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, according to CoinDesk, the Nasdaq exchange has sent a letter to the U.S. SEC's cryptocurrency working group, suggesting that regulators carefully delineate categories of digital assets and clarify the role of regulatory "referees."The document, signed by Regulatory Affairs Chief John Zecca, proposes four categories:Financial securities tokens (such as tokens linked to stocks, bonds, ETFs, which should be treated the same as the underlying assets), regulated by the SEC;Digital asset investment contracts (tokenized contracts that meet the revised Howey test), subject to securities rules;Digital asset commodities (meeting the U.S. definition of commodities), governed by the CFTC;Other digital assets (not falling into the first three categories, not mandatorily subject to securities or commodity rules).The SEC and CFTC will collaborate to clarify regulatory boundaries, and new cryptocurrency laws may serve as guiding principles. Nasdaq also suggests establishing cross-trading qualification standards for multi-type asset handling platforms and emphasizes its credibility in the digital asset field, calling for enhanced security constraints on companies that comprehensively handle investor activities, aligning with industry practices.

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 CoinDesk, Jennifer J. Schulp, the Director of Financial Regulation Studies at the Cato Institute, published a column pointing out that the stablecoin legislation currently under consideration by the U.S. Congress (including the GENIUS Act and the STABLE Act) aims to combat illegal financial activities but must avoid triggering excessive financial surveillance of users.She emphasized that if stablecoin issuers are subjected to the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) regulations, it could lead to comprehensive tracking of user transactions, eroding personal privacy rights. Schulp urged lawmakers to balance innovation and privacy protection when formulating anti-money laundering measures, ensuring that stablecoins enhance payment efficiency without becoming tools for government surveillance.

ChainCatcher news, according to ibtimes, the new SEC Chairman Paul Atkins stated in his inaugural speech that his top priority during his tenure as chairman is to provide a solid regulatory foundation for digital assets in a reasonable, coherent, and principled manner. He is committed to transforming the regulatory approach of financial regulatory agencies towards digital assets into a "rational" one. He will strive to ensure that the United States becomes "the best and safest place in the world" for crypto operations and activities.

ChainCatcher news, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins is the best candidate to ensure regulatory certainty for cryptocurrencies.

According to ChainCatcher, as reported by crowdfundinsider, the Supreme Court of India dismissed the petitions of 54 victims of the WazirX hacking incident on April 16, 2025, on the grounds that cryptocurrency regulation falls under government policy rather than judicial jurisdiction. The hack occurred on July 18, 2024, resulting in over $235 million in user funds being stolen. The victims requested a criminal investigation into WazirX, its co-founder Nischal Shetty, Binance, and the custodian provider Liminal, but the court stated it could not intervene in the absence of a clear regulatory framework. WazirX has proposed a restructuring plan to return 85% of the stolen funds and issue recovery tokens for the remaining portion.

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, according to Bitcoin.com, the digital asset platform Bitpanda has announced that it has obtained the crypto asset market regulatory license (MiCAR) issued by the Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA). This is the third MiCAR license obtained by Bitpanda following similar approvals in Germany and Malta, aimed at promoting regulatory compliance in the crypto sector in the European market.

ChainCatcher news, Bo Hines, Executive Director of the Trump Digital Assets Advisory Board, posted on the X platform stating that under Biden's regulatory regime, digital asset companies have become victims of a weaponized judicial system. President Trump is the true "crypto president," and under his leadership, we will usher in a golden age of digital assets and emerging financial technologies.

ChainCatcher News, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's cryptocurrency working group has announced the agenda and panel members for the roundtable meeting on April 11, themed "Regulating Cryptocurrency Trading: Between Lockdown and Dilemma." Commissioners Hester Peirce and Caroline Crenshaw, along with Acting Chair Mark Uyeda, will attend. The participants include:Nicholas Losurdo, Partner at Goodwin Procter LLP;Tyler Gellasch, President and CEO of Healthy Markets Association;Jon Herrick, Chief Product Officer at the New York Stock Exchange;Richard Johnson, CEO and Founder of Texture Capital;Dave Lauer, Co-Founder of Urvin Finance and We the Investors;Katherine Minarik, Chief Legal Officer at Uniswap Labs;Christine Parlour, Chair of the Finance and Accounting Department at the University of California, Berkeley;Chelsea Pizzola, Deputy General Counsel at Cumberland DRW;Austin Reid, Global Revenue and Business Lead at FalconX;Gregory Tusar, Vice President of Institutional Products at Coinbase.