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during a recent Senate Banking Committee hearing, substantial progress was achieved in advancing the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act (CLARITY Act). The bill passed with a 15-9 vote, moving to the full Senate for consideration.Several bipartisan lawmakers emphasized during the discussions that the United States urgently needs to establish a unified regulatory framework for digital assets, clarifying asset classification, trading platform oversight, and market structure rules to provide long-term certainty for the industry. Angela Alsobrooks pointed out from a family perspective that younger generations show a natural interest in digital assets, and the regulatory system should strike a balance between "opportunity and protection" to prevent technological development from escaping regulatory oversight. Tim Scott stressed the need to advance legislation from the standpoint of economic opportunity and the American Dream, while Cynthia Lummis noted that the legislative process has already demonstrated a clear foundation for bipartisan cooperation.Supporters argue that digital assets have become an irreversible trend, with approximately 68 million Americans currently holding related assets. However, a significant volume of transactions still occur on overseas platforms, underscoring the urgent need for the U.S. to establish a domestic regulatory framework to enhance market transparency and investor protection. Analysts point out that the CLARITY Act is seen as a crucial complement following stablecoin-related legislation (the GENIUS Act). Without supporting rules at the market structure level, the U.S. risks losing its dominant position in the competition for digital financial infrastructure.As the bill advances to the full Senate, observers are closely watching whether it can complete final legislation based on bipartisan consensus, thereby establishing the core rules of the U.S. digital asset regulatory framework. (CoinDesk)
According to Digital Asset, domestic virtual asset trading volume in South Korea has fallen to approximately 8% of KOSPI trading volume—less than one-tenth. Media statistics show that, as of May 26, the ratio of trading volume on Korean won-based exchanges (Upbit, Bithumb, Coinone, Korbit, and Gopax) to KOSPI trading volume stood at just 8%. The report notes that South Korea’s virtual asset market has been weakening continuously since the second half of 2025; it declined sharply following a large-scale futures liquidation event in October 2025, while the KOSPI strengthened amid a semiconductor upcycle and supportive government policies. Additionally, according to CryptoQuant data, the Bitcoin Korea Premium indicator has been negative for most of the time since March, reflecting weak buying demand in the Korean market.
the proposed U.S. crypto market structure bill, the "Clarity Act," could foster a new "Yield-as-a-Service" market in the crypto industry. It may also push the sector away from a passive "hold-to-earn" model toward an AI-driven compliant yield infrastructure.Currently, the core of the debate centers on Section 404 of the bill, which would prohibit Digital Asset Service Providers (DASPs) from directly offering yields solely based on users holding a specific digital asset. Joe Vollono believes this means the industry will shift from "Hold-to-Earn" to "Use-to-Earn," making the future market more reliant on active and compliant yield strategies.Joe Vollono, Chief Business Officer at STBL, stated that the bill could drive development in areas such as DeFi infrastructure, treasury management, collateral management, automated capital management, on-chain lending, and reward systems. AI is expected to become a crucial foundational layer for coordinating regulated capital flows.At this stage, the Clarity Act has passed the U.S. Senate Banking Committee. It is expected to move next to a full Senate vote, where it will be reconciled with the version from the Agriculture Committee. The market generally believes this bill could, for the first time, establish a complete regulatory framework for the U.S. digital asset market, clearly defining the regulatory boundaries between the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for digital assets. This would pave the way for large institutional capital to enter the crypto market. (CoinDesk)
JPMorgan announced its blockchain platform Kinexys has exceeded $1.5 trillion in cumulative transaction volume since its launch in 2020, processing over $2 billion in daily transaction volume.Additionally, in May 2026, JPMorgan applied to launch a tokenized Treasury fund, built using the Kinexys blockchain infrastructure, designed to meet the reserve asset requirements for stablecoin issuers under the GENIUS Act. Its Q3 2025 13F filing shows JPMorgan increased its holdings of iShares Bitcoin Trust shares by 64% to 5.28 million shares, valued at approximately $343 million.Meanwhile, Kinexys and Digital Asset plan to bring JPM Coin to the Canton Network in 2026 to enable institutional deposit token settlements on public infrastructure. (financefeeds)
the U.S. House of Representatives has introduced a new bipartisan bill, the "American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026" (ARMA), which aims to include Bitcoin held by the U.S. government in a strategic reserve and requires a minimum 20-year lock-up period.Unlike the previously proposed BITCOIN Act, the new bill no longer requires the U.S. government to purchase 1 million BTC. Instead, it primarily incorporates Bitcoin already held or acquired in the future through means such as criminal and civil forfeitures into the reserve. Additionally, the bill will establish a separate Digital Asset Stockpile to manage non-Bitcoin crypto assets held by the federal government.According to the draft, Bitcoin entered into the strategic reserve shall not be sold, exchanged, auctioned, hypothecated, or otherwise disposed of for 20 years. After the lock-up period ends, the Secretary of the Treasury may recommend selling up to 10% of the reserve assets within any two-year period.The bill also requires the government to publish quarterly reserve proofs and conduct third-party audits of its Bitcoin holdings. Supporters argue that the U.S. should not sell strategic digital assets but should hold them long-term as part of a modernized national reserve system.
FocusAI, the largest shareholder of the Busan Digital Asset Exchange, is moving forward with the acquisition of the South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Flybit. Both parties are in the final stages of discussions regarding details such as the share transfer from Flybit's largest shareholder and representative director, Kim Seok-jin.Flybit registered as a virtual asset service provider in 2021 but has since exited the Korean won market after failing to establish a real-name account partnership with a bank. Through this acquisition, FocusAI plans to build a composite digital asset platform that manages cryptocurrencies, real-world assets, and tokenized securities. The transaction is still subject to a review by the Financial Intelligence Unit regarding the change of major shareholder. (bizwatch)
According to CoinDesk, U.S. bipartisan lawmakers Steven Horsford, Max Miller, Suzan DelBene, and Mike Carey jointly reintroduced the Digital Asset Protection, Accountability, Regulation, Innovation, Taxation, and Yield Act (the “EQUAL Act”) on Wednesday. The revised bill primarily includes the following provisions: (1) specifying that regulated payment stablecoins generate no gain or loss if their cost basis is no less than 99% of their redemption value; (2) establishing a safe harbor for broker transactions or taxpayer account transactions; (3) clarifying how “wash sale” rules apply to digital assets; and (4) requiring the IRS to assess the current tax burden associated with small-value cryptocurrency transactions and study the feasibility—and potential for abuse—of introducing a tax exemption for transactions under $200. The crypto industry has long advocated for tax exemptions on small-value transactions to promote cryptocurrency adoption in everyday payment scenarios. Representative Horsford stated that tax policy forms the foundation of the crypto regulatory framework, and that current tax law remains silent on numerous core issues concerning digital assets.
According to an official announcement, Plume stated that it has obtained a Digital Asset Business License from the Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA), making it the world’s first regulated on-chain vault manager. Plume noted that this positions it alongside other BMA-regulated entities such as Circle, Coinbase, and Kraken, and said it brings the company closer to realizing its vision of open finance.
Governor Walz of Minnesota has signed legislation enabling state-chartered credit unions to offer digital asset custody accounts. The bill aims to allow Minnesota residents to manage their crypto assets more securely under regulatory oversight and strengthen protections against fraud, hacking, and asset loss. Minnesota Credit Unions also thanked co-sponsors Reps. Perryman and Elkins and Sen. Seeberger for advancing this legislation.
: Digital Asset Clearing Center (DACC), a tokenized financial market infrastructure provider, announced the completion of a $10 million strategic financing round. Participants included Conflux, Global InfoTech, Fosun International, Blockstone, Avior Capital, Fintech World, Satoshi Ventures, and BridgeTower. DACC currently offers financial institutions an end-to-end "Clearing-as-a-Service" solution. The new funds will support the construction of its compliant financial settlement and clearing infrastructure. (Aastocks)
According to a post by a16z crypto, on May 14, the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs advanced the “Digital Asset Market CLARITY Act” (CLARITY) via a bipartisan vote—a historic step forward for U.S. crypto market structure legislation. The CLARITY Act aims to establish a clear regulatory framework for blockchain networks and digital assets. Its core provisions include: clarifying the jurisdictional boundaries between the SEC and the CFTC over crypto assets; regulating crypto exchange operations; protecting consumer rights; and providing a clear pathway for blockchain networks to operate compliantly in the United States. a16z notes that, over the past decade, the U.S. reliance on “regulation-by-enforcement instead of legislation” has not only distorted markets and stifled innovation but also spurred widespread regulatory arbitrage—driving numerous crypto projects overseas. The bill draws upon the 2024 FIT21 Act and the House version of the CLARITY Act introduced in 2025, further refining and strengthening those proposals. Currently, the drafts from the Senate Banking Committee and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry will be consolidated into a unified bill for a full Senate vote. Upon passage, it must still be approved by the House of Representatives and signed into law by the President to take effect. a16z compares this legislative milestone to the historic significance of the 1933 Securities Act and cites the explosive industry growth following the passage of the GENIUS stablecoin bill as precedent—arguing that once enacted, CLARITY will usher in a new wave of innovation across the U.S. crypto industry.
David Sacks stated in a post that tomorrow's consideration of the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act (CLARITY Act) is an important step towards making the United States the "global crypto capital" and maintaining its leadership in innovation.David Sacks expressed gratitude to Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott and the relevant committee for driving the compromise and advancement of the bill, while also thanking White House Crypto Czar Patrick Witt and the crypto industry for their support.He noted that currently, approximately 50 million people in the U.S. hold or use cryptocurrency, and this bill will help ensure continued innovation and development of the American crypto ecosystem for years to come.
According to Cointelegraph, Bitfinex has obtained a digital asset service provider license in El Salvador, expanding its regulated business footprint in Latin America.
According to Cointelegraph, the Government of Bermuda has announced plans to migrate certain payment and financial services activities onto the Stellar network as part of its initiative to build a “fully on-chain national economy.” Bermuda’s Premier, David Burt, stated that, following a completed risk assessment, the government may accept and invest in digital assets, and advance the migration of select financial services onto the blockchain to address high transaction fees. Premier Burt previously revealed that the Bermuda government has established partnerships with Circle and Coinbase. Since enacting the Digital Asset Business Act in 2018, Bermuda has consistently advanced a regulatory framework friendly to the cryptocurrency industry.
Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan stated that privacy is becoming a core infrastructure direction for the next phase of the crypto industry. Recently, three institutional-grade blockchains focused on stablecoins and asset tokenization—Arc, Canton, and Tempo—have accumulated over $1 billion in total funding, indicating a rapidly growing demand from institutions for "privacy-friendly on-chain financial systems."Among them, stablecoin issuer Circle contributed $222 million in funding for Arc, giving it a valuation of approximately $3 billion; Digital Asset’s Canton blockchain is reportedly seeking $300 million in funding at a $2 billion valuation; and Tempo, backed by Stripe and Paradigm, has previously completed $500 million in funding at a valuation of $5 billion.Hougan noted that this funding wave reflects three major trends: the gradual clarification of the U.S. regulatory framework, increased institutional demand for on-chain privacy, and intensified competition among new blockchain networks supported by large enterprises. Current public blockchains still face structural trade-offs between speed, cost, security, and privacy. However, scenarios involving stablecoins and RWA tokenization require systems that simultaneously offer high performance, compliance, and privacy, making “verifiable privacy” a critical prerequisite for institutional adoption of on-chain finance.Hougan further stated that, for enterprises, “all transactions being publicly broadcast” is not an advantage but a potential flaw. In the future, users and institutions may find it increasingly difficult to accept a fully transparent on-chain financial environment. He believes that privacy capabilities could become the “killer app” driving the crypto industry into its next phase of mainstream adoption. Additionally, following the passage of the U.S. Genius Act in 2025, regulatory certainty has significantly increased, providing a clearer policy foundation for institutional funds to enter the crypto infrastructure space. (CoinDesk)
Odaily Odaily, the Stellar Development Foundation and the Government of Bermuda have jointly announced that Bermuda will migrate key payment and financial services to the Stellar network, officially advancing the construction of a "fully on-chain national economy." The initiative is based on Bermuda's 2018 Digital Asset Business Act regulatory framework and aims to significantly reduce the 3%-5% (or even higher) payment processing costs currently borne by local merchants.According to the plan, Bermuda residents will soon be able to receive wages, pay for goods and services, settle government fees, and hold digital assets through digital wallets on the Stellar network. The government will pilot stablecoin payments, financial institutions will be able to access tokenized instruments, and related assets will also be used for government disbursements such as social service payments.
Bitfinex has announced it has obtained a Digital Asset Service Provider (DASP) license in El Salvador, further expanding its compliant business footprint in Latin America and completing full regulatory coverage for its business lines in the country.Following this approval, Bitfinex's core spot trading platform has been brought under El Salvador's regulatory framework, forming a complete compliance structure alongside the previously licensed Bitfinex Securities and Bitfinex Derivatives, covering spot trading, derivatives, and tokenized securities businesses.
According to The Block, the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking has released an updated 309-page version of the Clarity Act, scheduled for review and vote later this week. The new text includes language restricting stablecoin rewards and incorporates provisions from the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act, clarifying that non-custodial developers are not considered money transmitters. Coinbase—which had previously withdrawn its support due to controversy over the stablecoin rewards provision—has now reversed its position and endorsed the bill; however, banking industry groups still deem the restrictions insufficient. Meanwhile, the bill still lacks ethics-related provisions targeting digital asset-related benefits received by the President and other federal officials. Democratic lawmakers have stated that, absent such compromises, the bill is unlikely to gain their support.
: Australian authorities plan to amend the capital gains tax system in the upcoming federal budget, with the adjustment covering cryptocurrencies and other digital assets. Currently, the Australian Tax Office treats most cryptocurrencies as capital gains tax assets, allowing individual investors who hold them for over 12 months to enjoy a 50% reduction in taxable gains.According to reports, the government is currently considering lowering the 50% discount rate to between 25% and 33%, or adopting inflation indexing to replace the fixed discount, meaning only the real appreciation above inflation would be taxed. The reform applies to stocks, exchange-traded funds, and digital currencies outside of pension accounts. Analysis indicates that the new rules could reduce the after-tax returns on high-growth tokens and may prompt retail investors to adjust their portfolios before the policy potentially takes effect on July 1, 2026. Specific details are pending confirmation in the Finance Minister's budget report.
the Bank of New York Mellon (BNY) has announced the launch of a compliant institutional-grade digital asset custody service in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), aiming to position Abu Dhabi as a global digital finance hub. The service is designed to provide institutional clients with highly secure and scalable digital asset custody solutions. Initially, the service will support the custody of Bitcoin and Ethereum, with subsequent phases expanding to stablecoins, tokenized real-world assets (RWAs), and more regulated digital financial products. The project remains subject to final agreement confirmation and relevant regulatory approvals. (Crowdfundinsider)