regulation

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has signed a bill that bans the operation of cryptocurrency ATMs statewide, becoming the second state after Indiana to implement a comprehensive ban. The bill (HB 2505) has officially taken effect and will be enforced starting July 1.According to the regulations, installing or operating "virtual currency kiosks" (i.e., Bitcoin ATMs) will be classified as a Class A misdemeanor, with a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $2,500 fine. At the same time, merchants that allow the installation of such devices will also bear legal responsibility. Currently, most states in the U.S. have strengthened regulation through measures such as establishing licensing systems and transaction limits, but comprehensive bans remain rare. Data shows that since 2026, 30 states have proposed related legislation, with 20 states having passed laws, indicating a continued tightening of regulations against the risks of cryptocurrency ATM scams.

The DeFi Education Fund, along with several other crypto advocacy organizations, has officially sent a joint letter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), requesting the initiation of a formal DeFi rule-making process based on recent statements.Previously, the SEC's Division of Trading and Markets had clearly stated that certain software user interfaces used for trading cryptocurrencies do not need to register as broker-dealers, giving a green light to such activities. The joint letter calls on the SEC to solidify the above principles into an objective and clear framework through announcements or comment-based rule-making, clarifying which activities fall under the definition of "broker," while excluding infrastructure service providers such as validators, API and RPC providers, oracles, and cloud services. This would provide developers with long-term legal certainty and avoid reliance on temporary guidance. Under the leadership of current Chairman Paul Atkins, the SEC has taken a positive and open attitude towards digital asset innovation, contrasting sharply with the repressive stance of the previous administration, and the industry has also played an important role in the rule-making process.

The crypto lobbying organization Blockchain Association, along with CCI and more than 120 industry institutions including Coinbase, Ripple, Kraken, and Circle, jointly sent a letter to the U.S. Senate Banking Committee urging the acceleration of the review process for the CLARITY Act.Industry representatives stated that the U.S. needs to establish a unified regulatory framework for the digital asset market, clarify regulatory responsibilities, and strengthen investor protection. Relying solely on law enforcement and regulation cannot create a long-term stable environment. Institutions warned that prolonged policy ambiguity will lead to the outflow of capital, talent, and technology, weakening the strategic advantage of the U.S., while also calling for the development of appropriate federal unified regulatory rules for stablecoins, tokenized assets, and decentralized technologies.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore has released a consultation document proposing to establish a more friendly regulatory capital guideline for the treatment of crypto assets on permissionless blockchains before implementing the Basel capital requirements for crypto assets.It is reported that the Basel capital requirements for crypto assets categorize them into two groups. The first group involves tokenized traditional assets and stablecoins, which are subject to lower capital requirements.The second group involves crypto assets that do not meet the above conditions. The Monetary Authority of Singapore intends to abandon the practice of categorizing all crypto assets on permissionless blockchains as part of the second group, allowing them to be classified as first group crypto assets with lower risk weights and more lenient prudential requirements, provided they meet a series of principled requirements. Specifically, for banks registered in Singapore, the risk exposure of permissionless blockchain crypto assets classified as first group crypto assets must not exceed 2% of the bank's Tier 1 capital, and if the issuance creates liabilities at the bank level, the issuance scale must not exceed 5% of Tier 1 capital.

The State Duma of Russia (the lower house of parliament) has passed the "Digital Currency and Digital Rights Bill" in the first reading, marking a key step towards the legalization of cryptocurrency assets in the country.According to the bill, the Bank of Russia will become the core regulatory body for the cryptocurrency market, responsible for issuing licenses, approving or prohibiting related transactions, and defining the legality of transactions. The bill proposes to classify cryptocurrencies as "property," but explicitly prohibits their use as a means of payment domestically, with the ruble remaining the only legal tender. However, in the context of Western sanctions, cryptocurrency assets can be used for cross-border trade settlements, including service payments, intellectual property transfers, and other scenarios.In addition, the bill allows Russian residents to legally invest in cryptocurrency assets through licensed institutions, but will implement a tiered investor system, setting testing and annual investment limits for ordinary investors (with a suggested cap of 300,000 rubles). Initially, only high-market-cap mainstream assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum will be allowed for trading, with a whitelist established by the central bank. The bill is expected to be formally passed and come into effect by July 2026 at the latest. However, some lawmakers and banking industry figures have criticized the overly strict regulations, which may affect market activity and even lead to funds remaining in the gray market. At the same time, accompanying legislation is also proposed to introduce criminal penalties, with a maximum sentence of 7 years in prison for illegal cryptocurrency trading.

Kevin Warsh stated at the Senate hearing that digital assets "have become a part of the U.S. financial system" and supports their inclusion in the financial system to provide more opportunities and protections for investors.This statement is seen as a signal of a relatively open policy towards the cryptocurrency industry should he become the chairman of the Federal Reserve. Warsh has previously referred to Bitcoin as "an important asset that aids in policy-making." However, Elizabeth Warren expressed concerns during the hearing, mentioning risks such as "shadow accounts" in the crypto space, emphasizing the need for enhanced regulation and prevention of abuse.

This week, the UK-related economic development agency invited the management of the cryptocurrency exchange Bybit to London to meet with representatives from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the House of Lords to discuss topics such as cryptocurrency regulation, business establishment, and employment.Bybit CEO Ben Zhou stated that the UK side hopes to attract large companies to establish bases locally and promote innovation through stablecoins, tokenization, and payment system reforms. Reports indicate that this invitation coincides with the UK's FinTech Week and reflects the UK's intention to reverse the trend of funds and businesses flowing to the UAE.

The UK Treasury announced a regulatory scheme during London Fintech Week, planning to incorporate stablecoins and tokenized deposits into a unified regulatory framework with traditional payment services.The scheme aims to regulate stablecoins used for payments under the upcoming issuance regime, while expanding the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) regulatory scope over open banking, and exploring regulatory adjustments for payment activities executed by AI agents. The proposal also suggests reducing administrative requirements for businesses providing stablecoin payment services through new legislation.The UK Treasury also announced the appointment of EY partner and former interim CEO of the FCA, Chris Woolard CBE, as the wholesale digital market champion, responsible for advancing the development of a tokenized wholesale financial system, and committed to providing £1 million (approximately $1.35 million) in funding support to the Centre for Financial Innovation and Technology starting in April. Minister for Cities Lucy Rigby stated that the scheme aims to build a secure, competitive payment ecosystem that can seize opportunities from technological changes. The UK government recognizes the transformative potential of digital assets and blockchain technology, believing they can reshape the way consumers and businesses interact with financial services.

ChainCatcher reported live that Franklin Bi, partner at Pantera Capital, Mykolas Majauskas, senior policy director at Bybit, and Zeng Yuchao, managing director at Futu Group, jointly attended the HK Web3 Feastival roundtable to share "From the Ground Up to the Entry Point: The Path of Crypto Assets to Mainstream Finance."Zeng Yuchao introduced that Futu is the largest retail brokerage in Hong Kong, with a market share of over 50%. In January this year, it obtained the VATP license, and last month removed all additional conditions to achieve full integration of securities brokerage and crypto trading. Last year, Futu collaborated with Huaxia Fund to issue a tokenized money market fund, allowing T+0 same-day subscriptions and redemptions. In terms of AI, Futu has launched the Agent skill feature, enabling users to set strategies through natural language and execute trades automatically. He believes that in the future, there will be a transformation from graphical interfaces to AI interfaces.Mykolas Majauskas pointed out that companies currently complaining about regulation will miss this honeymoon period in the future, as larger-scale regulation is on the way. He analyzed global regulatory differences: Europe leads with MiCA, the U.S. supports private issuance, China supports government digital currency, and Hong Kong serves as a tokenization gateway. He warned that many native crypto companies claim to disrupt traditional finance but are actually being acquired by traditional institutions. He believes the fundamental change in AI is at the front end: users only need to express their intentions, and AI autonomously decides to execute strategies. Bybit is building a one-stop financial platform that integrates IBAN, cards, payments, and investments. He believes many traditional wealth management companies will be eliminated because they have historically made you feel wealthy rather than truly helping you accumulate wealth.Franklin Bi stated that blockchain is the perfect technology for building financial systems for AI Agents. When Agents choose between traditional accounts and stablecoins, they are opting for stablecoins, marking the beginning of an exponential trend.

Pablo Hernandez de Cos, General Manager of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), stated that global coordination on stablecoin regulation is crucial to prevent severe market fragmentation; otherwise, regulatory differences across jurisdictions could lead to regulatory arbitrage.He pointed out that stablecoins are typically pegged to the US dollar at a 1:1 ratio, which could undermine monetary and fiscal policy, trigger pressures in financial markets, and hinder efforts to combat illegal financing. Currently, the two major stablecoins issued by Tether and Circle account for about 85% of the global circulation of stablecoins, which is approximately $315 billion. He also mentioned that these two types of stablecoins are closer to securities rather than currencies in terms of redemption friction and operate more like ETFs.

ChainCatcher reported live that Li Guoquan, Dean of the Global Fintech Academy, Hong Kong Legislative Council member (Technology and Innovation Sector) Kenneth Lau, Chief Public Mission Officer of Hong Kong Cyberport, Chan Sze Yuen, and Executive Director of the Japan Virtual Currency Exchange Association (JVCEA) & Japan Crypto Asset Business Association, Koji Takeda, attended the HK Web3 Feastival roundtable discussion, focusing on "Balancing Regulation and Innovation to Co-build a Sustainable Asian Digital Financial Ecosystem."Kenneth Lau stated that the legislative process has been significantly advanced, and he hopes to see innovation-driven developments next, exploring how to leave space for new products and business models while improving the regulatory framework. He cited the startup exemption mechanism in U.S. legislation as an example, emphasizing the importance of a nurturing environment for innovation. He also pointed out that the Hong Kong stock market currently does not allow for a market maker system, and the liquidity provision rules in virtual asset trading will be addressed in legislative discussions within the year. Regarding prediction markets, he personally believes that Hong Kong currently does not have the conditions to open them.Chan Sze Yuen introduced that Cyberport launched a pilot subsidy program for blockchain and digital assets last year, with nine projects participating, more than half of which involve RWA tokenization, aiming to promote projects from proof of concept to commercialization. He stated that Cyberport has gathered over 300 Web3 companies from 19 countries and regions, emphasizing that trusted digital identity (KYC/AML compliance) is the foundation for scaling RWA and payment projects, while secondary market liquidity determines whether tokenized assets can become real market products.Koji Takeda revealed that the Financial Services Agency (FSA) of Japan submitted a new bill to the Diet on April 10, proposing to move the regulation of crypto assets from the Financial Services Act to the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, which means the government officially recognizes the investment attributes of crypto assets, marking a significant shift. He also pointed out that Japan had previously seen over 200 companies relocate to places like Singapore due to strict regulations, but recently, through adjustments to corporate tax systems and discussions on personal crypto tax reforms, companies are gradually returning.Host Li Guoquan summarized that the various jurisdictions in Asia are not in competition but are part of the same ecosystem. Excessive compliance costs may push quality institutions into gray areas, and how to lower compliance thresholds in regulatory dialogues and promote responsible innovation is a common challenge facing the Asian digital financial ecosystem.

ChainCatcher live report, the Executive Director of the Intermediaries Division of the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, Ye Zhi Heng, delivered a keynote speech titled "ASPIRe in Action Hong Kong's Digital Asset Journey" at the 2026 Hong Kong Web3 Carnival. He reviewed the six major milestones since the Commission launched the ASPIRe roadmap last year, including allowing licensed platforms to provide staking services, conducting joint consultations on virtual asset trading and custody systems, opening up perpetual contracts and margin financing frameworks, and launching plans to strengthen market defenses through technology.He revealed that the draft regulations for the four systems of virtual asset trading, custody, management, and advisory have reached 260 pages, and the draft was received last week. The work for the next 12 months is divided into three major clusters: first, promoting innovation through regulation, advancing legislative and regulatory guideline consultations; second, promoting innovation through practice, gradually allowing tokenized authorized funds to trade on licensed platforms; third, promoting innovation through interaction, advancing automated reporting, signing international bilateral memorandums, and combating financial crime frameworks. He emphasized that Hong Kong is "moving steadily forward, fast because of stability."

The SEC released a document (34-105260) disclosing the rule change application submitted by the NYSE, intending to formally introduce a framework for trading tokenized securities.According to the proposal, the NYSE plans to add Rule 7.5, allowing eligible securities to be traded and settled in a blockchain-based tokenized form in addition to traditional forms. The relevant arrangements will operate under the DTC pilot program. The core mechanisms include: tokenized securities and traditional stocks will share the same trading code (CUSIP) and rights structure, and will be fully interchangeable; in the matching system, tokenized and traditional securities will have the same execution priority, and the order of transactions will not be affected by the different forms; trading participants can choose to settle and clear in an on-chain form through a tokenization flag, with specific processing carried out by custodians. Additionally, the NYSE also plans to simultaneously modify order sorting, routing, and clearing rules to accommodate the trading process of tokenized securities, ensuring seamless integration with the existing market structure.From a market perspective, this proposal signifies that traditional U.S. securities exchanges are officially exploring the introduction of blockchain technology into the core trading and settlement systems. If approved, it could become an important milestone for on-chain securities entering mainstream financial infrastructure.

According to Cointelegraph, Michael Selig, the chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), stated that the agency is working to provide clarity for the crypto space, including tokenized collateral and stablecoins, while also developing clear guidelines for prediction markets.

According to a report by The Block, Mizuho Bank research analysts released a report on Thursday stating that the financial feature X Money launched by Elon Musk's X platform has the potential to disrupt the U.S. payment industry, but the cryptocurrency integration plan may face regulatory obstacles.Mizuho analysts Dan Dolev and Andrew Jenkins wrote in a client report that X Money is positioned as the financial infrastructure layer of the X platform, aiming to integrate instant messaging, bank deposits, and commercial transaction functions, similar to the "super app" model of WeChat Pay or Alipay. With 500 to 600 million monthly active users on the X platform and Musk's background as a co-founder of PayPal in the payment industry, X Money has the potential to disrupt the U.S. payment industry.On the regulatory front, the analysts pointed out two major potential obstacles: first, the recent "CRYPTO Act" proposed in New York aims to criminalize unlicensed virtual currency operations in the state, which will raise the compliance threshold for X's future cryptocurrency integration plans; second, the "Clarity Act" may restrict non-bank financial platforms from offering yields to users, potentially hindering X Money's plan to provide users with an annualized yield of 6% on cash balances, with analysts stating that the timing for the launch of this yield product is "particularly sensitive."Mizuho also downgraded PayPal (PYPL) stock rating to "neutral," noting that PayPal and its Venmo app face the most direct substitution risk, as X is targeting the same peer-to-peer transfer and digital wallet entry points.This week, the X platform also launched a new feature called "Cashtags," allowing users to view financial data for stocks and cryptocurrencies directly in their timeline.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK is seeking feedback on specific regulatory activities for digital assets under its cryptocurrency roadmap.This consultation covers how activities such as stablecoin issuance, trading platforms, custody, and staking will fall under regulatory oversight. The consultation will close on June 3, 2026, and cryptocurrency businesses can apply for FCA authorization starting September 30, 2026. The FCA stated that the consultation on the rules for the future cryptocurrency asset regime is largely complete, and a policy statement will be released this summer. Before the new legislative regime is implemented in 2027, cryptocurrency assets remain largely unregulated in the UK, except for financial promotions and financial crime purposes.