U.S. crypto, financial markets and economic policy: the latest reporting from The Token Press.
Trump said a Venezuela “leaker” has been jailed, comments that have refocused attention on suspiciously timed prediction market bets. Several Polymarket accounts tied to Venezuela wagers have gone inactive, while one continues betting on Iran. The episode adds momentum to calls for tighter oversight and insider trading rules for political prediction markets.
Sygnum expects clearer US crypto regulation to pave the way for sovereign Bitcoin reserves and broader adoption of tokenization by banks in 2026, arguing that early state adopters could accelerate Bitcoin’s emergence as a global store of value despite ongoing political constraints. At the same time, the firm sees tokenized bonds moving steadily toward the financial mainstream as major institutions prepare to issue and manage debt directly on blockchain-based infrastructure.
Pakistan is exploring the use of a Trump-linked stablecoin for regulated payments and remittances, marking a rare sovereign-level engagement with a politically connected crypto venture. The move underscores Islamabad’s ambition to become a global crypto hub while testing stablecoins as part of its evolving digital finance strategy.
Andreessen Horowitz has raised $15 billion to back technologies it sees as vital to America’s future, with crypto remaining a key focus despite no new allocation to its standalone crypto fund. The firm argues that blockchain and AI are now central to maintaining US competitiveness in the next global technology cycle.
US IPOs underperformed the S&P 500 in 2025 as crypto and AI listings delivered uneven returns after debut. While some firms saw strong openings, weak follow-through reinforced a market shift toward selectivity and fundamentals over speculative growth stories.
Bitcoin appears unlikely to suffer a major correction following the US strike on Venezuela, with analysts citing the event’s limited scope and lack of escalation risk. BTC’s ability to hold above $90,000 suggests growing resilience to geopolitical noise, as markets focus more on macro fundamentals than isolated conflicts.
Ilya Lichtenstein, who carried out the 2016 Bitfinex Bitcoin hack, has been released early under the First Step Act after serving just over a year of a five-year sentence. His release comes as Donald Trump signals renewed scrutiny of crypto-related prosecutions, reopening debate around punishment, reform, and accountability in the crypto era.
A senior US lawmaker is pressing for an SEC oversight hearing after the agency dropped major crypto enforcement cases. The move highlights mounting political scrutiny over whether the SEC’s softer approach to crypto weakens investor protection or restores regulatory balance.
Bitcoin’s long-term holders have slowed their selling for the first time in months, easing one source of pressure on the market. At the same time, large Ethereum wallets are quietly accumulating, even as traders remain cautious and US-driven selling continues to weigh on sentiment.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong says Bitcoin indirectly supports the US dollar by acting as a market check on inflation and excessive spending. While Bitcoin offers a pressure valve during economic stress, stablecoins may play an even more direct role in extending dollar dominance worldwide.
Michael Selig has been sworn in as chairman of the CFTC, replacing acting chair Caroline Pham, who has exited the agency. The leadership change reinforces expectations that the CFTC will pursue clearer, more innovation-focused oversight of crypto and emerging markets in the years ahead.
The SEC says tokenized stocks must follow existing US securities rules, with custody handled by regulated broker-dealers rather than self-custody. The guidance signals that blockchain-based equities will be integrated into traditional market safeguards, not treated as a separate asset class.
StraitsX plans to bring its Singapore dollar and US dollar stablecoins to Solana by early 2026, targeting payments, DeFi and AI-driven use cases. The move reflects growing demand for regulated, high-speed stablecoin infrastructure as real-world adoption accelerates across Asia.
Here’s a short X-friendly version: Binance’s new API hints at upcoming stock-based perpetual futures, signaling a fresh push into tokenized equities. The move comes as demand for tokenized stocks grows across CeFi and DeFi, even as regulators increase scrutiny. With Nasdaq and the SEC also embracing tokenization, the race for digitized capital markets is accelerating.
Coinbase now supports trading all Solana tokens via DEX rails—no listings needed. As Solana’s DeFi ecosystem surges, CeFi platforms are increasingly becoming gateways to decentralized markets.
A federal judge has temporarily stopped Connecticut from enforcing its gambling order against Kalshi, giving the platform a brief legal reprieve. Kalshi maintains that its event contracts fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the CFTC rather than state gambling laws. The dispute adds to a growing series of legal battles as multiple states challenge how prediction markets should be regulated.
Nasdaq reprimanded TON Strategy for failing to obtain shareholder approval on a $272.7M Toncoin purchase funded through a PIPE deal. Nearly half of the financing was used for the token buy, breaching exchange rules. While Nasdaq deemed the violations unintentional, the case underscores rising compliance challenges for public firms engaging in large-scale crypto treasury operations.
President Trump defended pardoning Binance’s CZ, claiming no personal connection and calling the case politically motivated. He dismissed reports linking Binance to a $2B stablecoin deal tied to Trump’s WLFI platform, emphasizing his focus on “making crypto great for America.” The move underscores his pro-crypto stance — and reignites debate over political influence in digital asset regulation.