US Vice President J.D. Vance stressed the importance of political involvement for the crypto community during his speech at the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas.
He warned policymakers may ignore Bitcoin without ongoing activism despite its growing importance.
Vance praised the crypto community’s impact and urged continued momentum after the 2024 elections. He stressed that political decisions will shape Bitcoin’s future, so the industry must stay engaged with policymakers.
Highlighting Bitcoin’s potential strategic value, Vance referenced the government-backed Bitcoin Reserve launched under former President Donald Trump.
The US stance contrasts with China’s rejection of Bitcoin. J.D. Vance said that America should deepen its commitment to the cryptocurrency to secure a competitive edge globally.
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Ripple has urged US regulators to define when a digital asset should no longer be considered a security. In a new letter to the SEC’s Crypto Task Force, the firm responded to questions raised by Commissioner Hester Peirce on asset classification.
The move seeks greater clarity for market participants amid increasing regulatory scrutiny.
The company referenced its 2023 legal victory, where a court ruled XRP was not inherently a security. Ripple also cited a 2022 legal paper. The paper claims most fungible tokens on secondary markets lack ongoing obligations between buyers and issuers.
It proposed a two-part test to determine when a token becomes independent from its original investment contract.
Ripple says a crypto asset stays a security only if promises remain and holders have enforceable rights. It warned against vague standards like ‘sufficient decentralisation,’ backing clearer criteria such as trading history and absence of centralised control.
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Luxembourg has classified virtual asset service providers (VASPs) as high-risk for money laundering in its 2025 National Risk Assessment.
The report highlights concerns about the crypto industry’s exposure to financial crime, citing factors such as transaction volumes, client reach, and international operations.
The assessment builds on 2020 and 2022 reports that flagged crypto risks linked to their internet-based and cross-border nature. Meanwhile, the European Union is advancing regulation with the MiCA framework to harmonise rules across member states.
Several crypto firms have recently secured licenses to operate within the EU. However, some, like Tether, resist new stablecoin regulations and were delisted on major platforms.
Money laundering using cryptocurrencies remains a challenge worldwide. The incidents highlight ongoing concerns about illicit activity in the growing crypto market.
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Trump Media & Technology Group has announced plans to raise approximately $2.5 billion through a private placement. The aim is to create one of the largest corporate Bitcoin treasuries.
The company operates Truth Social and Truth+. It intends to acquire significant Bitcoin holdings alongside its reported $759 million in cash and equivalents as of the first quarter of 2025.
Capital raising round comprises $1.5 billion in common stock and $1 billion in convertible notes, priced at a 35% premium. Transaction should conclude by 29 May, with funds used to buy Bitcoin and grow company’s crypto holdings.
Trump Media’s CEO, Devin Nunes, described Bitcoin as a ‘financial freedom’ asset and a strategic hedge against what he referred to as ‘harassment and discrimination’ by traditional financial institutions.
The company plans to integrate its Bitcoin strategy across its platforms, including subscription fees and a potential utility token.
The development places Trump Media among few public companies investing heavily in Bitcoin, reflecting a rising trend of corporates adopting crypto in their treasury.
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El Salvador has officially amended its Bitcoin law, making acceptance of the cryptocurrency voluntary rather than mandatory.
The move reverses a key element of the 2021 law that made Bitcoin legal tender alongside the US dollar.
The reform was approved by Congress on 29 January, with 55 votes in favour and just two against. The chamber is currently dominated by President Nayib Bukele’s New Ideas Party.
According to officials, the amendment responds to requirements set by the International Monetary Fund as part of a US$1.4 billion loan agreement reached in December 2024.
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Circle Internet Group is developing a new global payment network. The company, known for issuing the second-largest stablecoin, aims to facilitate seamless cross-border transfers. However, the project will rely on stablecoins to enable real-time international settlement.
The planned network will connect banks, digital wallet providers, and financial technology firms, allowing instant movement of funds across borders.
Circle aims to improve the efficiency of international payments while reducing associated costs.
There is growing interest in stablecoin infrastructure from both cryptocurrency-focused and traditional financial institutions. Circle’s initiative signals the expanding role of digital assets in modernising global finance.
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The United Kingdom has recorded the fastest growth in cryptocurrency adoption globally in 2025. The finding comes from a new report by Gemini, the crypto exchange based in the United States.
The proportion of UK adults holding cryptocurrencies rose to 24% in April, up from 18% a year earlier, marking the sharpest year-on-year increase among the countries surveyed.
The report, based on a survey of more than 7,000 people across Europe, the United States, Singapore, and Australia, shows that Europe is leading the rise in cryptocurrency ownership.
Singapore continues to hold the highest individual rate, with 28% of respondents reporting ownership of cryptocurrencies.
Despite not yet having a national regulatory framework in place, the UK remains attractive to investors. In April, the government published a draft statutory instrument aimed at regulating crypto exchanges and related services.
The Treasury is expected to finalise the near-final version later in 2025 following public consultation.
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An Iranian man has pleaded guilty to charges stemming from a ransomware campaign that disrupted public services across several US cities, including a major 2019 attack in Baltimore.
The US Department of Justice announced that 37-year-old Sina Gholinejad admitted to computer fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, offences that carry a maximum combined sentence of 30 years.
Rather than targeting private firms, Gholinejad and his accomplices deployed Robbinhood ransomware against local governments, hospitals and non-profit organisations from early 2019 to March 2024.
The attack on Baltimore alone resulted in over $19 million in damage and halted critical city functions such as water billing, property tax collection and parking enforcement.
Instead of simply locking data, the group demanded Bitcoin ransoms and occasionally threatened to release sensitive files. Cities including Greenville, Gresham and Yonkers were also affected.
Although no state affiliation has been confirmed, US officials have previously warned of cyber activity tied to Iran, allegations Tehran continues to deny.
Gholinejad was arrested at Raleigh-Durham International Airport in January 2025. The FBI led the investigation, with support from Bulgarian authorities. Sentencing is scheduled for August.
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Early blockchain adopters are now focusing on decentralised AI, with ecosystems like Bittensor (TAO) leading the way. These platforms allow ideas to gain support and funding from the community without relying on traditional venture capital.
Chris Miglino, CEO of DNA Fund, highlighted the firm’s AI compute fund, which has invested around $50 million in Bittensor’s ecosystem. The network’s unique subnets create specialised marketplaces for AI applications, attracting developers and miners alike.
Decentralised AI, which runs on distributed networks rather than central authorities, is DNA House’s main focus. Miglino believes it could become bigger than Bitcoin, reshaping society in profound ways.
DNA Fund supports developers to launch projects within the ecosystem without needing large venture capital investments. Decentralised AI is widely seen as the future, with pioneers like Ben Goertzel supporting it since the early 1990s.
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Sweden and Norway are urging citizens to keep using cash amid rising fears of cyberattacks and geopolitical instability. Once global leaders in cashless transactions, both countries are now rethinking their heavy reliance on digital payments.
The move comes as concerns grow over potential network failures and the need for resilient offline alternatives.
Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, has weighed in on the issue, highlighting the risks of centralised systems. He argued that the fragility of such infrastructures makes physical cash essential during crises.
However, he also sees a future role for Ethereum, if the network becomes robust, private, and decentralised enough to function as a reliable alternative.
For Ethereum to support national payment systems in emergencies, Buterin noted that it must improve its resilience and privacy. The platform has added upgrades, but challenges like scalability and high transaction costs still hinder mass adoption.
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