U.S. crypto, financial markets and economic policy: the latest reporting from The Token Press.
Dogecoin rose 4% to $0.26 despite another delay in the launch of the first US DOGE ETF. While the ETF has sparked debate about institutionalizing speculation, companies like CleanCore Solutions and Trump-linked Thumzup are pushing DOGE deeper into the institutional spotlight.
Metaverse-related NFT sales rose 27% in August, suggesting a possible revival of interest in virtual worlds. Platforms like Sandbox, Mocaverse, Otherside and Decentraland are focusing on infrastructure and creator tools, while new entrants such as Infinite Reality and Trump’s DTTM Operations continue to push forward with metaverse projects.
Coinbase researchers say the era of “easy money” for crypto treasuries has ended, pushing firms into a competitive phase that could ultimately strengthen markets. They downplayed seasonal myths like the “September effect” and predicted Fed rate cuts would give crypto “room to run” into Q4.
Bitstamp has overtaken Robinhood in monthly crypto volumes for the first time since its $200M acquisition, posting $14.4B in trades against Robinhood’s $13.7B. The milestone highlights Bitstamp’s growing role in institutional markets, even as Robinhood joins the S&P 500 and expands its blockchain and derivatives products.
A UK government petition calling for a pro-innovation blockchain and stablecoin strategy has gained traction after Coinbase urged its users to sign. The petition seeks stablecoin regulation, blockchain adoption in government, and a dedicated crypto policy leader. It has passed 5,000 signatures and needs 10,000 for an official response, with 100,000 triggering a parliamentary debate.
The first-ever US Dogecoin ETF, the Rex-Osprey Doge ETF (DOJE), is set to begin trading on Thursday, marking a major milestone for memecoins in regulated markets. Dogecoin rallied nearly 13% ahead of the launch, while analysts note this ETF signals growing institutional interest in speculative digital assets. The SEC’s approval comes as dozens of other crypto ETF applications, including Solana and XRP, remain under review.
CoinShares announced a proposed combination with Vine Hill and a $50 million placement. Completion still depended on approvals and other conditions.
CryptoSlam figures reported on September 8, 2025 showed lower sales and fewer buyers. The percentage comparisons have been recalculated.
The U.S. Senate has added a clause to its crypto bill clarifying that tokenized stocks remain classified as securities, ensuring they fit within existing financial frameworks. The Responsible Financial Innovation Act of 2025 also splits oversight between the SEC and CFTC, with votes expected in the coming months. Meanwhile, over 100 crypto firms, including Coinbase and Ripple, have urged lawmakers to protect developers and non-custodial service providers, warning that unclear rules are driving talent out of the U.S.
Litecoin’s playful feud with influencer Benjamin Cowen sparked fresh attention, with some traders even turning bullish on the asset. The timing aligns with growing institutional interest, as Grayscale and Canary Capital have both filed with the SEC to launch Litecoin ETFs in the U.S.
Ondo Finance, in partnership with Chainlink, has launched its Ondo Global Markets platform, bringing over 100 tokenized U.S. stocks and ETFs onchain. The platform, live on Ethereum, is currently available to non-U.S. investors and is being promoted as “Wall Street 2.0.”
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong says over 40% of the platform’s code is now AI-generated, with plans to raise that figure to 50% by October. The move highlights Coinbase’s strategy to integrate AI deeply into its operations while training its workforce to become “AI-Natives.”
The Trump family launched two major crypto ventures in the same week. American Bitcoin went public on Nasdaq, while the World Liberty Financial (WLFI) token debuted on exchanges but has already dropped 30% since launch. A company tied to the Trumps holds nearly a quarter of WLFI, valued at $4.8 billion. Eric Trump’s stake in American Bitcoin is estimated at $548 million.
A global shift is underway as more people consider crypto for retirement planning. An Aviva survey found 27% of UK adults are open to holding crypto in their retirement funds, while in the US, President Trump signed an order allowing 401(k) plans to include Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
Ripple’s long legal fight with the SEC was influenced by the activism of the XRP Army, according to lawyer John Deaton. Thousands of XRP holders submitted affidavits, petitions, and coordinated campaigns, which Judge Torres later cited in her ruling that XRP itself is not a security.
Traditional banks are expanding into crypto custody. Deutsche Bank plans to launch a digital assets custody service in 2026 with Bitpanda, while Citigroup is considering custody and payment services as regulatory shifts make the sector more accessible.
Chainalysis ranked India first and the US second in its 2025 index. The measure reflects estimated activity, not a census of crypto owners.
Crypto.com partnered with Trump Media, owner of Truth Social, to launch a treasury strategy for its native token Cronos (CRO). The token jumped nearly 150% to $0.38 on the news but later eased back to $0.27, far below its 2021 peak.