Davidson-381381

Members of the U.S. House Financial Services Committee have formally called on Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Paul Atkins to revise existing regulations so that $BTC Bitcoin and other digital assets may be included in 401(k) retirement plans, aligning with President Donald Trump’s 2025 executive order aimed at broadening retirement investment options.

In a December 11, 2025 letter, Republicans and Democrats on the committee urged the SEC to act quickly to update rules that currently limit the types of investments available to defined-contribution plans. The letter emphasized that the SEC should move in concert with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to implement regulatory changes necessary to allow retirement savers to allocate portions of their portfolios to alternative assets — including cryptocurrencies like $BTC Bitcoin.
Letter underscores Trump directive to broaden retirement investment access:
The letter references President Trump’s August 7, 2025 executive order (EO 14330) on “Democratizing Access to Alternative Assets for 401(k) Investors,” which directs federal regulators, including the SEC and the Department of Labor, to explore ways to expand retirement plan investment options beyond stocks and bonds. The order explicitly notes that retirement savers should have access to alternative assets when plan fiduciaries determine such investments are suitable, opening the door for digital assets and other nontraditional assets.
Lawmakers argue that aligning SEC rules with the executive order will help 90 million Americans participating in employer-sponsored 401(k) plans gain access to a broader range of investment opportunities that could, in some market conditions, enhance return potential and diversification.
Market and policy implications:
The push comes amid broader efforts by the Trump administration to modernize financial regulation and integrate digital assets into mainstream finance. Allowing $BTC Bitcoin and other regulated digital assets in 401(k) plans could reshape how Americans save for retirement, although it carries both potential benefits and risks.
SEC response and proposed rule changes: The SEC is expected to assess the committee’s letter and may initiate a formal rule-making process or issue guidance to facilitate retirement plan access to alternative assets.Interagency coordination: Efforts between the SEC and the Department of Labor could produce coordinated guidance on fiduciary duties and permissible asset categories under ERISA.Congressional oversight and legislation: Lawmakers may hold hearings and consider additional legislation to codify retirement investment reforms and address investor protection concerns.

The World Liberty Financial $WLFI community has opened a new governance proposal recommending the strategic use of a portion of its unlocked WLFI treasury holdings to accelerate the adoption and growth of its dollar-pegged stablecoin $USD1 . The proposal — now open for community discussion and voting — aims to deploy part of the treasury toward incentives that could expand USD1’s integration across centralized and decentralized finance ecosystems.
Proposal details and goals.
According to the governance update posted on WLFI’s community forum, the proposal suggests allocating less than 5 % of the unlocked WLFI treasury to support USD1’s broader adoption. The funds would be used strategically to build partnerships, incentivize listings on exchanges, and support USD1 use cases across both CeFi and DeFi platforms. The goal of the initiative is to leverage the stablecoin’s growth to benefit the wider WLFI ecosystem and increase economic activity for token holders.
The recommendation comes as USD1 has achieved notable adoption milestones, including its use in repurchasing WLFI tokens worth roughly $10 million in recent weeks and gaining support for multiple spot trading pairs on major exchanges. Proponents of the proposal argue that further incentives could help sustain this momentum and expand USD1’s utility in competitive stablecoin markets.
stablecoin strategy and ecosystem development
USD1, issued by World Liberty Financial, is a U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin that has rapidly grown in circulation since its launch, with integrations across major blockchains and decentralized exchanges designed to deepen liquidity and usage. World Liberty has also introduced incentive programs in the past, such as a USD1 points reward system to encourage trading and holding activities.
The project’s broader strategic vision focuses on expanding the reach of USD1 to compete with established stablecoins like USDT and $USDC , while positioning USD1 as a key settlement layer for global digital finance. These efforts are tied to increased on-chain activity and diversified use cases spanning both traditional and decentralized financial ecosystems.
Governance vote outcome — whether WLFI holders approve the proposal to allocate a portion of the treasury to USD1 incentives.Partnership expansion — any new exchange listings or DeFi integrations announced as a result of the vote.Stablecoin growth metrics — changes in USD1 circulation, liquidity and usage activity following implementation.

Danny Ryan, co-founder of Etherealize and former Ethereum developer, has warned that while the Trump administration’spro-crypto legislative advances have opened doors for digital assets, the industry now faces political tension and possible backlash once a new administration takes office. Ryan called on the crypto sector to use the current policy window to deeply embed itself into financial infrastructure so future debates focus on how crypto should be regulated and used responsibly, rather than whether it should exist.

Current Crypto Landscape Under Trump.
The Trump administration’s actions have positioned the U.S. as unusually supportive of the cryptocurrency industry, leading to landmark legislation and regulatory clarity that many in the sector have long sought. However, Ryan and other analysts believe that this pro-crypto stance carries political baggage tied to the Trump family’s extensive involvement in crypto ventures — including public projects perceived by critics to benefit from favorable policy environments.
Ryan highlighted that some Democrats at recent industry hearings have focused more on conflicts of interest and political implications than on substantive policy discussions, a dynamic he says has slowed meaningful legislative progress.
To avoid such a scenario, Ryan urged the industry to use the remaining time under current conditions to:

Integrate crypto deeply into traditional financial systemsOnboard major financial institutions and global capital marketsShowcase real-world utility and technological value beyond speculation
By doing so, Ryan believes the narrative around cryptocurrencies could shift from questions of existence to serious discussions about responsible usage and regulation — much like debates that surround long-standing technologies such as the internet.

Summary — Tom Lee sounds bullish: crypto bottom may be in, $BTC Bitcoin cycle upended. Prominent market strategist Tom Lee said during a recent appearance at Binance Blockchain Week 2025 that he believes crypto prices, including Bitcoin, have “bottomed out,” and that the traditional Bitcoin four-year cycle could be broken — potentially within the next eight weeks.
why it matters
1) Lee argued that ongoing developments — such as growing institutional adoption, tokenization trends, and macroeconomic shifts — have created conditions that could usher in a new phase for crypto.
2) He predicted that $BTC Bitcoin adoption could rise “200 times” if larger pools of institutional and retirement investors enter the market, underlining a long-term bullish vision.
3) Crucially, Lee suggested that the “old rhythm” — the roughly four-year halving-to-peak cycle that many traders follow — may not hold anymore. He said conditions have changed enough that the cycle could be “shattered.”
Lee’s remarks reflect a shift among some longtime crypto watchers: moving away from traditional cycle-based forecasts toward a view that institutional flows, macro conditions, and structural adoption could redraw crypto’s historical patterns.

The Kingdom of Bhutan has announced a landmark Bitcoin Development Pledge, committing up to 10,000 Bitcoin ($BTC ) from its sovereign reserves — valued at roughly $1 billion — to support the long-term development of the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) economic hub. The move marks one of the most ambitious uses of cryptocurrency by a nation in pursuit of economic diversification and sustainable growth.
Strategic Allocation of National Bitcoin
According to official statements, the government’s pledge will allocate up to 10,000 $BTC — a significant portion of Bhutan’s crypto holdings — toward financing infrastructure, attracting investment, and generating employment within the Gelephu region. While the exact mechanisms are still being outlined, authorities emphasize that the funds are intended to be deployed through prudent financial strategies rather than immediate asset sales.
King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck announced the pledge during the country’s National Day Address, framing it as a generational investment that will benefit the nation’s youth, broaden economic opportunities, and support long-term prosperity.
Funding Approach and Economic Implications
Rather than converting Bitcoin into fiat currency, Bhutan plans to use mechanisms such as collateralized lending, risk-managed yield strategies, and long-term holding approaches to finance GMC development while preserving underlying reserve assets. This strategy underscores the government’s intention to leverage Bitcoin’s potential price appreciation and decentralized financial utility without exposing national reserves to unnecessary volatility.
Bhutan’s substantial crypto stash — estimated at over 11,000 $BTC , ranking among the largest holdings by a sovereign state — stems mainly from state-supported mining operations powered by abundant and cheap hydroelectric energy.

Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, announced on Thursday that it will add major new trading pairs denominated in the $USD1 stablecoin and convert all collateral backing its Binance-Peg $BUSD token into USD1 at a 1:1 ratio, marking a significant shift in the exchange’s stablecoin infrastructure.

The move integrates the USD1 stablecoin, issued by World Liberty Financial (WLFI), more deeply into Binance’s spot markets and collateral structure — a rare step that could reshape how stablecoins are used across one of the industry’s largest trading venues.
New trading pairs and broader access
As of 08:00 UTC on Thursday, Binance users can trade USD1 with several of the exchange’s most liquid markets, including:

1) BNB/USD1
2) ETH/USD1
3) SOL/USD1
These additions make the stablecoin accessible in some of Binance’s highest-volume trading pairs for major tokens. The exchange is also enabling fee incentives across these markets, including zero fees on USD1/USDT and USD1/USDC trades and special fee waivers for VIP traders.
In addition, Binance is activating spot algo order support (Trading Bots) for the newly listed markets, giving traders more tools for automated strategies using USD1.

Conversion of BUSD collateral
In a coordinated update, Binance said it will convert all collateral assets backing Binance-Peg BUSD (B-Token) into USD1 at par, a process expected to take up to one week. After completion, USD1 will become a central part of the exchange’s internal collateral and margin systems.
The transition means USD1 will occupy a core liquidity and collateral role previously held by BUSD, further embedding the stablecoin into Binance’s infrastructure.
1) User adoption trends: whether traders will migrate liquidity to USD1 pairs on Binance.
2) Stablecoin market share: how USD1’s role evolves relative to incumbents such as $USDT and USDC.
3) Regulatory reactions: how U.S. and global regulators respond to a major exchange reworking stablecoin collateral structures.

The Bank of Japan (BoJ) has raised its key policy interest rate by 0.25 percentage points to 0.75%, marking the highest level in 30 years as of December 19, 2025. The decision — made unanimously by the BoJ’s policy board — reflects a continued shift away from decades of near-zero interest rate policy amid persistent inflation and improving economic indicators.
Historic Rate Hike and Policy Change.
In its latest monetary policy meeting, the Bank of Japan increased its benchmark interest rate from 0.50% to 0.75%, a level not seen since September 1995. The unanimous decision, announced by Governor Kazuo Ueda, underscores the central bank’s commitment to normalising monetary policy after years of ultra-loose conditions aimed at combating deflation.
Governor Ueda, who has led the BoJ since April 2023, has overseen several tightening steps as inflation in Japan has remained above the bank’s 2% target for an extended period — a significant departure from decades of sub-target price growth.
Several key economic trends influenced the policy shift:

1) Persistent Inflation: Core consumer prices in Japan have remained above the central bank’s inflation goal for months, driven in part by higher import costs, food prices, and wage pressures.
2) Improved Business Sentiment: Surveys of Japanese manufacturers and firms show rising confidence, supporting the case for tighter monetary conditions.
3) Global Monetary Context: While other major central banks have eased or kept rates steady amid global economic uncertainty, the BoJ’s stance reflects a distinct inflation and economic dynamic in Japan.
The policy rate increase comes at a time when Japan’s economy has faced mixed signals — including weak overall growth alongside pockets of wage and price strength — prompting policymakers to balance inflation control with economic resilience.

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has initiated a wide-ranging public consultation on its proposed regulatory framework for the cryptocurrency industry, inviting feedback from market participants, firms and consumers through Feb. 12, 2026. The move marks a key step in shaping the United Kingdom’s future crypto rulebook ahead of planned implementation in 2027.
What the consultation covers?
The FCA’s consultation — published on Dec. 16, 2025 — sets out a series of proposals for how crypto markets and firms should be regulated. The draft rules and guidance address many facets of digital-asset activity, including:
1) Regulation of crypto-asset trading platforms and intermediaries.
Staking, lending and borrowing protections to clarify risks for users and firms.
2) Admissions and disclosures for crypto assets, and controls to counter market abuse and manipulation.
3) Prudential requirements designed to strengthen financial resilience for regulated crypto firms.
4) Standards intended to help consumers make informed decisions when engaging with crypto products.
5) Consultation papers including CP25/40, CP25/41 and CP25/42 form part of the FCA’s broader “Crypto Roadmap” — a sequence of proposals that together will create a more comprehensive regulatory structure.
Responses to these papers are invited by 12 February 2026.

Binance announced today that it has received full regulatory authorization from Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). Under the approval, Binance will run its global platform under a formal, internationally recognized regulatory framework — transitioning operations into three newly-licensed ADGM entities.

From January 6, 2026, all Binance services will be provided through:

Nest Exchange Services Limited — a Recognised Investment Exchange (RIE), responsible for on-exchange activities including spot and derivatives trading.
Nest Clearing and Custody Limited — a Recognised Clearing House (RCH), responsible for clearing, settlement, central counterparty services, and custody of user digital assets.
Nest Trading Limited — a Broker-Dealer handling off-exchange services such as over-the-counter (OTC) trading, conversion, and other principal-based
Under the new arrangement:
Existing user credentials (UID, login, order history, balances) will remain intact and unaffected.
The relevant ADGM-licensed entity will become the legal counterparty for the specific service a user uses (e.g., trading, custody, OTC).
Data-controller status will shift to the licensed entity providing the service, potentially strengthening data governance and privacy under the updated terms of use and privacy notice.

The Bank of Mexico (Banxico), the country’s central bank, has cautioned that stablecoins could threaten financial stability if their growth continues without coordinated international regulation. In its new financial stability report, Banxico highlighted vulnerabilities tied to stablecoins’ reliance on short-term U.S. Treasury assets, market concentration and divergent regulatory frameworks abroad.
The report — released as part of the bank’s annual exploration of systemic risks — underscores Mexico’s cautious stance toward digital assets, even as other nations advance stablecoin frameworks. Banxico said it will keep a “healthy distance” between its traditional financial system and cryptocurrencies in the absence of a unified global framework.
Core concerns: liquidity, concentration and regulatory gaps
According to Banxico’s findings, stablecoins present several key risks:
Heavy dependence on short-term U.S. Treasuries — Stablecoin issuers have increasingly backed their tokens with short-term U.S. government debt, a dynamic that ties their liquidity profiles closely to another critical segment of global markets. This reliance could amplify stress if market conditions deteriorate unexpectedly.
Market concentration — A small number of stablecoin issuers control a large share of the market (with two major issuers accounting for roughly 86 % of supply), leaving the ecosystem vulnerable to stress or disruption at a few key firms.
Regulatory fragmentation — Banxico noted that differing global rules — such as Europe’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework and proposed U.S. legislation like the GENIUS Act — could create arbitrage opportunities and magnify stress across jurisdictions due to inconsistent reserve, redemption and depositor-protection requirements.

Michael Saylor, executive chairman of MicroStrategy and one of Bitcoin’s most outspoken advocates, reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to accumulating Bitcoin this week, saying that “the Bitcoin hoarding will continue until the complaining stops.” The comment, shared on social media, underscores his long-standing strategy of treating Bitcoin as a core corporate asset despite criticism from analysts and some investors.
Saylor’s remarks came amid renewed debate over MicroStrategy’s business model, which centers on using the firm’s treasury and capital markets activity to acquire and hold large quantities of Bitcoin. While some market participants question the sustainability of this strategy — particularly when Bitcoin prices fluctuate — Saylor has repeatedly doubled down on the idea that long-term accumulation remains the best path forward.
What to watch next?
MicroStrategy’s balance sheet disclosures: Future quarterly filings may reveal new BTC purchases or changes in strategy.
Bitcoin price action: How market participants react to large-scale holder narratives could shape near-term volatility.
Institutional demand vs. critique: Broader institutional interest in Bitcoin — via ETFs and corporate treasuries — may either validate or challenge the long-term hoarding thesis.

Members of the U.S. House Financial Services Committee have formally called on Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Paul Atkins to revise existing regulations so that Bitcoin and other digital assets may be included in 401(k) retirement plans, aligning with President Donald Trump’s 2025 executive order aimed at broadening retirement investment options.
In a December 11, 2025 letter, Republicans and Democrats on the committee urged the SEC to act quickly to update rules that currently limit the types of investments available to defined-contribution plans.The letter emphasized that the SEC should move in concert with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to implement regulatory changes necessary to allow retirement savers to allocate portions of their portfolios to alternative assets — including cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.

Visa Inc. has announced a major expansion of its stablecoin settlement infrastructure, enabling U.S. banks and financial institutions to settle transactions using Circle’s $USDT Coin (USDC) on blockchain networks — including Solana — as part of its ongoing strategy to modernize payments and liquidity management. The move expands Visa’s on-chain settlement options for institutional clients and reflects growing demand for digital-asset-enabled payment rails.
The initiative lets U.S. issuers and acquirers settle obligations in USDC instead of relying solely on traditional fiat rails, helping institutions manage treasury operations more flexibly and potentially reduce settlement times and costs. Visa’s expanded stablecoin settlement runs on supported blockchains with Solana offering faster and lower-cost transaction capabilities compared with conventional rails.
How the stablecoin settlement works
Under the new framework, participating financial institutions can settle Visa obligations in $USDC directly via supported blockchain networks — including Solana — which provides 7-day settlement windows rather than being restricted to standard banking hours. The settlement process uses Circle’s $USDC , a dollar-pegged stablecoin already widely adopted by banks and crypto innovators for digital payments and liquidity transfers.
Visa’s settlement expansion allows treasury and payment flows to be modernized by using blockchain-based settlement rails that operate outside traditional banking cutoff times, a shift that could improve liquidity management for banks and fintechs.

President Donald Trump said in a prime-time address on Wednesday that he will “soon” announce his pick for the next chairman of the Federal Reserve — describing the nominee as “someone who believes in lower interest rates by a lot.” The comments signal the White House’s intent to install a Fed leader more sympathetic to rapid monetary easing, a move that could sharpen debates over the central bank’s independence.
What the president said?
Speaking from the White House Diplomatic Reception Room, Trump told viewers he would “soon announce our next chairman of the Federal Reserve, someone who believes in lower interest rates by a lot. And mortgage payments will be coming down,” tying lower policy rates to his broader plan to ease borrowing costs.
Trump has previously said he would announce a nominee “early next year,” but Wednesday’s remarks suggested the administration is moving closer to a decision.

💰$BNB #BNB    reaches $1,050, setting a new record price for the asset.😃

What’s Going On Now
1. $BTC Bitcoin is trading around $110,000–$115,000 as of mid-September 2025.
2. Investor sentiment has improved thanks to U.S. inflation data (CPI) that showed less surprise, and hopes are rising for interest rate cuts later this year.
3. Stablecoin liquidity is increasing, which is bolstering confidence in crypto markets and helping $BTC Bitcoin maintain support levels.
Key Technicals & Patterns:
1. Support seems fairly strong around $108,000–$110,000. Prices dipped earlier in September but the downside seems to have been tested.
2. $BTC
3. Bitcoin tends to form monthly lows in the first 10 days of the month. For September 2025, data suggests the low (~$107,000) may already have been made early in the month.
4. Resistance is viewed by many analysts around $125,000, should macroeconomic conditions remain supportive

Exchange traded products ( ETPs/ETFs) are becoming more mainstream and increasing in important. For Example: ETPs are now among the biggest holders of $BTC Bitcoin.Speculation around new ETFs for coins like $SOL , $XRP , Lite coin is growing.