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Brock Pierce’s dark and disturbing friendship with Jeffrey Epstein

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Brock Pierce’s dark and disturbing friendship with Jeffrey Epstein

It’s 2010 and Jeffrey Epstein is having a crash out.

His reputation, already in tatters after his 2008 conviction for procuring minors for prostitution, is spiralling further out of control as outlets and reporters, including The Huffington Post, Julie K. Brown, and Wired, uncover more and more juicy details about his salacious lifestyle.

In an effort to halt the decline, Epstein seeks out help from Alfred Seckel, aka Al Seckel, a serial scammer and illusionist who’s been dating Ghislaine Maxwell’s sister, Isabel, for years.

Epstein tasks Seckel with what he presumes to be a relatively cheap and easy job: wipe the internet of his sins.

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This proves to be a pipe dream. Whether due to Seckel’s own incompetence and greed or due to Epstein’s unrepairable reputation, a $25,000 job becomes a $45,000 job, with an added luxury conference — called The Mindshift Conference — hosted on Little Saint John’s and to be paid for by the Epstein Foundation.

And so begins the blossoming of a fruitful eight-year long friendship for Brock Pierce and Jeffrey Epstein.

Warning: this article contains descriptions of violence and sexual assault. We have also provided a zipped folder containing the majority of the files we found useful for this article out of the 1,816 results that appear for “Brock Pierce” in the newly released Epstein Files.

The Mindshift Conference

The Mindshift Conference, which featured Murray Gell-Mann, Frances Arnold, Reichart Von Wolfshield, Brock Pierce, and many others, came with a hefty $55,000 hotel expense bill, as well as costs for flying out speakers, and preparing Little Saint John’s.

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It proved to be a spectacular failure for Epstein.

Indeed, an event Epstein initially hoped would rival TEDTalks was, according to Epstein himself, “the worst meeting (the Epstein Foundation) has ever had.”

Epstein, who was growing increasingly wary of Seckel’s motives, hated the conference so much that he sent an email from “Susan” to Seckel to complain — the email was filled with all of Epstein’s usual spelling and grammatical errors.

An email from January 2011, in which Epstein pretends to be a woman named “Susan.”

However, there was one important detail that would have far-reaching consequences buried in the details of this fake complaint. Epstein (as Susan) wrote, “reichart was interesting as was brock.”

After this, Epstein found himself interested in Bitcoin and cryptocurrency-at-large, concepts he previously suggested were only for criminals.

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This heel-turn is namely due to a presentation by, and the oozing charisma of, Brock Pierce.

Seckel and Epstein soon had a total falling out, with Epstein telling Ghislaine Maxwell by late 2012 that Seckel is “a bad guy.”

It didn’t help that Seckel was involved with deceit involving an Isaac Newton portrait or that he attempted to sell Epstein a collection of falsified antiquarian books.

But the failed conference got Pierce’s foot in the door with a potential investor, and he didn’t let the opportunity pass. Pierce and Epstein met several times over the course of 2011 and by April, only three months after the conference, Pierce was asking Epstein for financial advice:

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An email from Pierce to Epstein in 2011 asking for feedback about a new online gaming fund he’s creating with Clearstone.

The pair continued to get closer and closer and by 2012, their relationship had evolved into something entirely different.

A chart illustrating the links between the saga’s major players.

Read more: New Epstein files reveal contact with Bitcoin dev Andresen before CIA briefing

Girls (Russian and Ukrainian, to be exact)

A year after Pierce and Epstein met and four years since Epstein’s procurement of a minor for prostitution guilty plea, a distinct change occurs in the discussions between the two financiers: women came up a lot, often in disparaging or objectifying terms.

The first time Epstein sent women to Pierce, it included someone who Epstein referred to in later emails as “my little susie” or “sue” and takes place in March 2012, in Los Angeles.

Sue would play a major role in the relationship between Epstein and Pierce later.

The first record that Epstein sends women to Pierce.

In the first record that showed Epstein sending women to Pierce, he told Pierce to “leave your girlfriend home.” Pierce replied, “Will do. Broke up with GF last night so that won’t be a problem.”

A month later, in April 2012, Epstein told Pierce that “my new russian, is in la working she knows no one, if you could help her see some of I.a. .. I would appreicate it.”

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In an email from 2012 Epstein describes his “new Russian” who is “working in LA.”

Pierce failed. The Russian doesn’t meet with him, but after a strange back and forth, he had a concession: “I know a girl in NY you may like. How should I introduce you?”

Epstein responded, “details. ? she can come to meet when others are there.”

An email exchange where Pierce shares the name of a “girl in NY” with Epstein. Epstein replies “Cute”.

Only one month after sharing the information of the girl in New York, Pierce was given a new mission from Epstein when he told the financier and pedophile that he was visiting Moscow, Kiev, and Odessa: “Take photos and find me a present.”

Pierce responded with “Will do. :-).”

An email where Epstein asks Pierce to “take photos and find me a present.”

Only three days later, Pierce shared with Epstein dozens of images of a woman named Anastasia. He added at the bottom of the email, “Ukraine is now my favorite country.”

An email from Brock Pierce to Epstein with the subject line “Anastasia.”

Read more: Former DCG advisor Larry Summers on list of Jeffrey Epstein’s ‘Harvard friends’

Business begins

Beginning in 2013, Pierce and Epstein often sought one another out for advice and also started to do business together.

In May of 2013, less than a year before its inevitable collapse, Pierce shared with Epstein that he was planning on purchasing the largest Bitcoin exchange in the world, MtGox.

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Epstein sends Pierce an article about the indictment of Liberty Reserve’s owners.

Epstein, who was unfamiliar with the exchange, asked if it had been seized by the US government (it hadn’t). The purchase never occured, and in April of 2014, it was revealed that MtGox had lost the majority of its users’ money.

Pierce didn’t give up on acquiring MtGox, trying again after its collapse with an initiative he named Gox Rising.

Also in May of 2013, Epstein spoke to Bill Gross — the co-founder of the Pacific Investment Management Company (PIMCO), the world’s current largest ETF manager with $2 trillion AUM — about a Brock Pierce-related cryptocurrency concept.

Most likely, this was an early reference to Tether, which was only a year from its launch.

An email exchange between Bill Gross of PIMCO and Epstein.

By 2014, Epstein was partnering with Pierce on investments and assisting him with his business affairs.

For example, Epstein looked over a Noble Bank/Markets Nasdaq agreement — the Puerto Rico-based international financial entity started by Pierce and John Betts that briefly served as the main “bank” for the stablecoin tether.

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Pierce forwarding the Noble Markets-Nasdaq agreement to Epstein.

The most important partnership between the two came shortly thereafter: a $3 million investment in Coinbase through a fund started by Bradford and Bart Stephens.

An email from Bart and Brad Stephens that includes a Limited Partnership Agreement for Crypto Currency Partners II, LP.

Perhaps most embarrassing about the Epstein Coinbase investment is that they knew who had put in the money to purchase shares.

As Pierce rushed to get the deal closed, he shared one awkward, hurried email: “I need permission to let the founder know who you are.”

An email from 2014 where Pierce tells Epstein “We have been actively discussing participating in Coinbases next round with the founders.

The email seemed to be an assurance that no one outside of Pierce, Epstein, and the founders of Coinbase would ever be aware that Epstein had personally been involved, his identity hidden behind a faceless fund.

Likely with this in mind, Coinbase accepted the $3 million investment from Epstein.

It was clear by 2014 that Pierce and Epstein had become far more than simple business partners and acquaintances.

They shared women and investments, and spent time together in Los Angeles, New York, and Little Saint James.

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Their back-and-forths were filled with nonchalant references to questionable and seemingly nefarious behavior.

In June of 2014, Epstein innocuously asked Pierce “do you know the Winklevoss’s?”

Pierce responded he does, to which, out of nowhere, Epstein responded that he was going to “send Svetlana to them to get a download of the space, I prefer not to go through the Silicon Valley gossip mafia.”

An email exchange between Pierce and Epstein in which Epstein asks about the Winklevoss twins.

For what it’s worth, the Svetlana that Epstein is sending to the Winklevoss twins was most likely Svetlana Pozhidaeva, a Russian national who refused to speak about her relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.

According to the New Zealand Herald, Pozhidaeva is the daughter of a prestigious Russian family that lived in an apartment block associated with the KGB.

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Meanwhile, strange continuations of unrecorded conversations were splattered throughout their emails. In 2015, Pierce asked Epstein if he was familiar with Jeff Herman — a lawyer who represented several victims of Epstein.

Epstein said, “Very bad guy, was suspended from practice.”

“Do a Google search on me,” Pierce insisted. “He’s suing four of my friends… Any dirt you have could prove helpful.”

A few months later, in a cryptic, short email from Epstein to Pierce, he simply said, “What was the name of your favorite investigator? I forgot.”

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Pierce didn’t reply through email.

Lastly, and years later, Pierce let Epstein know that he failed to pay his taxes for five years and requested legal help.

Epstein fell over himself to assist Pierce, advising him to reach out to Alan Dlugash and insisted that Pierce not speak to any accountants and let his lawyers take care of the problems for him.

The tax problems appear to quickly disappear.

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Alan Dlugash asking Epstein who Brock Pierce is.

Read more: Tether founder Brock Pierce defaults, loses hotel, sues partner

My Little Susie and polygamy

One of the strangest episodes dotting the Pierce-related Epstein Files was the multi-year love story between Pierce and a woman who worked for Epstein named Sue.

As pointed out earlier, the first recorded example of Pierce and Sue spending time together is in Los Angeles in 2012. But Sue continued to come up, all the way through 2018.

In 2015, Epstein described Pierce to Joi Ito as “little Sue’s boyfriend.”

An email exchange in which Joi Ito asks who Pierce is. Epstein describes Pierce as “little sue’s boyfriend.”

In fact, it appears that, for some reason, Epstein has a distinct interest in Pierce’s relationship with Sue. He repeatedly asks Pierce if he’s faithful to or cheating on Sue and sends him reminders about important dates related to her.

An email exchange in which Epstein tells Pierce it’s Sue’s birthday and Pierce thanks him for reminding him.

While they stopped mentioning her for several years, she popped up one final time, in what was arguably the most obvious example of law breaking, deception, and odious intentions: Pierce wanted to marry Sue while already being married, he wanted to be a polygamist.

An email from Pierce in which he says “I’m ready to marry Sue though I’ll have two wives.”

Introducing Epstein to Steve Bannon

What perhaps had the clearest real world consequences in regard to the Pierce-Epstein friendship was that Pierce introduced Epstein to political strategist and chaos agent Steve Bannon in 2016/2017.

Epstein asks if Pierce met with Steve Bannon, Pierce responds, “Yes. Very productive.”

While both Pierce and Epstein almost always referred to Bannon as “Steve,” the timeline that Pierce stated lined up thoroughly with his relationship to Bannon.

When Bannon worked at Goldman Sachs they took a majority share in Pierce’s company called IGE and installed Bannon as the new head of the company (the business model they incorporated was basically paying Chinese gamers less-than-living wages to find loot in World of Warcraft and upsell it to Westerners).

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Within the short amount of time that Bannon and Epstein were friends, they spent a lot of time together and plotted all kinds of fantastical ploys and plots, from new cryptocurrencies to disrupting the dollar hegemony.

It’s unclear who influenced who more.

Steve Bannon and Jeffrey Epstein taking a selfie together.

Coinbase cashout

Just over a year before Epstein’s final arrest, in 2018, Bradford Stephens reached out to Epstein’s lawyer, Darren Indyke, in an attempt to purchase back the Coinbase shares that Epstein still controlled.

The transaction didn’t go as smoothly as Stephens hoped, as he started his offer at only $15 million — a $12 million profit on Epstein’s initial investment.

An email from Bradford Stephens to Darren Indyke offering $15 million for Epstein’s Coinbase position.

Epstein refused. He asked for $11 million for half his position. And then more. And more. Eventually, Stephens handed over $15 million for half of Epstein’s position, the other half Epstein held on to, planning to let it ride until an eventual IPO.

If the Epstein estate did hold its Coinbase position through until the IPO, it’s possible that his initial $3 million investment, thanks to Brock Pierce, netted his estate over $100 million.

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An email from Pierce to Epstein that says, “Brad Stephens says they wired $15m for half your Coinbase position yesterday.”

A known pedophile’s great friend

Pierce, unlike many other financiers, cultural elites, and venture capitalists, met Epstein after his first conviction and remained a close confidant up to the second arrest.

Pierce both profited off his friendship with Epstein and, essentially, made Epstein tens of millions of dollars.

They sent emails often, cared about one another, worried about each other, and shared legal, accounting, and financial advice regularly.

There are several emails in which Pierce wishes Epstein a happy birthday, a happy new year, and even one where he tells him “love you” (while inviting him to a “boat in Antigua… full of Ukraine’s finest”).

A series of emails circa 2018 from Pierce inviting Epstein to Puerto Rico.

Pierce has done his best to distance himself from his past, from working at Digital Entertainment Network in the early aughts, to moving to Spain with infamous pedophile Marc Collins-Rector, to cozying up to chaos agent Steve Bannon.

But it’s impossible for him to distance himself from Jeffrey Epstein. Brock Pierce and Jeffrey Epstein’s legacies will be tied together forever.

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We reached out to Brock Pierce for comment and will update this piece should we hear back.

Got a tip? Send us an email securely via Protos Leaks. For more informed news, follow us on XBluesky, and Google News, or subscribe to our YouTube channel.

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These Crypto Projects Had Billion-Dollar Valuations, Now They Trade 90% Lower

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Crypto VC Valuation Decline

Ten crypto projects that had billion-dollar private valuations now trade at market caps ranging from $7 million to $294 million, according to CryptoRank data.

The gap between last-round venture capital valuations and current market caps ranges from 88% to over 99%. Four of the 10 hardest-hit projects belong to the zero-knowledge proof and Layer 2 sector.

Scroll, and Boba Network Lead the List

Scroll (SCR) tops the ranking with a 99.54% decline. The Ethereum Layer 2 raised $80 million across two rounds led by Polychain Capital, Variant Bain Capital Crypto, and more. Its last-round valuation stood at $1.8 billion.

It now trades at roughly $8.25 million in market cap.

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Boba Network follows at -99.26%, while Fuel Network registered a 99.25% drop from a $1 billion valuation.

“These projects have fallen from billion-dollar valuations to nearly zero — a striking example of near-total value destruction. Even backing from Tier-1 VCs like Paradigm, Sequoia, Cbventures, and Multicoin wasn’t enough to protect post-TGE performance,” the post read.

Crypto VC Valuation Decline
Crypto VC Valuation Decline. Source: X/CryptoRank VCs

Starknet (STRK) recorded the largest absolute loss on the list. It raised $282.5 million from Paradigm, Sequoia Capital, and Greenoaks Capital at a valuation of $8 billion. Its current market cap sits near $199 million, a 95% decline.

Rounding out the top 10 are Polyhedra (-99.05%), Wormhole (-96.99%), Magic Eden (-96.70%), HashKey Group (-96.46%), Mocaverse (-90.23%), and Immutable (-88.23%).

Follow us on X to get the latest news as it happens

Crypto VC Funding Rebounds Despite Market Weakness

Despite these losses, venture capital activity has picked up again. CryptoRank data shows that March 2026 recorded around 100 funding rounds totaling $2.59 billion in raises, the highest level since October 2025.

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Crypto VC Funding Over the Past Year.
Crypto VC Funding Over the Past Year. Source: CryptoRank

Coinbase Ventures and Animoca Brands led the most rounds during the month. Moreover, blockchain services accounted for 39 rounds, followed by decentralized finance (DeFi) with 20 rounds, and centralized finance (CeFi) with 15 rounds.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch leaders and journalists provide expert insights

The post These Crypto Projects Had Billion-Dollar Valuations, Now They Trade 90% Lower appeared first on BeInCrypto.

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US has last chance to pass CLARITY Act before 2030

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Crypto Breaking News

The push to pass the CLARITY Act in the United States is intensifying as lawmakers face a looming deadline to provide clear regulatory oversight for the crypto industry. Senator Cynthia Lummis, among the most vocal crypto advocates in Congress, warned that delay could push meaningful legislation into a distant future, potentially delaying the sector’s growth and investor protections.

In a Friday post on X, Lummis framed the moment as a last chance to enact relief before 2030, arguing that the U.S. cannot surrender its financial future. The comment arrives as momentum for the bill appears fragile amid the upcoming midterm elections in November, which could reshape congressional priorities and slow the momentum around what many see as a foundational market-structure framework for digital assets.

Echoing the urgency, David Sacks, former White House AI and crypto czar, weighed in with a similar sentiment. “The time to act is now. Senate Banking, and then the full Senate, should pass market structure. I’m confident that they will. And then President Trump will sign this landmark bill into law,” Sacks wrote. The chorus from industry insiders underscores a shared view: absence of a clear regulatory path could hobble innovation and investor confidence.

Key takeaways

  • Legislative urgency surrounds the CLARITY Act, with proponents arguing that clear regulatory boundaries are essential for advancing the U.S. crypto sector and protecting consumers.
  • Timing remains a major question mark due to the November midterm elections, which could shift congressional priorities and slow passage of crypto legislation.
  • Support crosses sectors and roles, with influential figures—from venture capital to exchange executives and technology founders—arguing that well-defined rules foster growth and certainty for participants.
  • Internal debates on specifics, notably around stablecoin yield, pose potential chokepoints that could affect markup or floor votes in the Senate.
  • Regulators themselves have voiced support for a comprehensive market-structure framework, signaling alignment with lawmakers on the direction of regulation.

CLARITY Act as a catalyst for U.S. crypto growth

Industry participants widely view regulatory clarity as a catalyst for innovation. A familiar refrain across crypto circles is that clear rules help both consumers and builders navigate risk, reduce ambiguity, and foster responsible innovation. Chris Dixon, managing partner at A16z Crypto, captured this sentiment in a post, noting that “when rules are defined, both consumers and entrepreneurs win.”

The sentiment extends beyond investment capital to product development and user experience. Robbie Ferguson, co-founder of Immutable, argued that the act could accelerate the sector’s growth trajectory, suggesting that clearer oversight would unlock opportunities for developers and gamers alike. The Web3 gaming ecosystem, in particular, has been a fervent advocate for clarity as a means to scale and protect players and developers in a regulated, trusted environment.

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A wave of industry voices has also highlighted how clarity could influence real-world adoption. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong called for moving forward with the legislation after months of delays, signaling that the industry wants a path forward that offers predictability and guardrails for participants ranging from exchanges to resourceful startups. Coinbase chief legal officer Paul Grewal also signaled that progress toward a Senate markup hearing could be within reach, though he cautioned that relief hinges on reconciling disputes over stablecoin yield—a friction point that has lingered in negotiations.

On the regulatory front, the push for a comprehensive market-structure framework has drawn support from prominent regulatory figures. SEC Chair Paul Atkins publicly framed the moment as an opportunity for Congress to “future-proof against rogue regulators” and advance a broad framework that could guide the sector through anticipated changes in technology and market dynamics. His comments align with the broader view that congressional action is needed to preempt ad hoc or inconsistent regulatory actions that can unsettle markets and erode investor trust.

Industry alignment and governance questions

The CLARITY Act’s proponents argue that a clear delineation of which regulators oversee various crypto activities would reduce jurisdictional ambiguity and potential regulatory gaps. The broader market has been watching closely for signals about how the U.S. could harmonize oversight between agencies such as the CFTC and the SEC, while also addressing stablecoins as a critical asset class within the crypto ecosystem.

And while there is broad internal agreement on the need for a clear regulatory framework, negotiations are not without friction. Grewal’s remarks underscored a central sticking point: the yield mechanisms of stablecoins. A resolution on this issue appears essential to advancing to a formal markup in the Senate Banking Committee and, ultimately, a vote on the full Senate floor. The absence of consensus on stablecoins could delay movement even as other parts of the bill gain traction.

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Regulators themselves have shown support for moving ahead with clear market structure legislation. Atkins’s comments reflect a shared industry sentiment that well-crafted rules would protect consumers, reduce exposure to rogue actors, and create an environment where legitimate crypto projects can flourish with a clear legal footing. This alignment between lawmakers and regulatory leaders could be a pivotal factor in determining whether the CLARITY Act gains the momentum it needs before the election cycle intensifies partisan debates around technology policy.

What this means for investors and builders

For investors, the prospect of a clear regulatory framework could reduce the legal and policy uncertainty that has weighed on asset prices and capital allocation in the crypto space. A well-defined regime may lower compliance risks for exchanges and on-chain platforms, potentially boosting institutional participation and retail confidence alike. For builders, a clarified map of permissible activities, responsible boundaries, and clear licensing expectations could accelerate product development and drive consumer adoption—provided that the final text resolves disputes that currently threaten to stall progress.

Historically, regulatory clarity has correlated with greater market maturity. If the CLARITY Act eventually becomes law, it could set a precedent for how the United States addresses both innovation and risk in digital assets. The timing, however, remains a crucial variable. With midterm elections looming, lawmakers may prioritize other issues, potentially delaying a milestone for the industry. Yet the breadth of support—from venture capital to founders of major crypto projects—signals a broad desire to move beyond debate and toward a functional framework that aligns incentives across the ecosystem.

What remains uncertain is whether the bill can bridge outstanding points of disagreement, particularly around stablecoins, before the Senate’s markup and subsequent floor vote. If those gaps persist, momentum may stall even as other provisions gain traction. Investors should monitor not only the political timetable but also the evolving stance of regulators on the practicalities of stability mechanisms and how they intersect with market structure legislation.

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Beyond the U.S., observers note that global regulatory conversations increasingly mirror the desire for clarity and predictability. For markets that operate across borders, a clear U.S. standard could influence international norms, encouraging harmonization or at least mutual recognition of compliant activities. As the CLARITY Act advances, market participants will be watching for concrete milestones—whether a markup date, committee votes, or a White House signing ceremony—that would signal a durable shift toward regulatory certainty.

Readers should watch upcoming statements from lawmakers and industry leaders for clues about the bill’s trajectory, including how negotiators resolve stablecoin yield and other technical details. The next few weeks could prove decisive in determining whether the U.S. crypto sector gains a clear, implementable framework or faces a drawn-out path to regulatory clarity.

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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CLARITY Act faces 2030 delay warning from Senator Lummis

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Lummis says CLARITY Act must pass this year as Senate eyes April markup

A new push for the CLARITY Act is building in Washington as crypto policy supporters warn the timeline may be narrowing. 

Summary

  • Cynthia Lummis warned Congress may miss its best chance to pass the CLARITY Act soon.
  • David Sacks and crypto leaders urged the Senate to move market structure legislation forward now.
  • Senate progress may depend on resolving stablecoin yield disagreements before a markup hearing begins.

Senator Cynthia Lummis said Congress must move soon or risk delaying market structure reform for years.

Lummis said the United States may miss a rare opening to pass the CLARITY Act if lawmakers fail to act soon. She said the bill may not get another real chance until at least 2030.

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In a post on X, Lummis wrote, “This is our last chance to pass the Clarity Act until at least 2030.” She added, We can’t afford to surrender America’s financial future.”

The warning comes as crypto policy supporters watch the political calendar. With US midterm elections set for November, some industry figures fear Congress could shift focus and slow work on crypto legislation.

That concern has kept attention on the bill’s timing. Supporters say the next few months may decide whether the measure advances during the current session.

Former White House AI and crypto czar David Sacks also called for quick action. He said the Senate Banking Committee and the full Senate should move the bill forward.

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Sacks said, The time to act is now. Senate Banking, and then the full Senate, should pass market structure.He added that he expects President Donald Trump to sign the bill if Congress approves it.

Other industry voices have also backed the legislation. A16z Crypto managing partner Chris Dixon said,

 “when rules are defined, both consumers and entrepreneurs win.”

Immutable founder Robbie Ferguson also backed the bill. On April 3, he said, “the CLARITY Act will make the last decade of growth in gaming look like a joke.”

Senate progress depends on key issues

Coinbase Chief Executive Brian Armstrong said on Friday that “it’s time” for the bill to pass after months of delays. His comment added to fresh calls for movement in the Senate.

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Coinbase Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal said on April 2 that the CLARITY Act could be nearing a markup hearing in the Senate Banking Committee. He also said disagreements over stablecoin yield still need to be resolved.

Regulators have also shown support. SEC Chairman Paul Atkins said, 

“It’s time for Congress to future-proof against rogue regulators & advance comprehensive market structure legislation to President Trump’s desk.”

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Kenya Moves Closer to Regulating Crypto Firms With VASP Framework

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Kenya Moves Closer to Regulating Crypto Firms With VASP Framework

Kenya is moving closer to formalizing oversight of its digital asset sector after completing public consultations on proposed rules for crypto firms.

On April 11, the National Treasury announced that it had concluded stakeholder submissions on the draft Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP) regulations. This step advances the framework needed to implement the country’s 2025 law governing crypto-related businesses.

Kenya Drafts Stricter Rules for Crypto Firms

The rules will establish licensing requirements and supervisory standards for companies dealing in cryptocurrencies, tokenized assets, and stablecoins.

The proposed regime outlines entry thresholds for operators, including ownership suitability tests, capital requirements, and governance standards. It also establishes obligations related to risk management and anti-money laundering compliance.

The Kenyan authorities are also seeking to impose stricter consumer safeguards. This would include mandatory disclosures, transparent pricing, and protections for crypto client funds.

The framework introduces market conduct provisions aimed at curbing manipulation and insider activity, while requiring due diligence for asset listings and ongoing monitoring of trading activity. Firms would also be subject to periodic reporting, audits, and cybersecurity standards under a system combining on-site and off-site supervision.

The central bank and capital markets authorities are expected to share oversight of the crypto sector.

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Kenya’s push to formalize oversight aligns with a broader global shift among regulators to define sectoral rules while preserving space for innovation.

The Treasury said the next phase will involve reviewing feedback and refining the draft before finalizing the regulations. The outcome is expected to shape how firms enter and operate in one of Africa’s more mature fintech markets.

“Kenya is building a trusted framework that balances innovation with financial stability,” the financial agency stated.

The consultation process comes as digital asset use expands rapidly across Africa. According to Ripple, the continent faces high transaction costs, delays in cross-border transfers, and limited access to stable foreign currencies.

As a result, people on the continent have shown increased reliance on crypto-based tools for settlement and savings.

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Due to this, Sub-Saharan Africa has emerged as one of the fastest-growing crypto markets, with transaction volumes rising sharply over the past year.

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Trump token sees whale accumulation ahead of Mar-a-Lago gala; senators raise questions over event

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Trump token sees whale accumulation ahead of Mar-a-Lago gala; senators raise questions over event

Large investors are accumulating the TRUMP memecoin ahead of an upcoming gala hosted by President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago on April 28, even as the token trades near record lows and the impending event faces political scrutiny.

Data tracked by blockchain sleuth Lookonchain shows notable whale buying through centralized exchanges. One whale, “8DHkza,” withdrew 850,488 $TRUMP tokens (worth approximately $2.4 million) from Bybit over the past two days. Another address, “7EtuAt,” withdrew 105,754 tokens (around $298,000) from Binance 17 hours ago and currently holds 1.13 million tokens, valued at roughly $3.2 million.

Outflows from exchanges are said to represent investor intention to take direct custody of coins and hold the same for long-term. Hence, outflows are taken to indicate accumulation and potentially reduce immediate sell-side liquidity in the market.

The accumulation comes ahead of an invitation-only luncheon reportedly limited to the top 297 TRUMP token holders, with the top 29 receiving exclusive VIP access to Donald Trump.

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However, TRUMP continues to trade at record lows near $2.80, down 0.2% on a 24-hour basis and over 1% in seven days. The token came under pressure this week after CoinDesk reported the Trump-linked crypto venture World Liberty Financial’s controversial lending strategy on the Dolomite DeFi platform.

Meanwhile, U.S. lawmakers have stepped up scrutiny of the Mar-a-Lago event. Senators Elizabeth Warren, Adam Schiff, and Richard Blumenthal have sent a letter to Fight Fight Fight LLC, a Delaware-based entity run by Trump associate Bill Zanker, requesting documents and information on whether Trump played a role in planning, promoting, or financially benefiting from the gathering. Fight Fight Fight LLC TRUMP memecoin in partnership with entities affiliated with Donald Trump.

“It is essential that Congress fully understand the extent to which President Trump and his family are profiting off of his cryptocurrency ventures,” the senators said, adding that “Congress must also take steps to prohibit and prevent these egregious conflicts of interest.”

The probe introduces an additional layer of uncertainty for the token, as regulatory and political risks intersect with already weak price action.

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US Down To ‘Last Chance’ To Pass Clarity Act Before 2030: Lummis

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US Down To 'Last Chance' To Pass Clarity Act Before 2030: Lummis

The United States government must pass the CLARITY Act, which aims to provide the crypto industry with clearer regulatory oversight, soon, or risk waiting almost another four years to move the industry forward, according to US Senator Cynthia Lummis.

“This is our last chance to pass the Clarity Act until at least 2030,” Lummis, a well-known crypto advocate, said in an X post on Friday.

“We can’t afford to surrender America’s financial future,” she added. The comments come as crypto industry participants begin to worry that the bill’s chances of passing this year are narrowing, with US midterm elections in November potentially changing congressional priorities and slowing momentum on the highly anticipated crypto legislation.

The former White House AI and crypto czar, David Sacks, also chimed in on Thursday with a similar view to Lummis.

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“The time to act is now. Senate Banking, and then the full Senate, should pass market structure. I’m confident that they will. And then President Trump will sign this landmark bill into law,” Sacks said. 

Consumers and entrepreneurs both “win” from the CLARITY Act

Many industry participants have argued that the passage of legislation aimed at clarifying which regulators oversee parts of the crypto industry could lead to greater innovation in the US and potentially increase demand for crypto assets among retail investors.

Source: Chad Steingraber

A16z Crypto managing partner Chris Dixon reiterated that view in a post, saying that “when rules are defined, both consumers and entrepreneurs win.”

A wide range of sectors in the crypto industry expect the move to be positive. 

Web3 gaming giant Immutable founder Robbie Ferguson said just days before, on April 3, that “the CLARITY Act will make the last decade of growth in gaming look like a joke.”

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On Friday, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, who withdrew the crypto exchange’s support for the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act in January, said “it’s time” for the legislation to pass after months of delays.

Meanwhile, Coinbase chief legal officer Paul Grewal said on April 2 that the CLARITY Act could be nearing a markup hearing in the US Senate Banking Committee. However, he noted that progress hinges on resolving disagreements over stablecoin yield.

Related: CFTC unveils innovation task force members in crypto clarity push

Regulators are also voicing their support for the legislation.

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US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Paul Atkins said in a post on the same day that, “It’s time for Congress to future-proof against rogue regulators & advance comprehensive market structure legislation to President Trump’s desk.”

Magazine: Bitcoin quantum-safe without upgrade? CZ’s 2031 crypto vision: Hodler’s Digest, April 5 – 11