1. U.S. Senate Passes the GENIUS Act — Huge for USDC
The U.S. Senate approved the GENIUS Act (Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins) on June 17 with strong bipartisan support (68–30) .
This landmark bill establishes a federal regulatory framework requiring full reserve backing, monthly disclosure of assets, and joint oversight by the Federal Reserve and OCC .
It now proceeds to the House, with supporters aiming for final passage before the August recess .
2. Market Reacts — Circle & Coinbase Rally
Circle’s stock (CRCL) surged 34%, briefly hitting around $200, after the Senate vote .
Earlier reporting noted a 16% jump in Circle shares on the same news .
Coinbase (COIN) also climbed significantly, as its derivatives arm prepares to allow USDC as collateral in U.S. futures trading .
3. Ushering in USDC for Futures Collateral
Coinbase struck a deal with Nodal Clear to permit traders to use USDC as collateral in U.S. crypto-linked futures, pending CFTC approval .
This would mark a major step: stablecoins like USDC being accepted in regulated derivatives markets.
4. Circle Mints Additional USDC
On June 18, Circle minted roughly $250 million in new USDC on the Solana blockchain, reflecting growing demand for stablecoin liquidity.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell reiterated that no rate cuts will happen until the Fed has "confidence that inflation is coming down", emphasizing the unpredictable impact of Trump's tariffs. He noted tariffs will likely drive "meaningful" inflation later this summer, as costs inevitably pass to consumers .
He described the economic outlook as "foggy", saying forecasts are unreliable until more data arrives—especially on tariff effects and global risks like the Middle East tension .
➤ Bottom Line: Don’t expect rate cuts before September—the Fed is taking a cautious, data-first route and is not bowing to political pressure.
📰 Major News: U.S. Senate Approves Landmark Stablecoin Regulation
The U.S. Senate passed the GENIUS Act on June 18, 2025, by a strong bipartisan vote of 68–30 . This legislation establishes the first federal framework for stablecoins, mandating:
Full-reserve backing by liquid assets (USD, U.S. Treasuries)
Monthly reserve disclosures
Annual audits for large issuers (above $50 billion market cap)
It aims to position stablecoins as a reliable payment option while ensuring consumer protection and financial market stability .
Why it matters:
Mainstream adoption push: Boosts legitimacy of coins like USDC and USDT; major players (Meta, Walmart, Visa, Mastercard) are gearing up stablecoin support .
Big win for over-the-counter crypto trading and infrastructure: Coinbase stock surged ~16% on the news as it unveiled new USDC payment tech .
Broader ripple effects:
Could shift demand toward U.S. Treasuries, affecting interest rates and government debt yields .
Sets stage for further crypto lawmaking—potentially shaping the SEC’s role .
Next stop: the House, where the bill is expected to advance before July.
USDC (USD Coin) is a stablecoin, meaning it's a type of cryptocurrency designed to maintain a stable value — pegged 1:1 to the US Dollar. This means 1 USDC ≈ 1 USD.
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🏦 Who created it?
USDC was launched by a company called Circle, in partnership with Coinbase, and governed by the Centre Consortium.
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🔐 How does it stay stable?
Every USDC in circulation is backed by real-world assets:
Cash
US Treasury bonds These reserves are held in US-regulated financial institutions and are regularly audited.
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🧠 Key Features:
💲 Price stability (1 USDC ≈ 1 USD)
🔗 Runs on blockchain (Ethereum, Solana, etc.)
🌍 Used globally for trading, payments, and DeFi
🔒 Transparent — Circle publishes regular reserve reports
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📦 Where is USDC used?
✅ Trading crypto without converting to fiat
💸 Sending money fast and cheaply
📈 Earning interest in DeFi apps
🛒 Paying for services
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🆚 USDC vs. Other Stablecoins:
Feature USDC USDT (Tether) BUSD
Backed By USD & bonds USD & assets USD & bonds Regulation High Medium High (now phased out) Transparency Regular audits Some reports Audited (was)
Bitcoin is currently showing short-term weakness with a price retreat to around $104,000, after hitting highs near $108,800. The drop is mostly driven by:
Geopolitical tensions (especially in the Middle East)
Profit-taking after recent highs
Bearish intraday technical signals
However, strong ETF inflows and institutional buying continue to provide support, preventing a deeper drop below key levels.
🔸 If BTC holds above $104k, it may stabilize and attempt another push higher. 🔸 If it breaks below $104k, a test of $100k is likely.
Overall outlook: Cautious consolidation, with bullish potential if external risks ease.