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DeFi Lobby Drops Airdrop Lawsuit Against SEC Over Crypto Shift

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Crypto Breaking News

Texas-based apparel brand Beba and the DeFi Education Fund have withdrawn a 2024 pre-enforcement challenge against the SEC related to the agency’s approach to crypto airdrops. The voluntary dismissal, filed in the Western District of Texas, arrives as policymakers and industry observers monitor a shift in how the regulator talks about and treats token distributions. In March 2024, Beba launched a free token airdrop, prompting the lawsuit, which alleged the SEC had adopted a digital asset enforcement framework without formal notice-and-comment rulemaking. The withdrawal signals that the parties see benefits in waiting for clearer regulatory guidance as the SEC’s stance appears to be moving away from a purely enforcement-driven posture.

Key takeaways

  • The case was dismissed without prejudice, preserving the right to refile if guidance materializes or if the parties deem it necessary.
  • The filing highlights the SEC Crypto Task Force’s work and statements by Commissioner Hester Peirce, which suggest airdropped tokens may not be securities under certain circumstances.
  • A January White House executive action reportedly encouraged the regulator to establish a “safe harbor for certain airdrops,” aligning with the evolving discourse on crypto policy.
  • DeFi Education Fund described the decision as a response to the changing regulatory environment and the likelihood that forthcoming guidance could address the foundational issues raised in the suit.
  • The move occurs amid broader signals of regulatory recalibration in the crypto space, including the recent handling of long-running enforcement actions and other high-profile cases.

Sentiment: Neutral

Market context: The landscape for crypto regulation in the United States has been shifting, with advocates calling for formal rulemaking rather than enforcement-by-litigation. The departure of a long-standing line of arguments from prosecutors and the appearance of a more consultative approach—evidenced by task-force commentary and executive actions—have added a layer of nuance to how projects conduct token distributions and how exchanges classify assets.

Why it matters

For investors and builders, the voluntary dismissal signals a potential near-term reduction in regulatory friction around airdrops, at least pending forthcoming guidance. If the SEC Crypto Task Force delivers a clear framework or if a safe harbor emerges, teams may design token distributions with greater legal clarity, potentially accelerating legitimate experimentation while preserving compliance safeguards.

From a policy standpoint, the case underscores the central role of the SEC’s Task Force in shaping enforcement and rulemaking trajectories. The speeches and discussions around whether certain airdrops can be exempt from security classifications directly influence how projects structure distributions, how custodians and exchanges classify tokens, and how investors assess risk in new token launches.

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While the narrative suggests a potential easing of some enforcement pressures, the absence of formal, binding rulemaking means industry participants should remain vigilant. The interplay between public statements, proposed exemptions, and actual regulatory actions will likely determine how quickly the market adapts and how confidently projects can proceed with token drops without triggering unintended compliance pitfalls.

What to watch next

  • The SEC Crypto Task Force’s forthcoming guidance or rulemaking related to airdrops and token distributions.
  • Any formal White House or agency announcements outlining safe harbors or exemptions for crypto distributions.
  • Whether the plaintiffs refile their challenge if new guidance does not materialize or proves incomplete.
  • Subsequent enforcement actions or settlements that illustrate the regulator’s current stance post-change in leadership and policy signals.
  • Ongoing discussions around BitClout-related litigation and other crypto cases highlighted in policy discourse and industry coverage.

Sources & verification

  • Notice of voluntary dismissal in Beba LLC and DeFi Education Fund v. Securities and Exchange Commission filed in the Western District of Texas. source
  • SEC Crypto Task Force work and statements by Commissioner Hester Peirce cited in related discussions. source
  • Recent coverage on regulatory shifts and enforcement actions, including ongoing debates about crypto exemptions and rulemaking. source
  • Nader Al-Naji BitClout case dismissal and related regulatory developments. source
  • Analyses of the SEC’s evolving approach to crypto law, including discussions on the potential for exemptions and safe harbors. source

Regulatory shifts prompt voluntary dismissal of crypto-airdrop lawsuit

The voluntary dismissal of the Beba and DeFi Education Fund lawsuit encapsulates a broader moment for crypto regulation in the United States. The case itself arose from a perceived disconnect between how the SEC polices crypto issues and how policy makers imagine legitimate distribution mechanisms. In March 2024, Beba launched a free token airdrop, setting the backdrop for a challenge that accused the commission of moving forward with a digital asset enforcement framework without formal notice-and-comment procedures mandated by the Administrative Procedure Act. The plaintiffs argued that the SEC’s actions reflected a departure from the traditional rulemaking process, a concern that resonated with others in the fast-moving crypto ecosystem that seeks predictability in compliance standards.

What prompted the move to dismiss appears to be twofold. First, the parties cited the work of the SEC Crypto Task Force and the remarks delivered by Commissioner Hester Peirce over the past year, which suggested that not all airdrops should be treated as securities. Peirce’s public discussions highlighted the possibility of an exemption framework for airdrops, signaling a potential regulatory path forward that could reduce legal ambiguity for legitimate token distributions. Second, the White House’s January executive action, which encouraged the regulator to explore a safe harbor for certain airdrops, added political and administrative momentum to a more nuanced regulatory posture. Together, these factors created a landscape in which continuing litigation might prove unnecessary if the regulatory framework were to evolve in a way that addresses the core concerns raised by the plaintiffs.

In the court filing, the DeFi Education Fund stressed that the SEC’s evolving stance justified stepping back—at least temporarily. “Given the good work done by the SEC Crypto Task Force and recent speeches that suggest a change in the Commission’s position regarding free airdrops, we decided continuing was unnecessary for the time being and we can re-file if we need to later on,” the group stated in a post on X. The DEF also signaled its expectation that the Task Force would soon address airdrops more explicitly—the central issue at the heart of the lawsuit. The filing further notes the possibility of refile if the agency’s forthcoming guidance fails to materialize or proves inadequate, preserving the litigants’ rights without foreclosing future action.

Beyond the specifics of this case, the shift aligns with broader regulatory dynamics that unfolded after the tenure of former SEC Chair Gary Gensler. Historically, critics argued that policy tended to emerge through enforcement actions and settlements rather than open-rulemaking. The narrative shifted again with leadership changes and a series of enforcement actions that were dismissed or resolved in the months that followed. The combination of task-force work, public speeches, and executive signaling points to a more deliberate, if still evolving, framework for distinguishing securities from non-securities in the crypto space. For participants, this means a growing expectation that the SEC may offer more defined guardrails, even if not yet codified in formal rules.

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In practical terms, the case illustrates how policy dialogue can influence corporate tactics. Projects considering airdrops must weigh the risk of classification as securities against the possibility of exemptions or safe harbors that may be introduced in the near term. Exchanges and developers will likely watch for formal guidance before committing to complex token-distribution schemes, especially those that resemble traditional fundraising activities. While the dismissal removes an immediate legal challenge, it does not erase the fundamental questions about how the SEC will define and regulate token distributions over the coming quarters.

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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BTC USD Price Finally Moving Up: Saylor Strategy Bought More Before The Rally

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BTC USD price is moving again, up by 4% in just a day, bouncing hard off the long-term trendline that has defined every cycle low since 2017.

BTC USD price is moving again, at $69,000, it is up by 4% in just a day, bouncing hard off the long-term trendline that has defined every major cycle low since 2017. Before the movement, Strategy’s latest filing reveals that the firm was loading up just before this leg higher, spending $329.9 million in a single week at prices well below current levels.

Michael Saylor’s Strategy added 4,871 BTC to its treasury between late March and early April at an average cost of $67,718 per coin, bringing total holdings to 766,970 BTC acquired for $58.02 billion. The purchase was funded primarily through $227.3 million in STRC preferred stock sales, supplemented by $72 million in common stock proceeds.

At current prices, the full position sits roughly 8% underwater, about $5 billion in unrealized losses, yet the buying continued without hesitation. This conviction, right at a trendline support test, tends to matter.

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The broader context makes this accumulation harder to dismiss. Strategy and spot ETFs are now the two dominant institutional absorption channels in a thinning market, with Strategy alone accumulating roughly 44,000 BTC over 30 days through late March.

Discover: The best crypto to diversify your portfolio with

Can BTC USD Price Break $72,000 This Week?

BTC USD is consolidating just below the $72,000 price resistance zone after reclaiming the 100-hour simple moving average. Volume confirmation arrived Monday evening and has held, which is a structurally positive development.

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Daily RSI reads 53, MACD(12,26) at 499.5, and ADX(14) at 37.847, all of which point to sustained bullish momentum, though STOCH indicators are flashing overbought.

A daily close above $69,500 opens the path to $72,000 and potentially the $74,000 area that briefly traded in mid-March. Catalyst would be a softer-than-expected US jobs or inflation print, shifting Fed rate expectations.

Or a consolidation between $67,500 and $69,500 for several sessions, as the market digests the bounce, can also happen. Analysts forecast $67,000 by quarter-end, suggesting a range-bound grind before the next directional move.

BTC USD price is moving again, up by 4% in just a day, bouncing hard off the long-term trendline that has defined every cycle low since 2017.
BTC USD, Tradingview

However, a close below $66,000 and the long-term trendline would invalidate the current setup and expose the $64,000 range.

TradingView analysts noted this week: “A lot of people are turning very bearish on Bitcoin, but I don’t think it’s time to be bearish; the bearish trend is not confirmed.”

Price movement from here will largely depend on macro data and whether ETF inflows accelerate alongside the Strategy’s continued accumulation.

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Discover: The best pre-launch token sales

Bitcoin Hyper Targets Early-Mover Upside While BTC Rally

Bitcoin rebounding toward $70,000 is undeniably bullish, but at a $1.4 trillion market cap, the asymmetric upside that characterized 2020 and 2021 is simply getting slimmer. The ship has sailed somewhere under $50,000.

Traders looking for leverage on a Bitcoin bull cycle without the ceiling constraints are increasingly scanning the infrastructure layer, specifically projects that extend Bitcoin’s utility rather than just price-follow it.

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Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) is one presale generating real traction in that context. Positioned as the first-ever Bitcoin Layer 2 with Solana Virtual Machine (SVM) integration, it targets Bitcoin’s three structural weaknesses directly: slow transactions, high fees, and absent programmability.

The SVM integration is the differentiator; it has a faster performance than Solana itself through extremely low-latency Layer 2 processing, combined with a Decentralized Canonical Bridge for native BTC transfers.

The presale has raised more than $32 million at a current token price of just low $0.013, with staking available at a high 36% APY for early participants.

Research the Bitcoin Hyper presale thoroughly and join the army.

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The post BTC USD Price Finally Moving Up: Saylor Strategy Bought More Before The Rally appeared first on Cryptonews.

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Polymarket Launches Stablecoin, Overhauls Trading System

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Polymarket is rolling out its biggest platform upgrade to date, introducing a new stablecoin and rebuilding its trading system. 

The changes will take place over the next few weeks and aim to make the platform faster, simpler, and more reliable for users.

At the center of the update is a new collateral token called “Polymarket USD.” It will replace USDC.e and is backed 1:1 by USDC. 

For most users, the switch will happen automatically with a one-time approval. However, advanced users and bot traders will need to manually convert their funds.

At the same time, Polymarket is upgrading how trades are placed and matched. The platform is introducing a new order book system and updated smart contracts. 

These changes are designed to improve speed, reduce costs, and support more advanced trading activity.

As part of the transition, all existing order books will be cleared, and trading will pause briefly during a scheduled maintenance window. Polymarket said it will announce the exact timing in advance.

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For everyday users, the impact will be minimal. The interface will handle most changes in the background. However, traders may notice smoother performance and quicker order execution after the upgrade.

Overall, the update signals a shift in how Polymarket operates. The platform is moving toward a more structured, exchange-like system built for higher trading volume and broader use.

The post Polymarket Launches Stablecoin, Overhauls Trading System appeared first on BeInCrypto.

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Bernstein Sees Upside from Loan Growth, Tokenization

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Bernstein Sees Upside from Loan Growth, Tokenization

Figure Technology Solutions, a blockchain-based lending platform that went public last year, may be undervalued at current levels as loan originations accelerate and its tokenized credit marketplace scales, according to Bernstein analysts.

In a report published Monday, Bernstein assigned Figure an “Outperform” rating and a $67 price target — nearly double the stock’s recent trading level of around $32.

The bullish call follows a surge in lending activity. Figure originated $1.2 billion in loans in March, up 33% from the previous month and marking the first time monthly volumes exceeded $1 billion. 

The company primarily originates home equity lines of credit (HELOCs), which allow homeowners to borrow against their equity in the property, typically at lower interest rates than unsecured loans.

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It uses the Provence blockchain to reduce friction in the loan process which it claims makes it more efficient than traditional lenders. According to Provenance, Figure is able to shave 117 basis points per loan by transacting on the blockchain.

First-quarter originations reached $2.9 billion, more than doubling from a year earlier and defying the usual seasonal slowdown in HELOC demand. The figure is now tracking roughly $12 billion in annualized loan volume.

Figure’s growth has been driven by rising consumer loan demand, an expanding partner network and the continued rollout of its blockchain-based credit infrastructure, including its YLDS stablecoin. Source: Bernstein

Figure’s strong start to the year follows a largely positive fourth quarter, where earnings and revenue increased, though profits fell short of expectations.

Related: CoinShares stock makes US debut on Nasdaq following SPAC merger

Figure stock struggles despite strong fundamentals

Despite improving operating performance, Figure shares have fallen more than 20% this year, reflecting broader volatility across digital asset–linked stocks and sector-specific pressures.

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The stock has also struggled to regain momentum following its high-profile Nasdaq market debut last September. That closely watched initial public offering valued the company at nearly $800 million.

Figure Technology (FIGR) stock’s year-to-date performance. Source: Yahoo Finance

Still, Bernstein’s analysis valued the company at roughly 25 times its projected 2027 EBITDA — meaning the stock trades at a multiple of its expected earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. 

This valuation sits above existing digital asset companies, reflecting what analysts describe as Figure’s “structural prospects” as both a tokenization platform and a profitable lending business.

However, risks remain. According to Bernstein, HELOC demand can be sensitive to mortgage refinancing trends, while the broader private credit market — a key pillar of Figure’s growth strategy — has shown signs of increasing pressure.

Related: Crypto Biz: Bitcoin treasuries break ranks as BTC dips below $70K

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