Key Takeaways: Kraken donated $111,111 in BTC to Ross Ulbricht’s support site after his pardon by President Trump, following 12 years in prison for charges tied to the Silk Road marketplace. Ulbricht’s wallets reportedly still hold $47M in BTC, while freeross.org has received additional donations totaling 2.5 BTC. Following his release, cryptocurrency exchange Kraken donated…

Virtune, a Swedish regulated crypto asset manager, has announced the launch of Finland’s first crypto exchange-traded products (ETPs) on Nasdaq Helsinki. Notably, the move provides Finnish investors with secure and regulated access to crypto assets, trading in Euro, through well-established financial instruments. The listing introduces five crypto ETPs, marking significant milestones in Finland’s financial markets: The…

Key Takeaways: Gary Gensler steps down as SEC Chair, ending a tenure marked by aggressive cryptocurrency enforcement under Biden's administration. Trump names Mark Uyeda as acting chair, signaling potential regulatory shifts favoring clarity and innovation. Gary Gensler officially stepped down as chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on January 20, 2025, ending…

Key Takeaways: Trump appoints Caroline Pham as CFTC chair, significant to U.S. crypto regulation. Caroline Pham’s leadership at the CFTC may accelerate regulatory clarity for crypto, blockchain, and others. Her tenure aligns with Trump’s pro-crypto stance, sparking optimism and regulatory speculation in the market. Caroline Pham, a commissioner at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC),…

Key Takeaways: The Trump-linked DeFi platform now holds over $125M in Ethereum and $270M in total crypto assets, acquiring 4 ENS domains, including trumpcoin.eth. These moves, coinciding with Donald Trump's inauguration, signal a pro-crypto agenda poised to impact blockchain adoption and regulation. World Liberty Financial, a decentralized finance (DeFi) platform linked to the Trump family,…

Key Takeaways: Solana’s SOL reached $293, with its market cap peaking at $142.54 billion. Memecoins $TRUMP and $MELANIA drove record network activity, straining infrastructure. The surge highlights blockchain’s growth, memecoin volatility, and cultural relevance. Solana’s native token, SOL, reached a new all-time high of $293.79 over the weekend, with its market capitalization peaking at $142.54…

Key Takeaways: Binance has gained approval to operate in Uzbekistan under crypto exchange license CE#0004, partnering with COINPAY LLC to ensure regulatory compliance. Services will be accessible via coinpay.uz, offering secure deposits and withdrawals in the national currency through local payment systems. This collaboration strengthens Uzbekistan’s regulated crypto ecosystem, fostering blockchain adoption and innovation in…

Key Takeaways: Swiss state-owned PostFinance has launched Ethereum (ETH) staking for its 2.7 million customers, enabling investments from 0.1 ETH and requiring a 12-week minimum staking period. The service, integrated into existing platforms, highlights transparency and security with native staking directly on the Ethereum blockchain. PostFinance plans to expand its offerings beyond Ethereum, reinforcing its…

Key Takeaways: Jio Platforms partners with Polygon Labs to bring Web3 to 450M users. The collaboration focuses on blockchain-based tools for finance, entertainment, and healthcare sectors. India’s Web3 adoption accelerates, enhancing transparency, efficiency, and digital innovation. Jio Platforms Ltd., India's leading digital service provider, has partnered with Polygon Labs to integrate Web3 capabilities into its…

Key Takeaways: South Korea’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) issued a suspension notice to Upbit over alleged KYC violations, affecting up to 600,000 accounts.  The suspension could bar new user registrations for six months, with a final decision expected on January 21. If found guilty, Upbit faces fines up to billions of dollars, intensifying regulatory scrutiny…