U.S. crypto, financial markets and economic policy: the latest reporting from The Token Press.
SoftBank’s PayPay has acquired a 40% stake in Binance Japan to integrate crypto payments into its platform, opening access to 70 million users. The move strengthens Binance’s presence in Japan and aligns with PayPay’s global ambitions, including a planned U.S. stock listing and expansion across Asia.
Coinbase has received New York state approval to offer crypto staking on Ethereum, Solana, and other assets. The move signals a regulatory shift in favor of staking services and marks another step in Coinbase’s broader goal of integrating crypto with mainstream finance.
Square has launched a new Bitcoin payment option for U.S. merchants, letting them accept and hold BTC with zero fees through 2026. The move aligns with Jack Dorsey’s Bitcoin-focused vision and comes amid renewed growth in crypto-based payments and AI-driven financial innovation.
The AFL-CIO has condemned the Senate’s Responsible Financial Innovation Act, arguing it would expose retirement funds to crypto volatility and create systemic financial risks. The union compared the bill’s potential consequences to the 2008 financial crisis, calling for lawmakers to reject it in favor of stronger worker protections and oversight.
Canary Capital’s Litecoin (LTCC) and Hedera (HBR) ETFs are nearly ready for launch after final filings with the SEC. However, the ongoing U.S. government shutdown has delayed their approval. Analysts say the funds could pave the way for a broader altcoin ETF wave once the SEC resumes normal operations.
Trump’s plan to issue tariff-funded stimulus checks could inject new liquidity into the economy just as a government shutdown strains markets. Analysts say it may mirror the 2020 stimulus effect, when fresh cash inflows helped drive Bitcoin’s 1,000% rally during the pandemic era.
Grayscale has staked $150 million in Ether after becoming the first U.S. asset manager to offer staking rewards through exchange-traded products. The move comes as the SEC prepares to rule on 16 altcoin ETPs this month, including key Ethereum and Solana funds, even as regulatory decisions face potential delays due to the U.S. government shutdown.
Plume Network has registered as an SEC-approved transfer agent, allowing it to manage and issue tokenized securities under U.S. law. The move strengthens its position as a bridge between Wall Street and Web3, signaling growing momentum for real-world asset tokenization amid increasing institutional interest.
Plume Network has become an SEC-registered transfer agent, allowing it to manage tokenized securities under U.S. law. The move marks a milestone in integrating traditional finance with blockchain, giving Plume regulatory clearance to automate share registries and compliance directly onchain — a key step toward mainstream adoption of real-world asset tokenization.
The U.S. national debt is growing by $6 billion daily, nearing the $38 trillion milestone. As fiscal pressures mount and the dollar weakens, investors are increasingly turning to Bitcoin and gold as hedges against monetary debasement. Analysts warn that without drastic reform, America — and much of the developed world — risks spiraling deeper into an unsustainable debt cycle.
Bitcoin’s record-breaking rally could extend toward $150,000, analysts say, driven by massive ETF inflows, a weakening U.S. dollar, and bullish Q4 seasonality. Institutional demand and shrinking exchange reserves suggest the market’s next explosive leg may already be underway.
A U.S. judge dismissed a lawsuit against Yuga Labs, ruling that BAYC NFTs and ApeCoin do not qualify as securities under the Howey Test. The court found no evidence of a common enterprise or explicit promises of profit, reinforcing precedent that NFTs are primarily collectibles rather than investment contracts.
Paxos Labs’ Bhau Kotecha says AI agents could transform stablecoin markets by routing liquidity to the most efficient issuers, turning fragmentation into an advantage. With stablecoins surpassing $300 billion and companies like Cloudflare and Coinbase exploring AI-powered payment solutions, AI agents may soon become the dominant force in stablecoin adoption.
Coinbase has applied for a U.S. National Trust Company Charter, aiming to expand services and strengthen regulatory credibility without becoming a bank. The move would reduce reliance on partner banks for fiat access and aligns Coinbase with other crypto giants like Circle and Ripple pursuing similar licenses.
Wall Street’s attention is shifting from altcoins to IPO-ready crypto firms, with over $200 billion in companies preparing listings that could raise up to $45 billion. At the same time, ETF filings could spark a selective “altseason,” favoring a handful of institutional-grade tokens over broad market rallies.
AlloyX has launched its Real Yield Token (RYT), a tokenized money market fund on Polygon, with custody provided by Standard Chartered Bank. Unlike Wall Street’s tokenized MMFs, RYT offers DeFi-native utility, including borrowing and looping strategies, making it a key milestone in merging traditional finance with decentralized markets.
OpenAI has reached a record $500 billion valuation, overtaking SpaceX to become the world’s largest startup. While crypto companies like Tether and Coinbase trail far behind, analysts see synergies between AI agents and stablecoins, with bots already driving the majority of stablecoin transactions. Yet, questions remain over the sustainability of AI’s energy needs as the sector scales at breakneck speed.
Melania Trump has revived promotion of her Solana-based memecoin MELANIA with a new AI video, but the project remains under fire amid claims insiders sold $10M in community funds. The token is down 98% from its all-time high, with analysts questioning its transparency and long-term viability.