The passage of the GENIUS Act in July has brought renewed focus on the relationship between digital asset firms and traditional financial institutions. Mastercard signalled readiness for a new era in digital assets, highlighting efforts to integrate stablecoins with conventional payment systems.
Mastercard’s collaboration with blockchain firms such as Ripple, Consensys, and Fireblocks was highlighted in a presentation shared by crypto researcher SMQKE.
The slide underscored Mastercard’s involvement in central bank digital currency (CBDC) initiatives alongside Visa and other partners, reflecting a commitment to making digital currencies as easy to use as cash.
Ripple’s presence in Mastercard’s network indicates its rising importance in regulated, institutional-grade solutions. Known for its work on real-time cross-border settlements, Ripple is well placed to benefit from the clearer regulatory landscape established by the GENIUS Act.
The legislative certainty encourages more traditional finance players and crypto firms to form lasting partnerships and expand compliant stablecoin applications.
The new law defines who can issue stablecoins and under what conditions, providing financial institutions with confidence to explore innovative payment models.
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The cryptocurrency industry faces a record-breaking year for theft in 2025, with losses surpassing $2.17 billion by mid-July, according to a Chainalysis report. The amount stolen so far has surpassed the total for all of 2024, highlighting a concerning increase in digital asset crime.
A large proportion, around $1.5 billion, stems from the North Korea-linked Bybit hack, which accounts for nearly 70% of thefts targeting crypto services this year.
While centralised exchanges remain prime targets, personal wallets now represent almost a quarter of stolen funds. The report highlights a rise in violent ‘wrench attacks,’ where criminals coerce Bitcoin holders into revealing private keys through threats or physical force.
Kidnappings of crypto executives and family members have also increased, with 2025 expected to double the number of such physical assaults compared to previous years.
Sophistication in laundering stolen crypto varies depending on the target. Hackers focusing on exchanges use advanced techniques like chain-hopping and mixers to obscure transactions.
Conversely, attackers targeting personal wallets often employ simpler methods. Interestingly, criminals are holding stolen assets longer and are willing to pay fees up to 14.5 times higher than average to swiftly move illicit funds and avoid detection.
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Russia’s largest lender, Sberbank, is preparing to offer custody services for cryptocurrency assets, providing security and safeguards against hacking. The bank has proposed treating Bitcoin and digital assets like traditional bank accounts to Russia’s central bank.
These proposals include measures to freeze assets if law enforcement suspects illegal activity.
The central bank has eased its stance, supporting digital assets for international trade to bypass Western sanctions over the Ukraine conflict. Sberbank’s executive director highlighted the growing global trend of banks offering custody services and expressed a desire for Russia to keep pace.
In addition to custody, Sberbank has launched Bitcoin-linked structured bonds and plans to roll out Bitcoin futures and similar investment products on the Moscow Exchange.
Industry experts emphasise that establishing local custody services is vital to reduce reliance on foreign companies and strengthen the security of Russia’s crypto market.
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The pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto, is now wealthier than Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Dell founder Michael Dell, with an estimated fortune exceeding $130 billion.
The rise in net worth follows Bitcoin’s surge to new all-time highs, gaining over 14% in the past month.
Satoshi’s fortune, believed to stem from 1.1 million BTC mined during Bitcoin’s earliest days, puts him just $12 billion shy of surpassing Berkshire Hathaway’s Warren Buffett, who once infamously likened Bitcoin to ‘rat poison.’
If Bitcoin’s price climbs slightly above $128,000, Satoshi will overtake Buffett on the global wealth list.
While the exact identity of Satoshi remains unknown, theories have pointed to developers such as Hal Finney and Adam Back, as well as public figures like Elon Musk.
None have been confirmed, and the wallets linked to Satoshi have never moved any funds, fuelling speculation he may no longer be alive, or is committed to never selling.
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The US House of Representatives has passed three major cryptocurrency bills, marking a significant shift in regulatory momentum.
Lawmakers voted overwhelmingly in favour of the Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act and the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act. The Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act narrowly passed along more partisan lines.
The CLARITY Act seeks to define a market structure for digital assets, while the GENIUS Act focuses on creating a framework for stablecoin issuance.
The controversial Anti-CBDC bill seeks to ban a central bank digital currency, citing Republican fears of surveillance and government overreach. Despite some internal party disagreements, the Republican-led push gained support from dozens of Democrats.
Crypto industry leaders hailed the votes as a major win for innovation, privacy, and individual financial freedoms. Trump’s influence was evident in what Republicans dubbed ‘crypto week,’ highlighting his promise to promote digital asset adoption if re-elected.
The GENIUS Act could be signed into law imminently, while the CLARITY and anti-CBDC bills now await Senate debate and potential amendments.
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French lawmakers have proposed a pilot scheme to use excess nuclear energy for Bitcoin mining, potentially generating up to $150 million in annual revenue. The five-year plan would redirect surplus electricity towards mining operations, helping to stabilise the country’s energy grid.
Growing use of renewables such as wind and solar has caused frequent imbalances and overproduction on the grid. Mining centres located near nuclear plants would activate only when surplus power is available, providing a flexible solution without affecting consumer supply.
The scheme also aims to offset maintenance costs for France’s nuclear fleet.
Mining rigs generate significant heat that could be reused for district heating or agriculture, as seen in Finland. The French Council of State will monitor the pilot, with a full review after six months.
France joins a select group of countries exploring Bitcoin mining as a strategic way to manage electricity oversupply, including Pakistan, Belarus, and Texas in the US.
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The CLARITY Act seeks to create a clear regulatory framework for digital assets in the US, introducing a ‘mature blockchain system‘ to distinguish commodities from securities.
According to the bill, a mature blockchain system must be free from control by any single person or group. It should also demonstrate decentralised governance, open participation, and transparent operations.
Using the Act’s criteria, an AI analysis conducted with ChatGPT assessed major blockchain networks’ governance models as of July 2025. Key factors considered included decentralisation of decision-making, validator independence, and whether any single entity retained upgrade control.
Based on this evaluation, networks like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Monero, Dogecoin, Tezos, and Cosmos qualify as mature under the proposed legislation.
Some prominent blockchains, such as Solana, Cardano, Polkadot, and BNB Chain, remain under varying levels of central control and do not meet the maturity requirements.
The AI-driven assessment relies solely on publicly available information and serves as a reasoned interpretation rather than a formal regulatory ruling. Experts stress that legal decisions require human oversight and must account for changes in blockchain governance.
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Several large US banks, including Bank of America, Citibank, Morgan Stanley, and JPMorgan Chase, are developing or considering stablecoins as crypto-friendly regulations take shape.
Bank of America’s CEO Brian Moynihan confirmed ongoing work on a stablecoin but highlighted the need to understand client demand before full rollout. Similarly, Citibank and Morgan Stanley are assessing the landscape and potential use cases for their clients.
JPMorgan Chase has also expressed interest, despite its CEO’s previous scepticism towards Bitcoin.
The US Congress is advancing legislation to establish a clear regulatory framework for stablecoins. This progress reflects growing acceptance of digital assets and may encourage further integration with traditional finance.
Banks remain cautious but see stablecoins as a significant opportunity once legal clarity is achieved.
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UK lawmakers are urging a ban on cryptocurrency donations in political campaigns over fears that such contributions are hard to trace and vulnerable to foreign interference. Minister Pat McFadden said UK political funding must stay transparent and trusted by public.
While crypto donations have gained traction in the US—with figures like President Donald Trump embracing digital assets—the UK’s stance reflects growing caution.
The Reform UK party recently became the first in Britain to accept Bitcoin donations, sparking concerns from anti-corruption groups about the risk of criminal or foreign funds influencing elections.
Ireland and several US states have already banned crypto donations to political campaigns, citing transparency and election integrity issues.
As crypto donations increase globally, governments continue to debate how to regulate digital assets to protect democratic processes.
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The EU’s Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) has warned that fragmented oversight and inconsistent rules pose significant risks to the bloc’s financial integrity. Chair Bruna Szego urged regulators and crypto firms to prepare for stricter anti-money laundering rules.
The Frankfurt-based agency, now operational, will oversee the enforcement of new EU-wide anti-money laundering regulations. Szego stressed the importance of identifying the beneficial owners of crypto platforms and ensuring they are not linked to criminal networks.
Concerns over inconsistent controls across EU countries and diverging interpretations of MiCA requirements have grown. Crypto firms must be prepared to meet the different standards across all jurisdictions they plan to operate.
From July 2027, crypto platforms will be required to block anonymous wallets and provide authorities with complete, real-time access to account data.
Major firms like Binance have already faced regulatory penalties, with ongoing investigations highlighting the rising pressure on the sector.
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