JH Kim

The three major indices of the U.S. stock market are showing a downward trend. The Nasdaq Composite Index is trading at 16,991.28 points, down 1.91% from the previous session as of 12:10 AM on the 1st. The Dow Jones Index is down 0.03% at 41,572.32 points, and the S&P 500 Index is down 0.81% at 5,535.64 points.

On the 28th (local time), according to Decrypt, a media outlet specializing in virtual assets (cryptocurrency), New Jersey regulators ordered Kalshi and Robinhood to stop offering sports event-related prediction market services to New Jersey residents. Previously, Robinhood had launched a prediction market hub accessible across the United States through KalshiEX. The media reported, "The New Jersey Gaming Enforcement Bureau determined that the platform was illegally operating sports betting services," and "requested the cessation of related services and the nullification of existing sports bets."

The three major U.S. stock indices closed downward. The Nasdaq Composite Index recorded a 2.70% drop from the previous day, closing at 17,322.99 points on the 29th. The Dow Jones Index fell 1.65% to close at 41,583.59 points, and the S&P 500 Index ended trading with a 2% decrease at 5,579.64 points.

On the 28th (local time), CNBC reported that U.S. President Donald Trump has granted a pardon to three BitMEX co-founders. In October 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice charged them with violating the Bank Secrecy Act. In 2022, they pleaded guilty and agreed to pay a fine of $10 million each.

According to Bloomberg News on the 28th (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with El Salvador President Nayib Bukele at the White House next month. The exact date is yet to be determined. Previously, Nayib Bukele met with Michael Saylor, founder of Strategy, last February to discuss Bitcoin.

On the 28th (local time), the United States Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) announced regulatory guidance related to virtual assets (cryptocurrencies). According to this guidance, institutions regulated by the FDIC can participate in permitted virtual asset activities without prior approval. Previously, the FDIC abolished the customer reputation risk assessment criteria for banks. This criterion was criticized as being misused as a means of sanctioning the virtual asset industry by financial authorities.

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) virtual asset (cryptocurrency) task force team (TF) held a meeting on the 28th (local time) with representatives from several companies, including virtual asset market maker Wintermute, as reported through the SEC's official channel. In this meeting, solutions to virtual asset regulation and related issues were discussed, and it was reported that Wintermute and the New York law firm Morrison Cohen LLP provided relevant materials. In particular, Wintermute is known to have emphasized issues of trading and liquidity provision in the US virtual asset market.

John Reed Stark, former head of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Internet Enforcement Office, stated that "if Paul Atkins, the nominee for the next SEC chairman, is formally appointed, he will not just change the rules but rewrite most of the agency's virtual asset (cryptocurrency) regulatory guidelines." According to DL News, a virtual asset specialized media outlet, he said, "I believe Paul Atkins will revoke the policies that made virtual asset companies a target for regulators," adding, "He will likely introduce 12 unprecedented reforms within the first 100 days of his tenure." He continued, "I tend not to agree with his stance on virtual asset regulation," but added, "However, he is an honorable individual and a steadfast patriot. As the 32nd SEC chairman, he will lead with fairness, integrity, transparency, and accountability."

On the 28th (local time), according to the cryptocurrency-focused media outlet Cointelegraph, the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (D.O.G.E.), led by Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, is expected to be granted access to the systems and data of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). It is explained that the intention behind the Department of Government Efficiency's request for access to such information is unclear. The regulatory agency plans to form a team to collaborate with the Department of Government Efficiency. Regarding this, the media reported, "We plan to cooperate with the Department of Government Efficiency representatives following the normal procedures for ethics requirements, IT security, and system training," adding, "However, there are matters that need to be confirmed before granting access to the restricted systems and data."

The three major indices of the U.S. stock market are showing a downward trend. The Nasdaq Composite Index is trading at 17,419.62 points, down 2.16% from the previous day as of 00:12 on the 29th. The Dow Jones Index is down 1.23% at 41,778.26 points, and the S&P 500 Index is down 1.48% at 5,609.27 points.

The three major indices of the U.S. stock market closed lower. The Nasdaq Composite Index recorded 17,804.03 points, down 0.53% from the previous day on the 28th. The Dow Jones Index closed at 42,342.47 points, down 0.26%, and the S&P 500 Index closed at 5,696.69 points, down 0.27%.

Mohammed Idris, the Nigerian Minister of Information, stated regarding the Binance Africa regional officer Nadeem Anjarwalla, who escaped from Nigeria, that 'he is still wanted by Interpol.' In an interview with DL News on the 27th (local time), he explained, 'The search operation for him is still ongoing,' and 'We have requested Interpol to issue a warrant to bring him to justice.' Previously, it was reported that Nadeem Anjarwalla fled Nigeria last March and is currently staying in Kenya.

US Senator Ted Cruz has introduced a bill on the 26th (local time) to prohibit the Federal Reserve from issuing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). According to Cointelegraph, a media outlet specializing in virtual assets (cryptocurrency), the bill is called the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act and includes provisions to prohibit the Federal Reserve from directly providing certain goods or services, which are key components of CBDC, to Americans. It is explained that this could be considered a Companion Bill to the Federal Reserve CBDC Issuance Limitation Act introduced by Congressman Tom Emmer.

On the 27th (local time), Bloomberg reported that the French public investment bank Bpifrance has announced the launch of a €25 million (approximately 39.5 billion won) fund focused on token sales by virtual asset (cryptocurrency) startups. The fund is characterized by its investment exclusively in virtual asset startups that offer tokens instead of shares to investors. Bpifrance explained, "We plan to invest in blockchain projects based in France that deal with DeFi, tokenization, staking, and artificial intelligence." The bank has invested over €150 million in blockchain projects over the past decade. Arnaud Caudoux, Deputy CEO of Bpifrance, commented on this, saying, "Considering the pace at which the U.S. is adopting virtual assets, we determined that we must quickly execute a token investment strategy," adding, "Global virtual asset companies are emerging in response to the new U.S. virtual asset policies."

The United States Department of Justice announced on its official website on the 27th (local time) that it had seized $200,000 worth of cryptocurrency from a wallet held by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The address in question is suspected to have been used to launder approximately $1.5 million of Hamas funds.

According to cryptocurrency-focused media outlet CoinDesk on the 27th (local time), the confirmation hearing for Paul Atkins, the nominee for Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), concluded with almost no questions related to virtual assets. The media stated, "There were no questions about his views on virtual asset regulation, key policies, or legislative efforts for virtual asset restructuring during this hearing," adding, "Due to the concurrent hearings of other major figures, there was a lack of interest from the lawmakers."

US Senator Elizabeth Warren, known as an opponent of virtual assets (cryptocurrency), attended the hearing for Paul Atkins, the nominee for the next Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and pointed out that 'he misjudged almost every decision before the greatest financial crisis since the Great Depression.' According to the virtual asset specialized media U.Today on the 27th (local time), Elizabeth Warren explained, 'During his tenure as an SEC commissioner, Paul Atkins voted to ease controls on major investment banks such as Lehman Brothers and Bear Stearns before the Global Financial Crisis (GFC).' She further criticized, 'His financial conflicts of interest are breathtakingly strong.' Previously, Paul Atkins had disclosed that he holds virtual asset-related assets worth $6 million. In response, Elizabeth Warren had criticized through a letter, 'I question his approach to cryptocurrency regulation, given his deep involvement with FTX and high-net-worth cryptocurrency investors.'

The three major indices of the U.S. stock market are showing an upward trend. The Nasdaq Composite Index is trading at 17,960.57 points, up 0.34% from the previous day as of 00:13 on the 28th. The Dow Jones Index is up 0.04% at 42,471.77 points, and the S&P 500 Index is up 0.28% at 5,728.40 points.

Eleanor Terrett, a former Fox Business reporter, reported on the 26th (local time) via X (formerly Twitter) that the vote on the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS)'s 'DeFi Broker Regulation' withdrawal resolution, initially scheduled for the 27th (local time), is expected to take place that evening. The vote is set to start at 17:00 and end at 20:00. The resolution passed the Senate on the 4th but will be re-voted due to technical issues. If the resolution passes the Senate, only President Donald Trump's signing process remains. The DeFi Broker Regulation requires DeFi brokers to report total revenue from digital asset sales, and the virtual asset (cryptocurrency) industry has consistently demanded the withdrawal of the regulation.