings recorded, according to Cointelegraph Research. This surge comes as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission adopts a more accommodating approach toward cryptocurrency products.
Cathie Wood's ARK Invest has sold a total of 642,766 Circle (CRCL) shares over the past two days, amounting to approximately $45 million. This represents 14% of ARK's original 4.49 million CRCL shares acquired during Circle's public launch, with $44.7 million of the sales occurring on June 17 as Circle's share price tumbled.
Crypto's latest memecoin cult, centered around a token branded as "useless," has rapidly gained traction by embracing its lack of utility as a core narrative, achieving a valuation of $100 million in recent days.
Crypto prime brokerage FalconX is considering a public listing in 2025, according to three sources cited by Decrypt. The move comes as the crypto industry experiences a broader surge in IPO activity.
K33 has introduced a new share issuance plan aimed at raising funds to reach its goal of accumulating a 1,000 BTC treasury. The move comes as K33 highlights that new spot altcoin ETFs could enable compelling directional strategies for investors.
Shares of Coinbase and Circle rose sharply, with Circle jumping 16% in morning trading, after the US Senate approved a key stablecoin regulation bill. The legislative milestone has fueled optimism for broader adoption of stablecoins.
The total market capitalization of USD-pegged stablecoins surged past $250 billion to a record high following the U.S. Senate's passage of the GENIUS Act, a bill aimed at regulating the sector. The bipartisan approval marks a significant step towards legitimizing the fast-growing stablecoin market.
Treasury Secretary Bessent stated that stablecoins represent a strategic asset for U.S. influence and could bolster the supremacy of the U.S. dollar. She noted that the U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin market has the potential to exceed $2 trillion within the next three years, as lawmakers consider whether political factors will delay key legislation. Bessent also commented that former President Trump's support for crypto could help secure the dollar's dominant position.
David Sacks, White House AI and Crypto Czar and partner at Craft Ventures, discussed the Senate passage of the Genius Act and stated that stablecoin legislation could benefit banks, consumers, and increase demand for the US dollar. Sacks made these comments in an exclusive interview on “Bloomberg Tech.”
U.S. President Donald Trump has praised the Senate’s passage of the GENIUS Act, a landmark bill to regulate stablecoins, calling it “pure GENIUS” and a step toward American dominance in digital assets. Trump is urging the House of Representatives to approve the bill “lightning fast” and send it to his desk without any changes, despite ongoing debates over conflicts of interest and tech sector influence. He stated that the GENIUS Act will make America the “undisputed leader” in digital assets.
Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com announced plans to apply for stablecoin licenses in major countries, targeting a 90% reduction in cross-border payment costs and settlement times as fast as 10 seconds. The move comes as the US passes the GENIUS Act, signaling increased regulatory focus on digital currencies.
A new report from blockchain intelligence platform TRM Labs shows that stablecoins now make up over 60% of all cryptocurrency transaction volume, a significant increase from 35% two years ago.
Crypto trading platforms Crypto.com and Deribit will now accept BlackRock’s USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund (BUIDL), a $2.9 billion tokenized money market fund backed by U.S. Treasurys, as collateral for trading. This integration, announced by issuer Securitize, allows traders to post BUIDL tokens alongside bitcoin and stablecoins, potentially lowering collateral requirements due to the fund’s relatively stable value.
A new report by crypto research firm Artemis and DeFi project Vaults finds that institutional interest in onchain yield is growing, with more institutions warming to so-called “invisible DeFi” as crypto-native yield platforms continue to mature.
Paxos has launched Paxos Labs, a new startup that enables companies to create their own stablecoins, offer onchain yield, and manage tokenized assets, aiming to help institutions provide decentralized finance (DeFi) products.
TAC has secured $11.5 million through seed and strategic funding rounds to bring decentralized finance (DeFi) applications to Telegram’s large user base. The network has also formed partnerships with prominent DeFi platforms including Curve, Morpho, and Euler.
Decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols now hold nearly $60 billion in assets as they expand into tokenized real-world assets, according to a new report. Crypto-native asset managers are playing a key role in capital allocation and governance during this new wave of DeFi adoption.
Eyenovia, a Nasdaq-listed ophthalmic technology company, announced on June 17 a $50 million private placement to acquire the native token of the Hyperliquid blockchain. As part of a strategic shift into the digital asset space, the company will rebrand as Hyperion DeFi.
Paxos and Predicate are collaborating to introduce a policy layer on Uniswap that enables the creation of pre-trade compliance rules. This initiative aims to combine regulatory compliance with the composability of decentralized finance by allowing customizable rules to be set before trades are executed on the Uniswap platform.
The UK is developing new, more restrictive rules to limit banks' exposure to cryptocurrencies, with proposals expected by 2026. The Bank of England aims to protect financial stability by encouraging banks to keep their crypto involvement low, according to a key official.
Lord Chris Holmes of the UK Financial Conduct Authority emphasized the need for a coordinated global response to crypto regulation, stating that "right-size regulation" supports innovation. He noted that only "grifters and chancers" seek a regulatory-free environment, as the US moves forward with the GENIUS Act.
The Ohio House has approved legislation that would provide legal protections for cryptocurrency activities, including mining and staking, and allow up to $200 in crypto transactions to be exempt from capital gains tax.
The Pacific nation of Nauru has enacted legislation to create a cryptocurrency regulator. This move comes amid reports that the brother of former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried previously considered purchasing Nauru and constructing a doomsday bunker with funds from the now-collapsed crypto exchange.
Jordan's new digital asset trading legislation will take effect 90 days after its publication in the official gazette, introducing potential jail time for unlicensed cryptocurrency activities.
Crypto exchange Gemini has filed a formal complaint with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's (CFTC) Office of the Inspector General, accusing the agency's Division of Enforcement of conducting a vindictive and unjustified seven-year "lawfare" campaign. The complaint alleges that the CFTC prioritized career advancement over legitimate regulation and consumer protection. Gemini co-founder Tyler Winklevoss disclosed that the complaint was submitted on June 13.
Data from Kaiko Research shows that South Korea's won is now the second most heavily used fiat currency in crypto trading, with KRW-denominated trades reaching $663 billion since the start of 2025, trailing only the U.S. dollar. Meanwhile, the governor of South Korea's central bank stated he is not opposed to won-based stablecoins but expressed concerns about managing capital flows.
Asymmetric information is emerging as a significant threat to the crypto market, similar to challenges previously faced by equities. Improved disclosure practices are being suggested as a potential solution to mitigate these risks.
Blockchain Life, a major international forum focused on Web3 and cryptocurrencies, will hold its 15th anniversary edition in Dubai on October 28-29, 2025. The event is expected to feature a record number of speakers, two dedicated stages, expanded activity zones, and premium networking opportunities for 15,000 attendees.
On July 2, 2025, IVC will host the IVC Summit 2025 in Kyoto, Japan, bringing together leading figures from Japan's ecosystem and innovators in the Web3 sector for a curated industry forum.
OpenLedger, a decentralized AI blockchain platform, and Blockchain at Berkeley have launched an initiative that grants students direct ownership of the AI models they build. This partnership aims to shift students from passive observers to active architects in the development of decentralized AI technologies.
Iran's largest cryptocurrency exchange, Nobitex, suffered a major security breach in June 2024, with hackers stealing between $81 million and $90 million from the platform's wallets. The attack, which targeted Nobitex's hot wallets and destroyed significant funds, was claimed by the hacking group Predatory Sparrow (Gonjeshke Darande), believed to have ties to Israel. The group also threatened to release the exchange's source code amid ongoing tensions between Iran and Israel.
Cisco Talos has reported that a North Korean hacker group known as “Famous Chollima” has been targeting cryptocurrency job applicants in India. The group is said to operate independently and has no direct ties to the well-known Lazarus group.
The U.S. Department of Justice has seized $225.3 million in Tether's USDT, marking its largest-ever crypto forfeiture. The funds, laundered via the exchange OKX, are tied to international "pig butchering" investment scams that have reportedly targeted more than 400 victims and contributed to $9.3 billion in losses in 2024. Justice Department officials did not provide extensive details about the scam but confirmed the seizure as a significant action against global crypto fraud.
Outgoing CFTC Commissioner Kristin Johnson stated that while AI can benefit the crypto industry, it also has the potential to increase fraud. She is advocating for harsher penalties for fraudsters who use AI in their schemes.
New York City officials have uncovered a cryptocurrency scam targeting Russian-speaking residents, with more than 300 victims identified and losses exceeding $1 million. The scheme was reportedly promoted through Facebook, according to city authorities.
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