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39 financial giants demand an emergency fast-track for Europe’s blockchain pilot

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39 financial giants demand an emergency fast-track for Europe's blockchain pilot

European financial firms and technology groups are urging lawmakers to speed up changes to rules governing distributed ledger technology, warning the region risks falling behind the U.S. in digital finance.

In a joint letter, 39 signatories including Boerse Stuttgart Group, Nasdaq and fintech associations across several European Union (EU) countries asked the European Commission and Parliament to separate the digital ledger technology (DLT) pilot regime from a broader legislative package under review.

They argue that handling the rules on their own would allow quicker updates, Bloomberg reports. The DLT pilot, in place since 2023, lets firms test how tokenized versions of assets like shares and bonds can trade and settle using blockchains.

It sits within a wider set of 18 financial laws now moving through the EU’s legislative process, a path industry groups say could take years.

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The coalition is pushing for practical changes, including expanding the types of assets allowed, raising transaction limits to 150 billion euros ($176 billion) and removing expiry dates on licenses. These changes, they argue, would give firms room to build real markets rather than small trials.

The letter comes as the U.S. shapes laws regulating the space, including the Genius Act, meant to help bring crypto further into mainstream finance.

The European Commission has signaled it prefers to pass the full legislative package together as part of its broader plan to mobilize savings into investment.

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Virginia Redistricting Vote Could Flip the House

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Virginia Redistricting Vote Could Flip the House

Virginia redistricting reaches its decisive moment today as voters in a statewide special election choose whether to approve a Democratic-drawn congressional map that would shift the state’s House delegation from six Democratic seats and five Republican seats to a projected ten Democratic and one Republican, CNN reported.

Summary

  • Nearly 1.4 million Virginians cast early ballots before today’s polls opened, an unusually large figure for an April special election.
  • Democrats spent $55 million on advertising versus $23 million for Republicans, with Hakeem Jeffries, former President Obama, and California Governor Gavin Newsom all campaigning for a yes vote.
  • A Washington Post and George Mason University poll showed 52% of likely voters supported the measure and 47% opposed, within the margin of error.

Virginia redistricting is the defining political story today as voters decide on a constitutional amendment that would temporarily hand the Democratic-controlled General Assembly the power to redraw the state’s congressional map before the November midterms. Polls close at 7 p.m. ET.

A yes vote immediately activates a pre-approved map already passed by the legislature and signed by Governor Abigail Spanberger. That map projects Democrats winning ten of the state’s eleven congressional seats. A no vote leaves the current map in place until the bipartisan redistricting commission draws new lines after the 2030 census.

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“We didn’t start this fight, but I’m saying to Virginia, we need to finish it,” Democratic Delegate Delores McQuinn said at a rally in the final days of the campaign.

What the Map Would Change If the Amendment Passes

The current Virginia congressional map has six Democratic seats and five Republican seats. Under the proposed Democratic map, ten of the eleven districts are projected to favor Democrats, with only the eleventh remaining competitive for Republicans. That shift of four seats in one state would be one of the largest single-state contributions to a potential Democratic House majority in November, given how narrow the current Republican margin is.

Republicans including former Governor Glenn Youngkin and Speaker Mike Johnson campaigned against the amendment, arguing that Virginia voters approved the bipartisan redistricting commission in 2020 specifically to prevent partisan mapmaking. Democrats framed their effort as a direct response to Republican gerrymandering in Texas and other states encouraged by President Trump in 2025.

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How the National Redistricting War Reached Virginia

Virginia is the latest front in what CNN described as “an unprecedented coast-to-coast redistricting war.” Trump encouraged Republican-led states to redraw their congressional maps mid-decade for partisan advantage. Texas acted first. California Democrats responded by stripping Republicans of several seats. Multiple states followed. The running national tally before today’s vote shows nine additional Republican-friendly seats against six Democratic-leaning ones created through mid-decade redistricting.

The Virginia amendment survived two separate court rulings that attempted to block it from the ballot, two Virginia Supreme Court interventions, and an ongoing legal challenge from Republicans whose briefs are due to the Virginia Supreme Court two days after today’s election. The outcome of the vote itself will not resolve the legal fight, only determine which map is in effect while courts continue deliberating.

What the Vote Means for the Crypto Legislative Window

Every additional seat at risk heading into November tightens the calculation for how aggressively the Republican House majority will pursue legislative priorities before members turn their attention to their own electoral survival. The midterm pressure on the crypto legislative calendar is already severe: the CLARITY Act markup is overdue, the stablecoin bill remains unfinished, and the effective legislative window before summer recess is measured in weeks.

A large Democratic gain from Virginia would narrow the seat count Republicans need to defend, accelerate the midterm posture across Congress, and further compress the window available for crypto reform advocates to secure votes. The results tonight will be watched by every lobbyist and legislative strategist tracking how much runway the current majority has left.

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Kalshi takes on Coinbase (COIN), Robinhood (HOOD) with new plan to offer crypto perpetual futures: The Information

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Kalshi takes on Coinbase (COIN), Robinhood (HOOD) with new plan to offer crypto perpetual futures: The Information

Prediction markets platform Kalshi is preparing to launch crypto trading in the U.S., according to a report from The Information, expanding beyond its core prediction markets business as competition intensifies across both sectors.

The platform plans to start by offering perpetual futures tied to crypto tokens such as bitcoin , people familiar with the matter told the publication.

Perpetual futures are a type of derivatives contract that allow traders to bet on the price of an asset without owning it and without a fixed expiration date. Unlike traditional futures, which settle at a set time, perpetuals can be held indefinitely as long as traders maintain sufficient collateral. Prices are kept aligned with the underlying asset through funding payments between long and short positions, making them a core product on many offshore crypto exchanges.

Kalshi’s move would place it in more direct competition with crypto platforms such as Coinbase (COIN), which has been expanding its own derivatives and prediction market offerings. Coinbase does not yet offer true perpetual futures in the U.S., though it has introduced “perpetual-style” futures contracts with long-dated expirations and has signaled interest in bringing more advanced derivatives products onshore. Other exchanges are moving in a similar direction, underscoring a broader push to capture demand that has historically flowed to offshore venues.

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Kalshi’s expansion comes as regulatory conditions in the U.S. begin to shift, opening the door for products that have largely traded outside the country. The company already holds multiple licenses from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and recently secured approval to offer margin trading, positioning it to enter the derivatives market.

The firm is expected to begin with crypto-linked perpetuals but could extend the model to other asset classes over time, one of the people said.

The move reflects growing overlap between prediction markets and crypto trading platforms, which are increasingly competing for the same users. Several major crypto exchanges, including Coinbase, Crypto.com and Gemini, have introduced prediction market products, while crypto trading volumes have declined in recent months following a market downturn.

At the same time, activity in prediction markets has surged, drawing both user engagement and investor capital. That convergence is pushing platforms like Kalshi to broaden their offerings as they compete for a shared base of traders.

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XLM surges above key resistance level, bullish momentum builds

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A trader analyzing a bullish XLM chart
A trader analyzing a bullish XLM chart

Key takeaways

  • Stellar is up 7% in the last 24 hours, making it the best performer among the top 20 cryptocurrencies by market cap.
  • On-chain data, derivatives metrics, and momentum indicators collectively support a positive outlook

Stellar (XLM) is showing strong performance above critical resistance levels on Tuesday, as XLM found support around its respective resistance the previous day. 

With growing on-chain activity, positive derivatives data, and bullish momentum indicators, XLM is poised for potential upside.

Bullish sentiment backed by on-chain and derivatives data

CryptoQuant’s latest summary suggests a neutral to bullish outlook for XLM, highlighting large whale orders and favorable conditions in spot markets.

XLM is showing large whale orders with mostly neutral market metrics, reinforcing a bullish outlook.

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On the derivatives front, XLM is displaying positive funding rates. XLM’s OI-Weighted Funding Rate flipped positive on Monday, reaching 0.0032% on Tuesday. This positive rate suggests a bullish market sentiment, with longs paying shorts.

XLM is showing promising signs of continued strength as it maintains momentum toward a potential breakout.

XLM technical outlook: Rebounds from key support

The XLM/USD 4-hour chart is bearish and efficient as Stellar is trading at $0.1815 at press time. The coin found support around the 50-day EMA at $0.165 the previous day. 

XLM is holding a constructive near-term bias as it stabilizes above the 50-day EMA and the broken descending trendline that now offers secondary support near $0.153. 

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The current momentum indicators suggest that XLM could rally higher in the near term. The RSI on the 4-hour chart reads 71, just below the overbought territory. The MACD line is tracking above zero, suggesting buyers retain control while price stays capped above the 100-day EMA at $0.179.

If the rally persists, immediate resistance would be found at the 4-hour TLQ of $0.194, followed by a more substantive barrier at the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement of the broader downswing at $0.201.

A daily candle close above these levels would expose the 200-day EMA at $0.215, which defines a key medium-term hurdle.

XLM/USD 4H Chart

On the downside, initial support is seen at the 100-day EMA of $0.179, with another major demand zone at the day’s open near $0.173. 

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An extended bearish performance would expose the 50-day EMA at $0.165, with deeper protection at the former descending resistance line-turned-support around $0.153.

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BTC slides as Fed chair nominee Warsh says Trump didn’t demand rate cut

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BTC slides as Fed chair nominee Warsh says Trump didn't demand rate cut

Crypto and crypto markets pulled back Tuesday as Federal Reserve chair nominee Kevin Warsh said U.S. President Donald Trump never demanded he cut rates when he takes the helm at the central bank.

Speaking before the Senate Banking Committee, Warsh emphasized the independence of the Federal Reserve, pushing back on speculation about political pressure on rate decisions.

“I never said to the president where I think rates should be… and I wouldn’t have even thought about doing so,” Warsh said.

Trump has repeatedly called for lower interest rates, putting pressure on current Fed Chair Jerome Powell and drawing concerns over the central bank’s independence.

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Warsh also struck a constructive tone on crypto, saying digital assets are “already part of the fabric of our financial services industry.”

Trading just below $77,000 earlier in the session, BTC slipped to around $75,500 during Warsh’s hearing, some 0.6% lower over the past 24 hours.

The move mirrored broader markets. The Nasdaq and S&P 500 both fell about 0.5%, giving up early gains as investors digested signals on monetary policy.

Crypto-related stocks declined more. Exchange Coinbase (COIN) dropped 5%, while Robinhood (HOOD), a retail brokerage with significant crypto trading exposure, fell 3.5% during the session. Galaxy (GLXY), a digital asset investment firm, slid 4.5%, while stablecoin issuer Circle (CRCL) was nearly 6% lower.

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While Warsh’s remarks suggested that he felt less urgency to cut rates, he would likely still favor lower rates as chairman, according to Matt Mena, senior crypto research strategist at asset manager 21shares.

“While [Warsh] maintains a reputation for fiscal discipline, he has spent years arguing that the central bank’s reliance on lagging data has kept rates unnecessarily high, stifling growth and creating market volatility,” Mena said in a note.

He added that Warsh’s appointment could also prove positive for crypto policy, noting he would be the first Fed chair with deep ties to the digital asset industry. Warsh has invested in dozens of crypto and decentralized finance (DeFi) projects and views bitcoin as “the new gold for people under 40,” he added.

Looking towards the second half of 2026, , Mena argued that a more proactive easing stance could create a “high-liquidity environment” that has historically supported risk assets like bitcoin, potentially pushing prices back toward $100,000.

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MicroStrategy Reports Massive Bitcoin Gain and Yield in April

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MicroStrategy BTC Yield

MicroStrategy reported a 6.2% BTC yield and a gain of 47,079 Bitcoin gain in the first three weeks of April. The Bitcoin (BTC) treasury company, led by Michael Saylor, said the gain is worth approximately $3.6 billion.

The firm’s total holdings now stand at 815,061 BTC, valued above $62 billion with BTC trading near $76,483.

MicroStrategy’s 2026 Bitcoin Buying Pace Outstrips 2025

MicroStrategy has already purchased 62.8% of its entire 2025 Bitcoin haul within just the first 110 days of this year. At this rate, the firm could surpass 1 million BTC by year-end.

That would represent more than 5% of Bitcoin’s fixed 21 million supply cap. An 8-K filing revealed the company acquired 34,164 BTC for $2.54 billion between April 13 and 19.

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Saylor framed BTC gain as a new performance standard for the company.

“BTC Gain is the closest analog to Net Income on the Bitcoin Standard,” he wrote in a post.

The company’s year-to-date yield stands at 9.5%, with full-year 2025 yield reaching 22.8%.

MicroStrategy BTC Yield
MicroStrategy BTC Yield. Source: Strategy

Capital Group Increases MSTR Exposure

Institutional backing for Strategy continues to build. Capital Group’s American Funds Fundamental Investors fund disclosed it purchased 4.32 million additional MSTR shares worth $747 million.

The buy raised its total position to 10.33 million shares valued at $1.78 billion. The $3.3 trillion asset manager now ranks among Strategy’s largest institutional shareholders.

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Whether Strategy can sustain this accumulation pace through 2026 may depend on continued access to low-cost capital and favorable BTC price conditions.

The post MicroStrategy Reports Massive Bitcoin Gain and Yield in April appeared first on BeInCrypto.

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New York Attorney General Sues Coinbase, Gemini Over Unlicensed Prediction Markets

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New York Attorney General Sues Coinbase, Gemini Over Unlicensed Prediction Markets

New York AG Letitia James filed suit against Coinbase and Gemini, alleging their prediction market platforms constitute illegal gambling operations lacking state licenses.

New York Attorney General Letitia James sued Coinbase Financial Markets, Inc. and Gemini, Titan LLC on April 21, 2026, alleging both platforms illegally operated unlicensed gambling operations through prediction market offerings in New York.

The AG’s investigation found that Coinbase and Gemini’s prediction markets —which allow users to bet on sports, entertainment, and election outcomes —violate New York state gambling laws by operating without Gaming Commission licenses. The suit seeks court orders requiring both companies to pay fines, forfeit illegal profits, and provide restitution to customers.

The AG’s complaint highlights that both platforms allow New Yorkers ages 18 and older to access the prediction markets, despite New York law requiring participants in mobile sports betting to be at least 21 years old. The AG cited research showing early exposure to gambling increases risks of depression, anxiety, and financial stress, noting the platforms lack necessary consumer protections.

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By operating unlicensed, Coinbase and Gemini bypass tax obligations that licensed casinos and mobile sports betting platforms must pay, which fund public schools, youth sports programs, and problem gambling treatment in New York.

Sources: New York State Attorney General

This article was generated automatically by The Defiant’s AI news system from publicly available sources.

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Best Crypto to Buy in 2026: BlockDAG, XRP, TRON, & Avalanche Lead the Market

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Best Crypto to Buy in 2026: BlockDAG, XRP, TRON, & Avalanche Lead the Market

The crypto landscape is shifting fast! As liquidity and tech breakthroughs redefine the game, the hunt for the best crypto to buy is zeroing in on powerhouses that pair massive utility with booming ecosystems. BlockDAG, XRP, TRON, and Avalanche are crushing it, offering everything from lightning-fast networks to global payment solutions, giving you the ultimate edge in this market.

Forget chasing tiny green candles; the smart money is pouring into projects with real usage and serious expansion. This pivot is your chance to ride the wave of long-term growth. Below, we break down these four giants in simple terms so you can see exactly where they stand and why they are dominating the current crypto arena.

1. BlockDAG: $0.00000058 Pre-Launch Phase With 237x Upside Potential

If you are searching for the best crypto to buy before a massive price explosion, BlockDAG is your urgent wake-up call. The current fixed price of $0.00000058 represents your absolute final chance before the open market takes over. We are looking at a staggering 237x projection, fueled by a rock-solid roadmap with high-stakes deadlines you cannot afford to miss.

The exchange frenzy is already here. BlockDAG (BDAG) is screaming across 13 platforms: Biconomy, Bifinance, CoinStore, P2B, AscendEX, BTSE, XT, BTCC, LBank, BitMart, WEEX, Pionex, and WEBOT. On top of this, listings on BingX and Gate.io are dropping soon, and more Tier-1 exchange listings are expected to follow!

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Tier 1 status is a total game-changer, bringing deep liquidity and millions of global traders into the mix, moves that historically trigger massive price action. The dev team is also on fire; Smart Wallet claims are live, and Batch 4 opens April 27. Plus, a Casino is dropping on May 7!

By May, the DEX and liquidity rewards go live, followed by the “Super App” in June. This all-in-one suite includes lending, oracles, and dApps. But beware: the fixed-rate supply is vanishing. Once it’s gone, the $0.00000058 price is history, and you’ll be at the mercy of the open market.

2. XRP: Institutional Payments Network Driving Real-World Adoption

XRP remains a titan in the world of cross-border money moves and banking settlements. Built for extreme speed and low fees, it’s the go-to for financial giants needing to move liquidity across the planet in seconds.

When people talk about the best crypto to buy, XRP leads the pack for real-world impact. It’s not just hype; banks and payment providers are actively plugging into this network to revolutionize remittances. XRP is the bridge between the old-school banking world and the future of blockchain.

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For those looking for long-term power, XRP offers a front-row seat to the global settlement revolution. As demand for digital payments and regulatory clarity grows, XRP is perfectly positioned to capture the global spotlight.

3. TRON: High-Throughput Blockchain Powering Global dApp

TRON is a beast of a blockchain, engineered to handle dApps, content sharing, and massive stablecoin volume without breaking a sweat. Its high-speed, low-fee architecture makes it a magnet for global users who want to move money fast without losing a fortune in fees.

In the race for the best crypto to buy, TRON is a fan favorite for its massive adoption in emerging markets and exploding on-chain activity. With DeFi, NFTs, and developers flocking to the network, TRON’s influence is only getting stronger.

Its ability to process huge transaction volumes keeps it ahead of the competition. As more people join the TRON ecosystem, its network effects are set to trigger even more growth across the global blockchain stage.

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4. Avalanche: Scalable Smart Contract Infrastructure Driving DeFi Innovation

Avalanche is the speed demon of smart contract platforms, famous for its lightning-fast consensus and customizable “subnets.” This allows developers to build specialized blockchains for anything from enterprise solutions to the next big thing in DeFi.

Discussed widely as the best crypto to buy, Avalanche is a favorite for its top-tier tech and rapidly growing dev community. Its low latency and high throughput make it a serious threat to other smart contract platforms.

Fresh projects are landing on Avalanche every day, diversifying an already massive ecosystem. As the world screams for scalable blockchain tech, Avalanche is standing tall, ready to lead DeFi and institutional integration worldwide.

Final Thoughts

The market is obsessed with projects that have clear milestones and massive momentum. XRP, TRON, and Avalanche are holding strong as pillars of the industry, proving their worth through real usage and scalable tech.

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However, BlockDAG is stealing the show in the best crypto to buy debate. With its $0.00000058 fixed price about to vanish and a 237x projection on the table, the FOMO is real. With BingX and other exchanges already live, and a roadmap packed with Super Apps and DeFi launches, the clock is ticking.

This structured rollout and massive upside potential make BlockDAG the one to watch. Don’t wait until it’s trading on the open market; the time to act is now!


Disclaimer: This is a Press Release provided by a third party who is responsible for the content. Please conduct your own research before taking any action based on the content.

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Poland delays crypto law, triggering cross-border firm relocation

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Crypto Breaking News

Poland stands as the last EU member state without a domestically enacted enabling act to implement the bloc’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework, as the Sejm again failed to override a presidential veto on the Crypto-Asset Market Act. According to Cointelegraph, President Karol Nawrocki defended his veto by warning that the draft imposes excessive regulation that could burden small businesses. Critics say the absence of a clear framework exposes the market to fraud and creates a permissive space for illicit activity. The political path forward remains uncertain.

With the MiCA transitional period set to end on July 1, Poland’s lagging implementation stands in contrast to the rest of the bloc. Absent a solution, local firms risk losing a compliant path to operate within the European market, prompting some to relocate their operations abroad in search of a regulatory environment that aligns with MiCA’s standards or speedier licensing processes. The situation illustrates how national politics can influence the EU’s single market for crypto, potentially creating regulatory arbitrage opportunities for Polish firms and shifting competitive dynamics within the region.

Key takeaways

  • Poland remains the sole EU member yet to enact MiCA-compliant regulation, with a July 1 transition deadline looming.
  • The Crypto-Asset Market Act draft has drawn criticism for its length and scope, including measures perceived as beyond MiCA’s remit, such as restrictions on marketing and the potential for administrative website blocking.
  • The Polish Financial Supervision Authority (KNF) would become the sole crypto regulator under the act, with powers to levy fines and maintain a blacklist of “unreliable” domains; licensing timelines under the KNF have been described as some of Europe’s slowest.
  • Industry groups warn that the Polish approach risks restricting competitiveness and driving firms to relocate to MiCA-friendly jurisdictions like Latvia or the Czech Republic.
  • The policy debate remains deeply fissured across political lines, with multiple vetoes, competing drafts, and public disputes shaping the trajectory of Poland’s crypto regime and its EU interoperability.

MiCA transition stalls amid veto cycles

In November 2025, the Sejm passed the Crypto-Asset Market Act, intended to bring Polish law into alignment with MiCA. However, according to Cointelegraph, the government and many industry observers criticized the measure for its breadth and complexity. The Warsaw Enterprise Institute—the business-focused think tank cited as a critic—argued that the Polish bill runs to several hundred articles, whereas other EU members published shorter, more streamlined regimes. The institute also flagged provisions such as a purported ban on certain crypto marketing activities and the possibility of blocking websites by administrative decision, without a court remedy. They contended that such tools would not be justified by MiCA and would disadvantage Polish firms relative to peers in other EU countries.

The proposed regime would vest the KNF with sweeping oversight of Poland’s entire crypto market, including enforcement actions and a formal blacklist of domains deemed unreliable. Critics warned this centralized authority could be slow to react and prone to overreach, especially given the KNF’s existing reputation for protracted regulatory processes. A 2023 European Banking Authority peer review described the KNF as the slowest regulator in Europe for authorizations, a concern echoed by industry observers. In the same period, the Warsaw-based think tank noted Nova data points: the KNF had issued two licenses for brokerages in the last decade and just one electronic money institution license, while Lithuania had registered well over 100 such licenses. These contrasts underscored fears that the Polish regime could place local actors at a competitive disadvantage within the European market. (Source: European Banking Authority peer review via Cointelegraph)

On December 1, 2025, Nawrocki vetoed the law again, arguing the measure’s regulatory footprint was bloated. The government did not override the veto and subsequently reintroduced the identical bill. Nawrocki vetoed again in February, and on April 17 the Sejm failed to override for a second time. The persistence of the veto cycle has kept Poland outside the MiCA-aligned regulatory framework as the July 1 transitional benchmark approaches, according to Cointelegraph’s reporting.

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Regulatory architecture and market implications

If enacted, the Crypto-Asset Market Act would centralize oversight within the KNF, granting it licensing authority, enforcement powers, and the ability to maintain a blacklist of domains. That centralization, while aligned with concerns about consumer protection and market integrity, also raises questions about proportionality and due process, particularly given the envisaged administrative tools for domain blocking and potential penalties. The broader EU policy context—MiCA’s aim for a harmonized internal market—implies Poland would still need to reconcile any national features with cross-border supervisory expectations and potential responsibilities shared with EU bodies.

From a compliance and banking perspective, the timing and shape of Poland’s regulatory approach carry material implications. Banks and payment institutions evaluating crypto-related exposure often require clear, predictable licensing regimes and robust consumer protections. Prolonged regulatory uncertainty can complicate onboarding, risk assessment, and liquidity planning for licensed operators, while a slow or opaque domestic framework could push firms to establish or relocate operations in jurisdictions with clearer paths to EU-wide market access.

Political dynamics and cross-border implications

The policy debate in Poland has unfolded amid broader political tensions and contentious public discourse around crypto regulation. Some industry voices portrayed Nawrocki’s veto as a principled insistence on proportional regulation rather than an anti-crypto stance. However, political actors have reacted in various ways to the stalemate. Prime Minister Donald Tusk has accused a local exchange of illicit funding and ties to Russian criminal networks, allegations that feed into a narrative about the risks presented by crypto markets and the political sensitivity of crypto policy. Zonda Crypto, the Polish exchange formerly known as BitBay, has not responded to Cointelegraph’s requests for comment on these claims. The episode illustrates how regulatory design, political alignments, and public narrative can interact to shape the policy landscape and the attractiveness of Poland as a jurisdiction for crypto firms.

Beyond the vetoes, industry participants have sounded the alarm about a potential outflow of businesses. The Warsaw Chamber of Commerce for Blockchain and New Technologies notes that a substantial share of Polish crypto firms have already looked abroad since the regulatory discussion began. Some prominent operators—such as Kanga—have signaled a willingness to relocate to MiCA-friendly environments like Latvia, where faster procedures and relatively lower regulatory burdens are cited as advantages. The chamber’s president has asserted that Polish firms may lose critical scale without a domestic pathway, while regulators emphasize the need to preserve tax bases and domestic innovation. The government’s own messaging has highlighted the risk that overregulation could push companies to neighboring jurisdictions, including the Czech Republic, Lithuania, or Malta, thereby eroding Poland’s domestic crypto ecosystem.

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The evolving dynamic suggests a broader policy question for Poland: should the country pursue a tightly regulated, MiCA-aligned regime with clear consumer protections and supervisory certainty, or accept a continued regulatory fragmentation that risks market fragmentation and capital flight? As July 1 nears, the decision will have immediate commercial implications for firms operating in Poland and longer-term strategic consequences for Poland’s role in Europe’s evolving crypto market.

The Polish president’s office and parliament are still weighing options, while industry participants monitor whether a revised legislative approach or an alternative regulatory package will emerge before the MiCA transition window closes. The path forward will help determine whether Poland remains a hub for crypto innovation or becomes increasingly peripheral to the EU’s integrated regulatory regime.

Closing perspective: As the MiCA deadline approaches, Poland faces a defining choice about regulatory design, implementation speed, and alignment with EU standards. The coming months will reveal whether a scaled, proportionate framework can be enacted to sustain domestic innovation, support compliant banking relationships, and preserve Poland’s standing as a crypto market within the European single market or whether regulatory fragmentation will continue to push firms toward neighboring jurisdictions.

Risk & affiliate notice: Crypto assets are volatile and capital is at risk. This article may contain affiliate links. Read full disclosure

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Congressman’s PACE Act would plug fintechs directly into Fed rails

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Congressman’s PACE Act would plug fintechs directly into Fed rails

A new PACE Act bill would let qualified non‑bank payment firms tap Fed rails directly, cutting fees and delays while dovetailing with the GENIUS Act’s stablecoin regime.

Summary

  • The new PACE Act would let qualified non-banks plug directly into Fed payment systems.
  • Backers say it could cut delays and fees for U.S. consumers and businesses.
  • Fintech and crypto groups are lining up behind the bill’s push to open payments.

A U.S. Congressman has proposed the PACE Act, a bill that would give qualified payment companies direct access to Federal Reserve payment rails in a bid to modernize the U.S. payments system.

Bill aims to open Fed rails to non-banks

According to market reports, the proposal would allow regulated non-bank providers to connect straight to systems such as Fedwire, FedACH and FedNow, aiming to reduce settlement delays, lower transaction fees and speed up transfers for consumers and businesses.

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Early reaction has been positive from fintech and cryptocurrency industry groups, which see the legislation as a way to make the U.S. payments stack faster, cheaper and more competitive versus both private-sector alternatives and other jurisdictions experimenting with real-time rails.

A LinkedIn breakdown of the draft framework says the PACE Act would create a new federal category, “Registered Covered Provider,” overseen by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, giving eligible firms a statutory right to apply for Fed payment accounts without needing a full bank charter.

To qualify, companies would typically need either more than 40 state money transmitter licenses or a state depository charter, a threshold designed to capture large payment processors, remittance platforms and major crypto intermediaries already operating at national scale.

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The same analysis suggests the bill would effectively “passport” those firms across all 50 states, short-circuiting today’s costly, fragmented licensing grind and replacing it with unified federal supervision plus strict reserve rules.

Those reserve provisions mirror elements of the recently enacted GENIUS Act, requiring 1:1 backing in cash, Federal Reserve deposits, U.S. Treasury bills or tokenized equivalents, a move pitched as a way to keep customer funds safe while giving non-banks access to central bank money.

In a note cited by Politico, one supporter argued that “we can reduce the burden of bank fees borne by too many American families by enabling broader access to innovative payment systems that deliver cheaper, faster, more reliable service,” framing the PACE Act as a consumer-focused reform rather than a giveaway to fintech.

If passed, the bill would sit alongside the GENIUS stablecoin framework and recent SEC moves on digital-asset accounting as part of a broader reshaping of U.S. market plumbing, potentially allowing large crypto and payments firms to move dollars over Fed rails instead of relying solely on correspondent banks.

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Pornhub drops USDT for USDC

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Pornhub drops USDT for USDC

Adult website Pornhub is no longer accepting tether (USDT) for payouts and is now switching to Circle-issued USDC instead.

That’s according to OnlyFans content creator Gracie Hartie, who shared a screenshot of an email Pornhub allegedly sent out clarifying the change. 

In the screenshot, Pornhub claims that it was switching from USDT to USDC to make payouts “more reliable.” 

It added that “USDC is a fully-backed, MiCA-compliant and regulated stablecoin, making it a more secure option for your earnings.” 

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The email Hartie received from Pornhub was also received by a Japanese trader.

Read more: Tether challenges USDC Solana hegemony with $127.5M Drift bailout

“It’s pegged 1:1 to the US dollar,” Pornhub stated, adding that it “works just like USDT on the ERC-20 network.”

Pornhub’s model program page no longer lists USDT as a payment method. Instead, it lists USDC and other payment methods, including Paxum, Verge, and Cosmo.

Pornhub made USDT its choice for payouts on its site in 2020 following PayPal’s decision to cut ties with the platform.  

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It said at the time, “Since PayPal’s decision to stop payouts to thousands of Models two months ago, we’ve been hustling to…offer you more options.”

As part of Pornhub’s stablecoin integration of USDT the company used Justin Sun’s TronLink wallet for the payments. This infrastructure partnership between Pornhub and Sun no longer appears on Pornhub’s model program.

Before USDC cucked USDT, USDT cucked USDC

Earlier this month, another USDT/USDC switch occurred when USDT stepped in to help the hacked Drift Protocol with a $127.5 million bailout. 

Drift was drained for around $285 million after its team was infiltrated, likely by North Korean-linked hackers who compromised a multisig wallet.

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This bailout deal, however, meant that Drift would “transition its settlement asset from USDC to USDT.”

Read more: Inside the $280M Drift hack: weeks of setup, minutes to drain

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