$BTC

🏛️ 1. GENIUS Act & Regulatory Tug-of-War

The Senate just passed the GENIUS Act (68–30), a landmark stablecoin bill establishing federal oversight, transparency, and reserve requirements—but critics warn it might echo past financial missteps .

However, industry insiders debate if the GENIUS Act should be paired with a broader market structure bill, as some fear tying them could stall both .

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🏠 2. Crypto Counts Toward Mortgages

The FHFA has directed Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac to accept crypto assets held on U.S.-regulated exchanges as qualifying loan collateral—crypto needn't be liquidated first! This could unlock more home-buying potential 🏡 .

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⚖️ 3. Ripple–SEC Showdown Continues

A U.S. judge dismissed a proposed settlement reducing Ripple’s penalty from $125M to $50M and removing a longstanding injunction—citing public interest concerns. XRP remains a legal lightning rod .

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📈 4. Bitcoin & Ether Market Moves

Bitcoin hovers near $107K amid a $40 B options expiry—markets are watching for volatility kicks .

Meanwhile, institutional Ether ETFs are outperforming, pulling in record flows and highlighting growing acceptance of ETH as a serious asset class .

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👩‍⚖️ 5. Crypto Enforcement Landscape

A new NYC law firm, staffed by former federal prosecutors, is targeting white‑collar & crypto cases—reflecting a tightening enforcement environment .

The SEC is also setting up a Crypto Task Force, and U.S. courts are taking a more assertive stance, hinting at shifting agency-leeway standards .

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🔍 Quick Takeaways

🏛️ Policy momentum vs. complexity: GENIUS provides clarity, but broader frameworks risk stalling.

🏦 Mainstream finance + crypto: Treating crypto as mortgage-worthy marks deeper integration.

🤠 Legal uncertainty persists: The SEC–Ripple split and rising prosecutions show regulation still bites.

💰 Market dynamics watch: Options expiry and rising ETF flows keep volatility and institutional demand front and center.