SEC Proposes New ‘Regulation Crypto Assets’
Regulation
“The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that it proposed new rules, titled ‘Regulation Crypto Assets,’ that would create a clear and fit-for-purpose framework for certain investment contracts involving crypto assets. This proposal follows the Commission’s March 2026 interpretation clarifying how the federal securities laws apply to certain crypto assets and transactions involving crypto assets. Together, these efforts introduce a comprehensive, tailored securities offering regime intended to address long-standing barriers to responsible capital formation and innovation within domestic crypto asset markets, while preserving the investor protections at the core of federal securities laws.”
Source: SEC
Bitcoin Whales End Selling Spree, Adding $2.9 Billion in 60 Days
Markets
“Bitcoin has spent months mired in a slump that has driven out retail traders, drained billions from crypto funds and turned one of its biggest buyers into a seller. Now, investors searching for signs of a bottom are getting a modicum of relief from an old source: Bitcoin whales are buying again. Large holders have added about 43,000 Bitcoin over the past 60 days, worth roughly $2.75 billion at current prices, according to CryptoQuant, whose calculation excludes exchanges and mining pools. The cohort recommitted, after months of selling, when the coin started to trade around $60,000, according to the data, with balances from so-called dolphins — those with smaller holdings — also growing. Data from researcher Glassnode offers an even more granular look: mid-sized holders with 100 to 1,000 Bitcoin have been on a buying spree as well, as have super-buyers called 'humpbacks,' a cohort of investors with more than 10,000 coins.”
Source: Bloomberg
Citi Expects to Launch Bitcoin Custody Later This Year Under Its New Custody+ Platform
Custody
“Citi is set to launch a digital asset custody service, as the Wall Street bank unveiled a new suite of near- and real-time products. The bank previously disclosed in November 2025 that it planned to launch native crypto custody in 2026. In an announcement on Tuesday, Citi confirmed the service will launch later this year, starting with bitcoin, and that clients will be able to access both traditional and crypto custody within the same framework. Citi has continued to expand its digital asset infrastructure this year. In January, the bank said it was working with Intercontinental Exchange to enable tokenized deposits across its clearinghouses, later joining a Swift pilot for 24/7 cross-border payments using tokenized deposits in July. Citi is also part of a group of major U.S. banks behind a planned tokenized deposit network through The Clearing House, targeting a launch in the first half of 2027.”
Source: The Block
Unitree Crypto Futures Indicate More Than 300% Debut Pop
Derivatives
“Crypto futures contracts tracking Chinese humanoid robot maker Unitree Robotics have soared ahead of the stock’s debut Wednesday, suggesting it is worth more than four times its $9 billion initial-public-offering valuation. The perpetual futures contracts on the Hyperliquid blockchain were trading at about $100 Tuesday, a day ahead of Unitree’s debut on the Shanghai Stock Exchange’s tech-focused Star Market, implying a valuation of $40.5 billion. Similar contracts for CXMT, the memory-chip maker that was the first mainland Chinese company to get a so-called 'perp' on Hyperliquid, also foreshadowed that the stock would surge when it debuted last month.”
Source: Bloomberg
Visa Looking for New Stablecoin Settlement Partner After BVNK Sale to Mastercard
Stablecoins
“Visa is looking for a new stablecoin settlement partner with licensing capabilities across multiple regions, according to documents seen by CoinDesk. This would fill the role previously held by BVNK, the stablecoin firm acquired by Mastercard earlier this year. Visa’s request for product (RFP) talks about the ability to swap and support a range of stablecoins, as well as handle settlement for the newly introduced Open USD stablecoin project, fronted by Stripe, Visa and Mastercard, which plans to support multiple stablecoins. The need for a stablecoin partner licensed in all major markets means the scope of potential partners has narrowed somewhat, Visa said. The payments giant said it is looking at one settlement and an over-the-counter (OTC) partner in particular, with cryptocurrency exchange licenses in the U.S., Canada, the UK and Singapore.”
Source: CoinDesk
