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The Securities and Exchange Commission has proposed a new set of rules with a significant focus on easing regulations on the cryptocurrency industry. This agenda includes nearly ten new rules aimed at integrating digital assets into the U.S. economy, a stark contrast to previous regulatory approaches. The proposed changes would address the issuance and trading of crypto assets, allowing them to be traded on U.S. securities exchanges and creating new exemptions and safe harbors.
Additionally, the SEC plans to reconsider key definitions and regulations from the New Deal era, such as the terms "dealer" and "broker," which are foundational to the agency's authority. This move is part of SEC Chair Paul Atkins's "Project Crypto" initiative, which seeks to establish clear guidelines for the crypto market while continuing to combat fraudulent activities. These proposals represent the most concrete action to date by the SEC to implement its new, more permissive stance on digital asset regulation. Source
According to a DappRadar report, the NFT market has experienced its strongest two months since February, with a notable increase in trading volumes. While the number of sales has slightly declined, the average price per NFT has risen, indicating that collectors are paying more for each asset. This resurgence is attributed to increased adoption, including the opening of a permanent NFT art gallery in a nightclub in Ibiza featuring artists like Beeple, and the success of the Coinbase layer-2 network Base, which has become a major platform for NFT trading. The market has also seen a boost from high-profile events like American rapper Snoop Dogg's quick sellout of an NFT collection.
The report also highlights that despite the growth of other platforms like Base, Ethereum remains the dominant force in the NFT space, holding a 61% market share. The NFT market has seen a tumultuous few years, with volumes plunging earlier in the year, but the recent months of July and August have shown clear signs of a rebound, with the market cap surging and investors returning to the space. The total trading volume for August reached $578 million, a slight increase from July's $530 million, making them the strongest months of the year for the market outside of January. Source
In a strategic move to expand its services for advanced traders, the U.S. crypto exchange Kraken has acquired Breakout, a proprietary trading platform. The acquisition will allow Kraken to offer a new service where traders can access notional capital of up to $200,000 to trade with, retaining up to 90% of their profits. This performance-based model, which offers up to 5x leverage on Bitcoin and Ethereum contracts, requires traders to first pass an evaluation to demonstrate their skill before being granted capital. Kraken co-CEO Arjun Sethi stated that this acquisition is about rewarding proven performance rather than just access to capital.
This acquisition is the latest in a series of expansions for Kraken, which is preparing for a potential public offering as early as 2026. The company recently announced the acquisition of futures trading platform NinjaTrader and has also begun offering stock and ETF trading in certain states. The moves come amidst a more favourable regulatory environment for digital assets in the U.S. The Breakout platform is expected to be integrated into Kraken's Pro platform, further enhancing its offerings for professional traders. Source
The Frontier Stable Token (FRNT), a stablecoin authorized by the state of Wyoming, will soon be launched on the Hedera blockchain. The Wyoming Stable Token Commission selected Hedera for its technical capabilities, which align with the commission's focus on security and compliance. This addition expands the FRNT stablecoin's presence, as it had already been launched on seven other blockchains, including Ethereum, Solana, and Polygon, following its mainnet debut in August.
Despite the stablecoin going live on multiple blockchains, it is not yet available for public purchase. The Wyoming Stable Token Commission's website indicates that users still do not have the option to buy the token. However, Hedera has stated that information on purchasing FRNT will be made available soon. This initiative is part of Wyoming's broader effort to position itself as a hub for the crypto industry, attracting companies like Kraken to move their headquarters to the state due to its pro-crypto policies. Source
A new report from cybersecurity firm HiddenLayer describes a "CopyPasta" attack, a proof-of-concept that demonstrates how malicious code can be spread through AI coding assistants. The attack works by embedding hidden instructions, known as "prompt injections," into common developer files like "LICENSE.txt." When an AI assistant processes these files, it is tricked into copying and injecting the malicious code into a user's project without their knowledge. HiddenLayer researchers classify this as a virus because it still requires some user interaction to propagate, but it is designed to be stealthy and evade human detection.
This attack highlights a significant security vulnerability in AI tools, as they often treat license files and other documentation as trusted sources and obey embedded instructions without scrutiny. The problem is that these AI agents do not differentiate between developer instructions and user input, making them susceptible to manipulation. While CopyPasta is currently a theoretical attack, it serves as a warning about the potential for AI assistants to become unwitting accomplices in cyberattacks, following a string of recent warnings about prompt injection flaws in various AI systems. Source
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The Markethive internal wallet is a comprehensive financial management tool designed for entrepreneurs within the Markethive ecosystem. It acts as a central hub for various financial activities, including micropayments, subscription fees, staking rewards, and income from product sales. The wallet also manages loan transactions, such as those related to the Incentivized Loan Program (ILP), ensuring transparent accounting. It is a key component of Markethive's financial infrastructure, which includes digital assets like Markethive Credits, ILP founder tokens, and the native token, Hivecoin (HVC).
Security is a primary focus for the Markethive wallet, which utilizes advanced encryption and multi-factor authentication to protect user assets and data. The wallet's "Vault" serves as a core accounting system, providing a clear overview of financial activities and allowing users to manage balances and subscriptions. It also features separate sub-wallets for various cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Hivecoin, and Solana, and offers both hot and cold storage options for enhanced security. The wallet's functionality extends to a gateway for purchasing and managing Markethive services, such as premium upgrades and various marketing tools. Source
Stripe's CEO, Patrick Collison, has faced a divided reaction from the crypto community after announcing Tempo, a new layer-1 blockchain. Collison justified the move by stating that existing blockchains aren't optimized for the high transaction volume of Stripe's payment platform, which can exceed 10,000 transactions per second (TPS). He compared this to Bitcoin's 5 TPS, Ethereum's 20 TPS, and newer networks like Solana, which he claimed reaches around 1,000 TPS. This specific claim about Solana was quickly disputed by Helius Labs' CEO, Mert Mumtaz, who called it "hilariously wrong" and noted that Solana's current TPS is actually much higher, a fact supported by Solana Explorer data.
The decision to build a new layer-1 instead of using an existing network or creating a layer-2 solution has also drawn criticism. Many in the crypto space believe there's no need for another new blockchain and that the problems Stripe aims to solve are already being addressed. Critics, including an Ethereum Foundation member and a crypto commentator, questioned why Tempo couldn't have been built as an Ethereum layer-2 to leverage its existing security, network effects, and lower costs. Collison, however, argued that Tempo is designed to be a payments-first blockchain where fees can be denominated in a fiat currency, which he believes is more valuable for real-world financial applications than fees paid in a native blockchain token. Source
Boerse Stuttgart Group, one of Europe's largest exchange operators, has launched a blockchain-based settlement platform named Seturion. The platform is designed to unify and streamline cross-border transactions of tokenized assets across Europe, addressing the current fragmentation in the market. Seturion is open to various market participants, including banks, brokers, and trading venues, and supports both public and private blockchains. It allows for settlement in central bank money or on-chain cash, and has already been tested by European banks in trials with the European Central Bank (ECB).
The launch of Seturion comes as the tokenization of real-world assets like bonds and equities gains momentum in Europe, supported by the EU’s DLT Pilot Regime. This trend is also evident globally, with major players in both Europe and the United States engaging in tokenization initiatives. Examples include Taurus launching a Solana-based platform in Switzerland, Robinhood rolling out a tokenization-focused layer-2, and BlackRock's tokenized money market fund expanding to the Solana blockchain. Source
The UK’s HM Treasury has released new draft regulations to enhance its anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CTF) framework, with specific updates targeting crypto asset firms. These proposed changes aim to close regulatory loopholes and respond to evolving financial crime risks, particularly as crypto assets play a growing role in illicit activities. Key measures include strengthening the “fit and proper” test for individuals controlling crypto firms and lowering the threshold for reporting a change in a firm's ownership from 25% to 10%, which aligns with the Financial Services and Markets Act (FSMA).
The draft legislation follows a public consultation that identified weaknesses in the current regime. It also addresses the findings of the National Risk Assessment, which highlights the UK's exposure to financial crime. In addition to changes for crypto businesses, the proposed amendments also cover a range of other areas, such as customer due diligence, trust registration, and converting financial thresholds from euros to sterling. A public consultation on the draft is open until September 30, with the final regulations expected to be presented to Parliament in early 2026. Source
The development of global stablecoin payment rails is accelerating, with major players like Stripe and Fireblocks entering the space. On the same day, Stripe CEO Patrick Collison announced Tempo, a new layer-1 blockchain designed for stablecoin transactions, while blockchain infrastructure firm Fireblocks launched a new, compliant network for global stablecoin payments. Fireblocks' new network aims to solve the fragmentation that companies face when adopting stablecoins for payments by connecting them to over 40 pre-vetted providers across more than 100 countries.
Stripe's new Tempo network, incubated with venture capital firm Paradigm, is being positioned as a "payments-oriented L1," optimized for high-scale, real-world financial applications. A key feature cited by Collison is the ability to denominate transaction fees in a fiat currency rather than a blockchain-specific token, which he argues is more intuitive for users. Both new ventures will compete with existing crypto-native networks like Ripple and Stellar, as well as traditional financial giants like Visa and Mastercard, which have also been increasing their stablecoin capabilities. Source
A recent Binance survey of 1,900 Australians found that crypto users in the country continue to experience significant "friction" with banks, hindering their access to crypto exchanges. The survey revealed that 58% of respondents want to easily deposit funds without limits, and 22% have changed banks to make crypto transactions easier. Industry leaders from exchanges like Binance, OKX, and Kraken report that banks often deny services to crypto businesses and prevent customer transfers, despite years of regulatory progress in the country and updated guidance from Australia's financial intelligence agency, AUSTRAC, which explicitly states that banks are not mandated to enforce a blanket ban.
This "friction" not only inconveniences users but also creates what is known as "debanking," where banks close accounts of individuals and businesses for their involvement with crypto. Industry executives emphasize that this practice introduces concentration risks, forcing legitimate businesses to rely on a very limited number of banks. They argue that the solution lies in the Australian government introducing clearer, purpose-fit legislation that would help banks differentiate between legitimate crypto actors and bad ones. This would provide the regulatory clarity needed to end the debanking and banking restrictions that frustrate Australian crypto users. Source
Disclaimer: These articles are provided for informational purposes only. They are not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other advice.
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