Author: dfmines

The decentralized finance (DeFi) industry is breathing a sigh of relief as Congress relaxes reporting obligations, but questions remain about how lawmakers will regulate DeFi.On March 12, the House of Representatives voted to nullify a rule that required DeFi protocols to report gross proceeds from crypto sales, as well as info on taxpayers involved, to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The rule, which the IRS issued in December 2024 and wasn’t set to take effect until 2027, was regarded by major industry lobby groups as burdensome and beyond the agency’s authority. The White House has already signaled its support for the bill. President Donald Trump is ready to sign when it reaches his desk. But DeFi observers note that the industry has yet to strike a balance between privacy and regulation. Bipartisan vote on repealing the rule. Source: DeFi Education FundPrivacy concerns over IRS DeFi ruleThe crypto industry was quick to laud the vote in the House. Marta Belcher, president of the Filecoin Foundation, said that blocking the rule was particularly important for user privacy. She told Cointelegraph it is “critical to protect people’s ability to transact directly with each other via open-source code (like smart contracts and decentralized exchanges) while remaining anonymous, in the same way that people can transact directly with each other using cash.”Privacy concerns were central to the crypto industry’s objections to the rule, with industry observers claiming that it was not fit for purpose and infringed on user privacy. Bill Hughes, senior counsel and director of global regulatory matters for Consensys Software wrote in December 2024, “Trading front ends would have to track and report on user activity — both US persons and non-US persons […] And it applies to the sale of every single digital asset — including NFTs and even stablecoins.”The Blockchain Association, a major crypto industry lobby group, stated that the rule was “an infringement on the privacy rights of individuals using decentralized technology” that would push DeFi offshore.While the rule has been stopped for now, there still aren’t fixed privacy guidelines in place — something Etherealize CEO Vivek Raman said the industry needs to move forward. “There needs to be clear frameworks for blockchain-based privacy while maintaining [Know Your Customer/Anti-Money Laundering] requirements,” he told Cointelegraph.Raman stated that some transactions and customer data will need to remain private, “and we need guidance on what privacy can look like.”How do you regulate DeFi?The crypto space has long juggled user privacy demands and regulators’ Anti-Money Laundering and Know Your Customer concerns. One problem lies in the technology itself — if a network is created by many and controlled by no single entity, who can the government contact? Per Raman, “It’s hard for a decentralized protocol that is controlled by nobody to issue 1099s or fulfill broker-dealer responsibilities! Companies can certainly be [broker-dealers], but software has not been designed for [broker-dealer] rules.”DeFi developers can and have been proactive in working with regulators, Chainalysis suggested, as was the case with certain protocols freezing funds after the disastrous $285 million KuCoin hack. Related: Timeline: How Bybit’s lost Ethereum went through North Korea’s washing machineCinneamhain Ventures partner and consultant Adam Cochran claimed that every protocol has certain pressure points regulators could press on if a protocol were used to commit a crime:Source: Adam CochranHowever, these specific instances do not make a comprehensive regulatory framework that both the industry and investor protection agencies can point to. In that regard, crypto analytics firm Chainalysis stated in 2020 that regulators may need to craft regulations for the DeFi space with decentralized reporting limitations in mind. Raman suggested that one possible solution could be zero-knowledge proofs, which allow users to confirm certain data without revealing it. He is optimistic about regulators’ ability to find a way to regulate the space while still maintaining user privacy: “I think we’ll see a positive sum environment where DeFi and compliance will coexist.”The long-awaited crypto regulatory framework Trump has already made a number of pro-crypto measures through executive orders and appointing pro-crypto individuals to head parts of his administration — the most recent being the establishment of a strategic Bitcoin reserve. Related: US Rep. Byron Donalds to introduce bill codifying Trump’s Bitcoin reserveThe pro-crypto tenure of important financial regulators like the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has dropped a number of high-profile enforcement cases against crypto firms.While notable, the big fish that the crypto industry is waiting for is the crypto regulatory framework and stablecoin bills circulating in Congress, which would give the industry the guardrails it claims it needs to thrive. On March 13, the Senate Banking Committee approved the GENIUS Act, the stablecoin bill, putting it one step closer to a vote on the Senate floor. The crypto framework bill, FIT 21, was first introduced in the 2024 legislative session, ultimately failing in the Senate. However, in February, House Financial Services Committee Chair French Hill said that he anticipated the bill could pass in this session with “modest changes.”But even if FIT 21 were passed soon, regulations for DeFi could be far off. The bill would exclude DeFi from SEC and CFTC oversight, but it would also establish a working group to research 12 key areas related to DeFi. This study will seek to understand the risks and benefits of DeFi and will ultimately make regulatory recommendations. Magazine: Vitalik on AI apocalypse, LA Times both-sides KKK, LLM grooming: AI Eye

The decentralized finance (DeFi) industry is breathing a sigh of relief as Congress relaxes reporting obligations, but questions remain about how lawmakers will regulate DeFi.On March 12, the House of Representatives voted to nullify a rule that required DeFi protocols to report gross proceeds from crypto sales, as well as info on taxpayers involved, to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The rule, which the IRS issued in December 2024 and wasn’t set to take effect until 2027, was regarded by major industry lobby groups as burdensome and beyond the agency’s authority. The White House has already signaled its support for the bill. President Donald Trump is ready to sign when it reaches his desk. But DeFi observers note that the industry has yet to strike a balance between privacy and regulation. Bipartisan vote on repealing the rule. Source: DeFi Education FundPrivacy concerns over IRS DeFi ruleThe crypto industry was quick to laud the vote in the House. Marta Belcher, president of the Filecoin Foundation, said that blocking the rule was particularly important for user privacy. She told Cointelegraph it is “critical to protect people’s ability to transact directly with each other via open-source code (like smart contracts and decentralized exchanges) while remaining anonymous, in the same way that people can transact directly with each other using cash.”Privacy concerns were central to the crypto industry’s objections to the rule, with industry observers claiming that it was not fit for purpose and infringed on user privacy. Bill Hughes, senior counsel and director of global regulatory matters for Consensys Software wrote in December 2024, “Trading front ends would have to track and report on user activity — both US persons and non-US persons […] And it applies to the sale of every single digital asset — including NFTs and even stablecoins.”The Blockchain Association, a major crypto industry lobby group, stated that the rule was “an infringement on the privacy rights of individuals using decentralized technology” that would push DeFi offshore.While the rule has been stopped for now, there still aren’t fixed privacy guidelines in place — something Etherealize CEO Vivek Raman said the industry needs to move forward. “There needs to be clear frameworks for blockchain-based privacy while maintaining [Know Your Customer/Anti-Money Laundering] requirements,” he told Cointelegraph.Raman stated that some transactions and customer data will need to remain private, “and we need guidance on what privacy can look like.”How do you regulate DeFi?The crypto space has long juggled user privacy demands and regulators’ Anti-Money Laundering and Know Your Customer concerns. One problem lies in the technology itself — if a network is created by many and controlled by no single entity, who can the government contact? Per Raman, “It’s hard for a decentralized protocol that is controlled by nobody to issue 1099s or fulfill broker-dealer responsibilities! Companies can certainly be [broker-dealers], but software has not been designed for [broker-dealer] rules.”DeFi developers can and have been proactive in working with regulators, Chainalysis suggested, as was the case with certain protocols freezing funds after the disastrous $285 million KuCoin hack. Related: Timeline: How Bybit’s lost Ethereum went through North Korea’s washing machineCinneamhain Ventures partner and consultant Adam Cochran claimed that every protocol has certain pressure points regulators could press on if a protocol were used to commit a crime:Source: Adam CochranHowever, these specific instances do not make a comprehensive regulatory framework that both the industry and investor protection agencies can point to. In that regard, crypto analytics firm Chainalysis stated in 2020 that regulators may need to craft regulations for the DeFi space with decentralized reporting limitations in mind. Raman suggested that one possible solution could be zero-knowledge proofs, which allow users to confirm certain data without revealing it. He is optimistic about regulators’ ability to find a way to regulate the space while still maintaining user privacy: “I think we’ll see a positive sum environment where DeFi and compliance will coexist.”The long-awaited crypto regulatory framework Trump has already made a number of pro-crypto measures through executive orders and appointing pro-crypto individuals to head parts of his administration — the most recent being the establishment of a strategic Bitcoin reserve. Related: US Rep. Byron Donalds to introduce bill codifying Trump’s Bitcoin reserveThe pro-crypto tenure of important financial regulators like the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has dropped a number of high-profile enforcement cases against crypto firms.While notable, the big fish that the crypto industry is waiting for is the crypto regulatory framework and stablecoin bills circulating in Congress, which would give the industry the guardrails it claims it needs to thrive. On March 13, the Senate Banking Committee approved the GENIUS Act, the stablecoin bill, putting it one step closer to a vote on the Senate floor. The crypto framework bill, FIT 21, was first introduced in the 2024 legislative session, ultimately failing in the Senate. However, in February, House Financial Services Committee Chair French Hill said that he anticipated the bill could pass in this session with “modest changes.”But even if FIT 21 were passed soon, regulations for DeFi could be far off. The bill would exclude DeFi from SEC and CFTC oversight, but it would also establish a working group to research 12 key areas related to DeFi. This study will seek to understand the risks and benefits of DeFi and will ultimately make regulatory recommendations. Magazine: Vitalik on AI apocalypse, LA Times both-sides KKK, LLM grooming: AI Eye

The decentralized finance (DeFi) industry is breathing a sigh of relief as Congress relaxes reporting obligations, but questions remain about how lawmakers will regulate DeFi.On March 12, the House of Representatives voted to nullify a rule that required DeFi protocols to report gross proceeds from crypto sales, as well as info on taxpayers involved, to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The rule, which the IRS issued in December 2024 and wasn’t set to take effect until 2027, was regarded by major industry lobby groups as burdensome and beyond the agency’s authority. The White House has already signaled its support for the bill. President Donald Trump is ready to sign when it reaches his desk. But DeFi observers note that the industry has yet to strike a balance between privacy and regulation. Bipartisan vote on repealing the rule. Source: DeFi Education FundPrivacy concerns over IRS DeFi ruleThe crypto industry was quick to laud the vote in the House. Marta Belcher, president of the Filecoin Foundation, said that blocking the rule was particularly important for user privacy. She told Cointelegraph it is “critical to protect people’s ability to transact directly with each other via open-source code (like smart contracts and decentralized exchanges) while remaining anonymous, in the same way that people can transact directly with each other using cash.”Privacy concerns were central to the crypto industry’s objections to the rule, with industry observers claiming that it was not fit for purpose and infringed on user privacy. Bill Hughes, senior counsel and director of global regulatory matters for Consensys Software wrote in December 2024, “Trading front ends would have to track and report on user activity — both US persons and non-US persons […] And it applies to the sale of every single digital asset — including NFTs and even stablecoins.”The Blockchain Association, a major crypto industry lobby group, stated that the rule was “an infringement on the privacy rights of individuals using decentralized technology” that would push DeFi offshore.While the rule has been stopped for now, there still aren’t fixed privacy guidelines in place — something Etherealize CEO Vivek Raman said the industry needs to move forward. “There needs to be clear frameworks for blockchain-based privacy while maintaining [Know Your Customer/Anti-Money Laundering] requirements,” he told Cointelegraph.Raman stated that some transactions and customer data will need to remain private, “and we need guidance on what privacy can look like.”How do you regulate DeFi?The crypto space has long juggled user privacy demands and regulators’ Anti-Money Laundering and Know Your Customer concerns. One problem lies in the technology itself — if a network is created by many and controlled by no single entity, who can the government contact? Per Raman, “It’s hard for a decentralized protocol that is controlled by nobody to issue 1099s or fulfill broker-dealer responsibilities! Companies can certainly be [broker-dealers], but software has not been designed for [broker-dealer] rules.”DeFi developers can and have been proactive in working with regulators, Chainalysis suggested, as was the case with certain protocols freezing funds after the disastrous $285 million KuCoin hack. Related: Timeline: How Bybit’s lost Ethereum went through North Korea’s washing machineCinneamhain Ventures partner and consultant Adam Cochran claimed that every protocol has certain pressure points regulators could press on if a protocol were used to commit a crime:Source: Adam CochranHowever, these specific instances do not make a comprehensive regulatory framework that both the industry and investor protection agencies can point to. In that regard, crypto analytics firm Chainalysis stated in 2020 that regulators may need to craft regulations for the DeFi space with decentralized reporting limitations in mind. Raman suggested that one possible solution could be zero-knowledge proofs, which allow users to confirm certain data without revealing it. He is optimistic about regulators’ ability to find a way to regulate the space while still maintaining user privacy: “I think we’ll see a positive sum environment where DeFi and compliance will coexist.”The long-awaited crypto regulatory framework Trump has already made a number of pro-crypto measures through executive orders and appointing pro-crypto individuals to head parts of his administration — the most recent being the establishment of a strategic Bitcoin reserve. Related: US Rep. Byron Donalds to introduce bill codifying Trump’s Bitcoin reserveThe pro-crypto tenure of important financial regulators like the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has dropped a number of high-profile enforcement cases against crypto firms.While notable, the big fish that the crypto industry is waiting for is the crypto regulatory framework and stablecoin bills circulating in Congress, which would give the industry the guardrails it claims it needs to thrive. On March 13, the Senate Banking Committee approved the GENIUS Act, the stablecoin bill, putting it one step closer to a vote on the Senate floor. The crypto framework bill, FIT 21, was first introduced in the 2024 legislative session, ultimately failing in the Senate. However, in February, House Financial Services Committee Chair French Hill said that he anticipated the bill could pass in this session with “modest changes.”But even if FIT 21 were passed soon, regulations for DeFi could be far off. The bill would exclude DeFi from SEC and CFTC oversight, but it would also establish a working group to research 12 key areas related to DeFi. This study will seek to understand the risks and benefits of DeFi and will ultimately make regulatory recommendations. Magazine: Vitalik on AI apocalypse, LA Times both-sides KKK, LLM grooming: AI Eye

The decentralized finance (DeFi) industry is breathing a sigh of relief as Congress relaxes reporting obligations, but questions remain about how lawmakers will regulate DeFi.On March 12, the House of Representatives voted to nullify a rule that required DeFi protocols to report gross proceeds from crypto sales, as well as info on taxpayers involved, to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The rule, which the IRS issued in December 2024 and wasn’t set to take effect until 2027, was regarded by major industry lobby groups as burdensome and beyond the agency’s authority. The White House has already signaled its support for the bill. President Donald Trump is ready to sign when it reaches his desk. But DeFi observers note that the industry has yet to strike a balance between privacy and regulation. Bipartisan vote on repealing the rule. Source: DeFi Education FundPrivacy concerns over IRS DeFi ruleThe crypto industry was quick to laud the vote in the House. Marta Belcher, president of the Filecoin Foundation, said that blocking the rule was particularly important for user privacy. She told Cointelegraph it is “critical to protect people’s ability to transact directly with each other via open-source code (like smart contracts and decentralized exchanges) while remaining anonymous, in the same way that people can transact directly with each other using cash.”Privacy concerns were central to the crypto industry’s objections to the rule, with industry observers claiming that it was not fit for purpose and infringed on user privacy. Bill Hughes, senior counsel and director of global regulatory matters for Consensys Software wrote in December 2024, “Trading front ends would have to track and report on user activity — both US persons and non-US persons […] And it applies to the sale of every single digital asset — including NFTs and even stablecoins.”The Blockchain Association, a major crypto industry lobby group, stated that the rule was “an infringement on the privacy rights of individuals using decentralized technology” that would push DeFi offshore.While the rule has been stopped for now, there still aren’t fixed privacy guidelines in place — something Etherealize CEO Vivek Raman said the industry needs to move forward. “There needs to be clear frameworks for blockchain-based privacy while maintaining [Know Your Customer/Anti-Money Laundering] requirements,” he told Cointelegraph.Raman stated that some transactions and customer data will need to remain private, “and we need guidance on what privacy can look like.”How do you regulate DeFi?The crypto space has long juggled user privacy demands and regulators’ Anti-Money Laundering and Know Your Customer concerns. One problem lies in the technology itself — if a network is created by many and controlled by no single entity, who can the government contact? Per Raman, “It’s hard for a decentralized protocol that is controlled by nobody to issue 1099s or fulfill broker-dealer responsibilities! Companies can certainly be [broker-dealers], but software has not been designed for [broker-dealer] rules.”DeFi developers can and have been proactive in working with regulators, Chainalysis suggested, as was the case with certain protocols freezing funds after the disastrous $285 million KuCoin hack. Related: Timeline: How Bybit’s lost Ethereum went through North Korea’s washing machineCinneamhain Ventures partner and consultant Adam Cochran claimed that every protocol has certain pressure points regulators could press on if a protocol were used to commit a crime:Source: Adam CochranHowever, these specific instances do not make a comprehensive regulatory framework that both the industry and investor protection agencies can point to. In that regard, crypto analytics firm Chainalysis stated in 2020 that regulators may need to craft regulations for the DeFi space with decentralized reporting limitations in mind. Raman suggested that one possible solution could be zero-knowledge proofs, which allow users to confirm certain data without revealing it. He is optimistic about regulators’ ability to find a way to regulate the space while still maintaining user privacy: “I think we’ll see a positive sum environment where DeFi and compliance will coexist.”The long-awaited crypto regulatory framework Trump has already made a number of pro-crypto measures through executive orders and appointing pro-crypto individuals to head parts of his administration — the most recent being the establishment of a strategic Bitcoin reserve. Related: US Rep. Byron Donalds to introduce bill codifying Trump’s Bitcoin reserveThe pro-crypto tenure of important financial regulators like the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has dropped a number of high-profile enforcement cases against crypto firms.While notable, the big fish that the crypto industry is waiting for is the crypto regulatory framework and stablecoin bills circulating in Congress, which would give the industry the guardrails it claims it needs to thrive. On March 13, the Senate Banking Committee approved the GENIUS Act, the stablecoin bill, putting it one step closer to a vote on the Senate floor. The crypto framework bill, FIT 21, was first introduced in the 2024 legislative session, ultimately failing in the Senate. However, in February, House Financial Services Committee Chair French Hill said that he anticipated the bill could pass in this session with “modest changes.”But even if FIT 21 were passed soon, regulations for DeFi could be far off. The bill would exclude DeFi from SEC and CFTC oversight, but it would also establish a working group to research 12 key areas related to DeFi. This study will seek to understand the risks and benefits of DeFi and will ultimately make regulatory recommendations. Magazine: Vitalik on AI apocalypse, LA Times both-sides KKK, LLM grooming: AI Eye

Bitcoin (BTC) has failed to reclaim $84,000 resistance again and has fallen 4% to retest another crucial support zone. Some analysts suggested that the cryptocurrency’s rally will be determined by its weekly close, which could see BTC crash or climb to new levels. Related Reading: Solana (SOL) Retests Crucial Support Level – Is A 50% Price Drop On The Horizon? Bitcoin Hits $84,000 Wall Again After losing the $84,000-$86,000 support zone on Sunday, Bitcoin has failed to reclaim this level. The flagship crypto has retraced over 11% in the past week, briefly falling to a 4-month low of $76,600 on Monday. Since then, BTC’s price has hovered between the $80,000-$84,000 range, failing to break above the range’s upper zone for the past four days. Crypto analyst Jelle noted that this resistance level has been a key level throughout the first half of March. Notably, the $84,000 mark served as an important bounce level during the start-of-month price pump and correction, and “reclaiming it will make all the difference for how the rest of the month goes.” Bitcoin has attempted to regain this level in the past 24 hours, climbing to $83,900 on Thursday morning. To the analyst, a reclaim of $84,000 could propel the price back to the post-election breakout range, and things would “get real interesting.” Ali Martinez pointed out that the biggest supply barrier for Bitcoin sits at the $95,000 range, where 1.2 million investors purchased 726,000 BTC. He also noted that the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization is consolidating within an ascending triangle, which could lead to a 9% surge to the $90,000 mark if it breaks out above $84,000. Nonetheless, BTC failed to reclaim this key resistance and retraced to the $80,000 support zone. Jelle warned that “bulls need to defend the current area, or this could cascade towards the high seventies once more.” Is BTC’s Cycle Top Or Bottom In? Ted Pillows suggested that BTC is poised for another leg up as its price action resembles previous performances. He highlighted that Bitcoin has held its ascending support trendline like in 2017 and 2020, which “shows that the cycle isn’t over yet.” Based on this historical price performance, the analyst considers that the cryptocurrency could retest the $72,000-$74,000 support before a local bottom is in. “After that, there’ll be some consolidation followed by the next leg up,” he explained. Trader Titan of Crypto pointed at a potential reversal as BTC is “showing signs of bottoming on the weekly chart” with the Relative Strength Index (RSI) as support, an Oversold Stochastic RSI bullish crossover, and price at the lower Bollinger Band. He also noted that BTC’s price action resembles 2020’s market structure before a major breakout. Related Reading: Ethereum Risks Another 15% Correction After Fall Below $2,000 – What’s Next For ETH? Meanwhile, analyst Nebraskangooner affirmed that Bitcoin has been “historically predictable,” which suggests that its weekly close range will be key for the next move. According to the post, if BTC closes the week below $67,250, it would potentially indicate the market has already hit the top, as it would become a distribution range. The analyst explained that the cryptocurrency has respected the “distribution, accumulation, and instant reversal” levels in every BTC bear market. If Bitcoin remains “historically predictable,” the cryptocurrency could fall to levels not seen since late 2023 and early 2024. As of this writing, BTC trades at $80,810, a 3.4% decline in the daily timeframe. Featured Image from Unsplash.com, Chart from TradingView.com

Today in crypto, a new bill set to be introduced in Congress aims to formalize President Donald Trump’s executive order establishing a US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, Democrat Representative Gerald Connolly has urged the US Treasury to halt any efforts for a US strategic crypto reserve, and former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao denied claims in a Wall Street Journal report suggesting that he has been actively seeking a federal pardon from President Trump.US Rep. Byron Donalds to introduce bill codifying Trump’s Bitcoin reserveA new bill set to be introduced in Congress aims to formalize President Donald Trump’s executive order establishing a US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, a move that could further integrate Bitcoin into the nation’s financial strategy.Trump signed an executive order on March 7 to use Bitcoin (BTC) seized in government criminal cases to establish a national reserve.The legislation, introduced by US Representative Byron Donalds, seeks to ensure the Bitcoin reserve becomes a permanent fixture, preventing future administrations from dismantling it through executive action.Source: Margo Martin“For years, the Democrats waged war on crypto,” Donalds, a Florida Republican, said in a statement to Bloomberg. “Now is the time for Congressional Republicans to decisively end this war.”If the bill is passed, it would ensure that the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and the US Digital Asset Stockpile could not be eliminated via executive actions by a future administration.The bill will require at least 60 votes in the Senate and a House majority to pass. With Republicans holding a Senate majority — and amid a generally more crypto-friendly environment — the bill has a chance of passing.Democrat lawmaker urges Treasury to cease Trump’s Bitcoin reserve plansA Democrat lawmaker has called on the US Treasury to “cease all attempts” to create a strategic crypto reserve in the United States.House Representative Gerald E. Connolly of Michigan criticized the “cryptocurrency reserve” in a March 13 letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, stating that it provides “no discernible benefit to the American people” and would instead significantly enrich the president and his donors.Rep: Gerald Connolly’s letter to US Treasury’s Scott Bessent. Source: Committee on Oversight and Government Reform DemocratsConnolly said Trump’s plans would constitute “unsound fiscal policy” because it chooses certain cryptocurrencies over others via social media and would also waste taxpayer dollars.However, the White House has said that the Digital Asset Stockpile will only hold onto cryptocurrency already forfeited. At the same time, the Bitcoin (BTC) reserve will only make acquisitions through budget-neutral strategies that won’t impact taxpayers.Changpeng Zhao denies reports of a Binance.US deal, defends TrumpFormer Binance CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao has denied many of the claims in a Wall Street Journal report suggesting that he has been actively seeking a federal pardon from US President Donald Trump.In a March 13 X post following the release of the report, Zhao said he had no discussions regarding a business deal between the Trump family and Binance.US. He further denied claims that he wanted a presidential pardon from Trump, which could potentially allow him to assume an operational or management role at Binance.“No felon would mind a pardon, especially being the only one in US history who was ever sentenced to prison for a single BSA [Bank Secrecy Act] charge,” said CZ. “Feels like the article is motivated as an attack on the President and crypto, and the residual forces of the ‘war on crypto’ from the last administration are still at work.”CZ’s statement on a March 13 Wall Street Journal report. Source: Changpeng Zhao

Today in crypto, a new bill set to be introduced in Congress aims to formalize President Donald Trump’s executive order establishing a US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, Democrat Representative Gerald Connolly has urged the US Treasury to halt any efforts for a US strategic crypto reserve, and former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao denied claims in a Wall Street Journal report suggesting that he has been actively seeking a federal pardon from President Trump.US Rep. Byron Donalds to introduce bill codifying Trump’s Bitcoin reserveA new bill set to be introduced in Congress aims to formalize President Donald Trump’s executive order establishing a US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, a move that could further integrate Bitcoin into the nation’s financial strategy.Trump signed an executive order on March 7 to use Bitcoin (BTC) seized in government criminal cases to establish a national reserve.The legislation, introduced by US Representative Byron Donalds, seeks to ensure the Bitcoin reserve becomes a permanent fixture, preventing future administrations from dismantling it through executive action.Source: Margo Martin“For years, the Democrats waged war on crypto,” Donalds, a Florida Republican, said in a statement to Bloomberg. “Now is the time for Congressional Republicans to decisively end this war.”If the bill is passed, it would ensure that the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and the US Digital Asset Stockpile could not be eliminated via executive actions by a future administration.The bill will require at least 60 votes in the Senate and a House majority to pass. With Republicans holding a Senate majority — and amid a generally more crypto-friendly environment — the bill has a chance of passing.Democrat lawmaker urges Treasury to cease Trump’s Bitcoin reserve plansA Democrat lawmaker has called on the US Treasury to “cease all attempts” to create a strategic crypto reserve in the United States.House Representative Gerald E. Connolly of Michigan criticized the “cryptocurrency reserve” in a March 13 letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, stating that it provides “no discernible benefit to the American people” and would instead significantly enrich the president and his donors.Rep: Gerald Connolly’s letter to US Treasury’s Scott Bessent. Source: Committee on Oversight and Government Reform DemocratsConnolly said Trump’s plans would constitute “unsound fiscal policy” because it chooses certain cryptocurrencies over others via social media and would also waste taxpayer dollars.However, the White House has said that the Digital Asset Stockpile will only hold onto cryptocurrency already forfeited. At the same time, the Bitcoin (BTC) reserve will only make acquisitions through budget-neutral strategies that won’t impact taxpayers.Changpeng Zhao denies reports of a Binance.US deal, defends TrumpFormer Binance CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao has denied many of the claims in a Wall Street Journal report suggesting that he has been actively seeking a federal pardon from US President Donald Trump.In a March 13 X post following the release of the report, Zhao said he had no discussions regarding a business deal between the Trump family and Binance.US. He further denied claims that he wanted a presidential pardon from Trump, which could potentially allow him to assume an operational or management role at Binance.“No felon would mind a pardon, especially being the only one in US history who was ever sentenced to prison for a single BSA [Bank Secrecy Act] charge,” said CZ. “Feels like the article is motivated as an attack on the President and crypto, and the residual forces of the ‘war on crypto’ from the last administration are still at work.”CZ’s statement on a March 13 Wall Street Journal report. Source: Changpeng Zhao

Today in crypto, a new bill set to be introduced in Congress aims to formalize President Donald Trump’s executive order establishing a US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, Democrat Representative Gerald Connolly has urged the US Treasury to halt any efforts for a US strategic crypto reserve, and former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao denied claims in a Wall Street Journal report suggesting that he has been actively seeking a federal pardon from President Trump.US Rep. Byron Donalds to introduce bill codifying Trump’s Bitcoin reserveA new bill set to be introduced in Congress aims to formalize President Donald Trump’s executive order establishing a US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, a move that could further integrate Bitcoin into the nation’s financial strategy.Trump signed an executive order on March 7 to use Bitcoin (BTC) seized in government criminal cases to establish a national reserve.The legislation, introduced by US Representative Byron Donalds, seeks to ensure the Bitcoin reserve becomes a permanent fixture, preventing future administrations from dismantling it through executive action.Source: Margo Martin“For years, the Democrats waged war on crypto,” Donalds, a Florida Republican, said in a statement to Bloomberg. “Now is the time for Congressional Republicans to decisively end this war.”If the bill is passed, it would ensure that the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and the US Digital Asset Stockpile could not be eliminated via executive actions by a future administration.The bill will require at least 60 votes in the Senate and a House majority to pass. With Republicans holding a Senate majority — and amid a generally more crypto-friendly environment — the bill has a chance of passing.Democrat lawmaker urges Treasury to cease Trump’s Bitcoin reserve plansA Democrat lawmaker has called on the US Treasury to “cease all attempts” to create a strategic crypto reserve in the United States.House Representative Gerald E. Connolly of Michigan criticized the “cryptocurrency reserve” in a March 13 letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, stating that it provides “no discernible benefit to the American people” and would instead significantly enrich the president and his donors.Rep: Gerald Connolly’s letter to US Treasury’s Scott Bessent. Source: Committee on Oversight and Government Reform DemocratsConnolly said Trump’s plans would constitute “unsound fiscal policy” because it chooses certain cryptocurrencies over others via social media and would also waste taxpayer dollars.However, the White House has said that the Digital Asset Stockpile will only hold onto cryptocurrency already forfeited. At the same time, the Bitcoin (BTC) reserve will only make acquisitions through budget-neutral strategies that won’t impact taxpayers.Changpeng Zhao denies reports of a Binance.US deal, defends TrumpFormer Binance CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao has denied many of the claims in a Wall Street Journal report suggesting that he has been actively seeking a federal pardon from US President Donald Trump.In a March 13 X post following the release of the report, Zhao said he had no discussions regarding a business deal between the Trump family and Binance.US. He further denied claims that he wanted a presidential pardon from Trump, which could potentially allow him to assume an operational or management role at Binance.“No felon would mind a pardon, especially being the only one in US history who was ever sentenced to prison for a single BSA [Bank Secrecy Act] charge,” said CZ. “Feels like the article is motivated as an attack on the President and crypto, and the residual forces of the ‘war on crypto’ from the last administration are still at work.”CZ’s statement on a March 13 Wall Street Journal report. Source: Changpeng Zhao

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The cryptocurrency market has faced a significant downturn since the start of 2025, with some investors calling it the most painful cycle in history.Some were disappointed about industry policy changes and the memecoin craze in the United States, while others even speculated about talent leaving the sector for other industries.However, while the current crypto market state might look grim to some, the current cycle is far from being the most brutal on record, and many community members remain bullish.“For those who have been through multiple cycles, this is just part of the process,” Trezor analyst Lucien Bourdon told Cointelegraph.The post-Trump inauguration saleThe current decline in crypto markets came after Bitcoin (BTC) reached an all-time high above $106,000 in December 2024, with the spike largely attributed to optimism around Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election.While many were optimistic, some investors, such as BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes, accurately predicted a crypto sell-off following Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20.Bitcoin price chart since October 2024. Source: CoinGeckoSince then, Bitcoin has tumbled more than 18%, with the total crypto market capitalization erasing almost all gains that came from Trump’s election win, dropping 25%.In the post-Trump inauguration sale, investors offloaded about $4.6 billion from crypto exchange-traded products by March 7, while the spot market saw even more outflows, with at least $1 billion in liquidations in a single day on March 3.What was the most brutal crypto sell-off in history?But the most recent sell-off is not the worst on record. “If we’re talking about the worst Bitcoin cycle, 2014–2015 was possibly the most brutal,” Trezor’s Bourdon told Cointelegraph.Referring to the collapse of the Mt. Gox crypto exchange, which suffered an 850,000 BTC loss in a security breach in 2024, the analyst highlighted the event as the worst Bitcoin sell-off on record. Bitcoin price chart in the period from July 2013 to July 2016. Source: CoinGecko“The Mt. Gox collapse wiped out 70% of Bitcoin’s trading volume, leading to an 85% drawdown in a market with no institutional support and far less liquidity,” Bourdon said.More than just falling pricesAccording to Brett Reeves, head of BitGo’s European sales, there is a “great deal more to just falling pieces” in the current market.In addition to bigger price downturns in the past, Reeves highlighted notable advancements in global crypto products and regulation, which point to crypto assets increasingly becoming integral to the international financial system. He said:“While prices may be crashing for now, we must remember how far we’ve come in a short space in time and just how much potential this space has in the years ahead.”Contrary to crypto doubters and pessimists, some industry executives even see the current market cycle as a bull market.Related: EU retaliatory tariffs threaten Bitcoin correction to $75K — Analysts“I actually think it’s the best,” Quantum Economics founder Mati Greenspan told Cointelegraph, adding:“What sets this bull market apart from previous crypto bull runs is that it’s the first time we’ve seen prices rising over time that is not accompanied by copious money printing. This pullback is a short-term pain that will enable long-term gain.”According to crypto analyst Miles Deutscher, terms like “bull market,” “bear market,” “cycle,” or “altseason” are not even suitable for the current market situation.Source: Miles Deutscher“This is a different market now,” he said in an X post on March 13.Magazine: Trump-Biden bet led to obsession with ‘idiotic’ NFTs —Batsoupyum, NFT Collector