ChainCatcher News, Caroline Crenshaw, the only Democratic commissioner of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), stated at the SEC Speaks event that the agency's approach to regulating the crypto industry is akin to playing a game of "Jenga." This dangerous dismantling of rules for crypto and the broader market could undermine the SEC's credibility. She warned that the SEC has effectively reversed rules through staff guidance without proper analysis or public input, particularly in the crypto space.Crenshaw also mentioned that the SEC has abandoned enforcement actions in the crypto market, leading to a state of "non-enforcement regulation." She believes this "major turnaround" not only damages the SEC's reputation in court but also raises questions about "long-standing and fundamental case law."

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, the new chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Paul Atkins, stated in a speech on May 19 that this is a "new era" for the cryptocurrency industry.Atkins pointed out that "the crypto market has been stagnant in the SEC's regulatory gray area for years," and emphasized that under his leadership, the SEC will return to its fundamental mission of "promoting rather than stifling innovation." He has instructed the commission's various policy divisions to begin drafting rule proposals related to cryptocurrencies while continuing to "clear obstacles" through staff-level statements.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, Dubai's cryptocurrency regulator has required licensed digital asset companies to comply with its latest version of the activity-based rulebook by June 19, in order to enhance market integrity and risk regulation.On May 19, the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) announced the release of the Rulebook 2.0.The Dubai regulator stated that it has strengthened the oversight of margin trading and token distribution services, enhanced the consistency of compliance requirements for all licensed businesses, and provided clearer definitions for collateral wallet arrangements.

ChainCatcher news, according to Decrypt, the Australian government has appointed Andrew Charlton as the Assistant Minister for Technology and the Digital Economy, while also serving as Cabinet Secretary, to advance the regulation of digital assets and the modernization of the tech industry. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that Charlton's economic qualifications and international experience make him fully capable of this dual role. This appointment comes as the Australian government strengthens the regulation of digital assets.According to the new regulations, major crypto platforms must obtain an Australian financial services license, while small businesses and non-financial service providers may be exempt. The reform plan aims to align with international standards such as the EU's MiCA and Singapore's Payment Services Act. Caroline Bowle, CEO of BTC Markets, believes that this appointment reflects the government's emphasis on the development of the digital economy. As a former cybersecurity envoy, Charlton was involved in the development of the licensing system for crypto platforms. Additionally, the government is consulting on the issue of "de-banking" by banks and plans to introduce relevant legislative proposals within the year. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission will also update its guidelines on digital assets.

ChainCatcher news, new U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Paul Atkins announced on Monday that the agency will undergo significant changes in its approach to cryptocurrency regulation and outlined details involving issuance and custody. Nominated by President Trump, Atkins articulated these plans during the SEC's fourth cryptocurrency task force roundtable, demonstrating a starkly different approach to digital asset regulation compared to the previous administration."SEC is ushering in a new day," Atkins said. "Policy-making will no longer rely on ad hoc enforcement actions. Instead, the Commission will utilize its existing rule-making, interpretive, and exemption authorities to set standards suitable for market participants."Atkins stated on Monday that he plans to develop guidelines for assets considered securities or "subject to investment contracts." He criticized the previous approach by Gensler, which required companies to visit the SEC, calling it a "ostrich policy—perhaps hoping that cryptocurrency would disappear." "It claims to be willing to talk to potential registrants, 'just come visit,' but that is at most empty rhetoric, more often hypocritical, as the SEC has not made the necessary adjustments to the registration forms for this new technology," he said.Atkins also hinted that custody rules may need updating to allow funds and advisors to engage in self-custody under certain conditions and revealed that the agency may take a new approach to its "special purpose broker-dealer framework." Atkins indicated that the SEC may also consider whether to provide exemption relief for participants looking to bring new products to market. "I want to explore whether conditional exemption relief applies to registrants and non-registrants seeking to launch new products and services that may be incompatible with the current Commission rules and regulations," he said.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, the Blockchain Association is urging the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to adopt a flexible and progressive approach to cryptocurrency regulation under its new leadership. The association stated that as blockchain technology rapidly evolves, the SEC should avoid implementing restrictive policies that could hinder technological innovation and the expansion of application scenarios.The association emphasized that overly strict regulation could undermine the U.S.'s competitiveness in the global blockchain industry. Previously, the SEC's regulatory enforcement in the cryptocurrency sector has sparked widespread controversy, including lawsuits against several crypto companies. The Blockchain Association recommends that the SEC establish a regulatory framework that adapts to technological evolution through open dialogue and collaboration with the industry, in order to balance innovation and compliance.

ChainCatcher news, according to CoinDesk, the UK government released a consultation document for a cryptocurrency legislation draft on April 29, planning to add regulated activities, including operating cryptocurrency asset trading platforms and issuing stablecoins.In addition, the draft also covers regulatory frameworks such as market abuse, listing, and disclosure systems. Although relevant consultations were initiated during the Conservative government's term in 2023, the Labour government has stated that it will continue to advance the previous government's cryptocurrency plans. This initiative aims to regulate the cryptocurrency industry, protect investor interests, and promote healthy market development.

ChainCatcher news, according to Bitcoin.com, Ghana's central bank governor Johnson Asiama stated in Washington that the central bank will establish a dedicated digital assets department and plans to launch regulation of cryptocurrencies and related platforms by the end of September 2025 after the passage of the "Virtual Asset Service Provider Act," emphasizing that the trend of blockchain technology is unstoppable.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce stated at the SEC's "Know Your Custodian" roundtable that U.S. financial institutions are playing a game of "the floor is lava" in the dark when dealing with cryptocurrency business.Peirce explained that registrants of the SEC must treat activities related to cryptocurrency as if they were playing "the floor is lava," aiming to jump from one piece of furniture to another without touching the ground, except here, direct contact with cryptocurrency is the lava. "The Washington, D.C. version of this game is our regulatory approach to crypto assets, particularly the custody of crypto assets. Due to unclear regulatory rules, companies wanting to engage in cryptocurrency must avoid directly holding cryptocurrencies.Hester Peirce stated, "Now is the time for us to find a way to end this game. We need to turn on the lights and build some sidewalks over the lava pits."

ChainCatcher news, the Federal Reserve announced on Thursday the withdrawal of regulatory guidance regarding banks' cryptocurrency assets and dollar token businesses, and simultaneously updated the relevant business expectation standards. This move aims to ensure that regulatory requirements keep pace with the evolution of risks and further support innovation in the banking system.The announcement shows that the Federal Reserve has officially abolished the regulatory letter issued in 2022, which previously required state member banks to report in advance on proposed or existing cryptocurrency asset businesses. After the withdrawal, the Federal Reserve will no longer require banks to fulfill reporting obligations, instead opting to monitor related activities through regular regulatory procedures. Also abolished is the 2023 guidance document regarding the "no objection" procedure for state member banks participating in dollar token businesses.In addition, the Federal Reserve and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation jointly decided to withdraw two policy statements regarding banks' cryptocurrency asset businesses and risk exposures, which were jointly issued by federal banking regulators in 2023. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency had previously withdrawn from that statement. The Federal Reserve stated that it will collaborate with other regulatory agencies in the future to assess whether new guidance frameworks are needed to support innovation, including cryptocurrency asset businesses.

ChainCatcher news, according to Decrypt, U.S. court documents reveal that on April 16, Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove of the Eastern District of Kentucky approved a 60-day pause in the lawsuit between the state attorney general coalition and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding cryptocurrency regulation, on the grounds that the SEC acknowledged that the case may be resolved due to a leadership transition. Both parties did not oppose this motion and are required to submit a joint status update within 30 days. Previously, the coalition of 18 states accused the SEC of overstepping its authority in enforcing regulations against cryptocurrency companies, violating the Constitution.

ChainCatcher news, according to CoinDesk, on Wednesday, a federal judge in the United States agreed to pause the lawsuit filed by 18 state attorneys general and a DeFi lobbying group against the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), after all parties noted that the SEC's new leadership was in place. Last November, after Trump won the 2024 presidential election, these state attorneys general (all Republicans) filed the lawsuit in conjunction with the DeFi Education Fund. They accused the federal securities regulator of overstepping its authority in suing cryptocurrency exchanges. In documents submitted on Wednesday, the SEC stated that the lawsuit could come to an end following the confirmation of Paul Atkins as the new agency chair. The judge ordered the parties to submit a joint status report within 30 days, but paused all deadlines for 60 days.On Wednesday, another lawsuit filed by the DeFi Education Fund, the Texas Blockchain Council, and the Blockchain Association against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) was also dismissed. This lawsuit argued that the IRS's DeFi broker rules exceeded the agency's authority. Last week, Trump signed a resolution passed jointly by the House and Senate under the Congressional Review Act to repeal this rule. In documents submitted on Wednesday, the parties stated that the lawsuit had become "meaningless" after Trump signed the resolution.

ChainCatcher News: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will hold its second roundtable on crypto regulation on April 11 from 1 PM to 5 PM ET, with the theme "Tailored Regulation for Cryptocurrency Trading."

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, Vanuatu has passed legislation to regulate digital assets and provide a licensing system for crypto companies wishing to operate in the Pacific island nation, which a government regulatory advisor described as "very strict."The local council passed the Virtual Asset Service Providers Act on March 26, granting the Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC) the authority to issue crypto licenses, as well as the power to enforce the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards for anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing, and travel rules on crypto companies. Under these laws, the VFSC has extensive investigative and enforcement powers and stipulates fines of up to 250 million Vatu (approximately 2 million USD) and prison sentences of up to 30 years.The law establishes a licensing and reporting framework for exchanges, NFT marketplaces, crypto custodians, and initial token offerings. Notably, the law allows banks to obtain licenses to provide crypto trading and custody services. The VFSC stated that while stablecoins, tokenized securities, and central bank digital currencies "may have some similarities with virtual assets in practice," this legislation does not affect them. The legislation also allows the VFSC commissioner to create a sandbox that permits licensed companies to offer a variety of crypto services for a period of one year, which can be renewed.In a statement on March 29, the regulatory body indicated that after years of "assessing the risks associated with virtual assets," it has developed a legislative framework that will "bring numerous opportunities" to Vanuatu and improve financial inclusion by allowing regulated services for crypto cross-border payments.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, since 2020, 47 countries around the world have relaxed or simplified regulations on cryptocurrencies, while 4 countries have tightened restrictions, even completely banning cryptocurrencies and mining.

ChainCatcher news, the Australian government plans to release a draft of cryptocurrency regulatory regulations in 2025 and has committed to working with the four major banks to address the issue of de-banking. The new framework will impose compliance requirements of existing financial services laws on cryptocurrency exchanges, custodial services, and more, including customer asset protection, financial services licenses, and minimum capital requirements.In addition, the government will review central bank digital currencies and launch an enhanced regulatory sandbox in 2025 to support businesses in testing new financial products without a license. The Albanese government also stated that it will focus on the intersection of cryptocurrency and de-banking issues to ensure Australia maintains its competitive edge globally.

ChainCatcher news, according to Decrypt, the government led by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has proposed a new regulatory framework for digital assets, aimed at enhancing industry certainty, strengthening consumer protection, and ensuring market integrity. The reforms require major crypto platforms to apply for an Australian financial services license, while small non-financial service businesses may be exempt.The policy document released by the Australian Treasury, titled "Developing an Innovative Australian Digital Asset Industry," states that the new regulations will cover exchanges, custodians, specific brokerage platforms, and stablecoin issuers, enhancing consistency with international standards and boosting the global competitiveness of the industry. Companies involved in the development of digital assets for non-financial purposes, software development, and infrastructure maintenance are not within the regulatory scope.The government is also paying attention to the trend of "de-banking" among financial institutions, stating that the new licensing mechanism is expected to improve risk management and transparency, reduce banks' service restrictions on the crypto industry, and is in communication with major banks regarding response measures.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, Turkey is advancing cryptocurrency regulation, formulating new rules for crypto asset service providers (CASPs).The Turkish Capital Markets Board (CMB) today released two regulatory documents regarding CASP licensing and operations, covering crypto trading platforms, custodians, and wallet service providers. This regulatory framework grants the CMB comprehensive oversight of crypto platforms to ensure compliance with domestic and international standards.Additionally, the framework sets the standards and requirements for establishing and providing crypto asset services in Turkey, including registered capital, management background, shareholder rules, and more.