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Showing posts with the label Regulation & Policy

EU Lawmakers Call for Clear DeFi, Staking, NFT Rules Under MiCA

The European Parliament’s Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) has asked the European Commission to examine whether additional parts of the crypto sector—such as crypto lending and borrowing, staking, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and decentralized finance (DeFi)—should be brought within the EU’s regulatory perimeter. The request is set out in an own-initiative resolution tabled for the Parliament’s plenary vote, where it is expected to be considered on July 7. While the measure would not amend the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) or create new legal obligations, it signals how lawmakers may shape subsequent Commission proposals and supervisory priorities. For crypto-asset service providers, banks, and institutional investors, the resolution matters less for immediate enforceable change and more for how it could influence the direction of EU crypto policy—particularly around stablecoins and “tokenization” of traditional financial services. Key takeaways ECON...

Polymarket Hit by Third-Party Breach Drains $2.9M, Raises Compliance Risks

Polymarket says a third-party vendor compromise discovered on Thursday enabled attackers to inject malicious code into its website interface, leading to a phishing campaign that targeted multiple users. According to blockchain analyst Specter, the injected script was used to drain an estimated $2.94 million from at least 11 Polymarket wallets. Polymarket stated that the incident has been contained and that the compromised dependency has been removed. The platform also said affected users will receive full refunds. Cointelegraph contacted Polymarket for comment but did not receive a response before publication. Key takeaways Polymarket reported a third-party vendor compromise that allowed attackers to inject a malicious script into its frontend. Analyst Specter linked the malicious code to phishing activity, estimating losses of about $2.94 million across at least 11 user wallets. Polymarket said the issue has been contained, a dependency has been removed, and users will be fully ...

Bitcoin ETF Outflows Hit $696M as Regulators Brace for Market Shift

US-listed spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) posted their largest June daily net outflows on Thursday, following renewed weakness in Bitcoin that pushed the asset below the $60,000 level. The withdrawals underscore a cooling in demand that many US-listed ETF investors previously relied on as a stabilizing institutional inflow channel. SoSoValue data shows the outflows amounted to $696.3 million on the day, exceeding the prior monthly peak of $519.2 million recorded on June 2. As a result, total net outflows for June rose to $3.61 billion, lifting year-to-date net outflows to $4.6 billion, according to the same dataset. Key takeaways US spot Bitcoin ETFs saw a $696.3 million net outflow on Thursday, the largest daily outflow in June. June net outflows reached $3.61 billion, bringing year-to-date net outflows to $4.6 billion (SoSoValue). Total net assets in US spot Bitcoin ETFs fell below $73 billion for the first time since late 2024, down roughly 57% from a reported Octobe...

Regulatory and Risk Oversight Concerns as AscendEX Liquidity Fears Mount

Crypto users have reported difficulties withdrawing funds from the exchange AscendEX, renewing concerns about exchange liquidity and operational readiness during periods of customer demand. Blockchain investigator ZachXBT and multiple social-media accounts pointed to delays and apparent limitations in the exchange’s liquid reserves, framing the issue as a potential liquidity problem rather than an isolated technical glitch. These allegations matter for institutional compliance and risk teams because withdrawal processing is a key stress indicator for trading venues. When withdrawals become stuck or support channels stop responding, regulators and auditors typically treat it as a potential sign of liquidity strain, inaccurate reserve management, or deficient contingency controls—issues that can quickly intersect with insolvency risk, consumer protection obligations, and AML/CTF expectations. Key takeaways Multiple users reported delayed withdrawals from AscendEX, including at least on...

Bitcoin Faces Key Resistance Amid Asia Weakness as Markets Weigh Risk

Bitcoin was unable to regain the $60,000 level on Friday, extending a period of subdued trading as broader risk assets remained under pressure. The move coincided with renewed weakness in Asian equity markets and continued sensitivity to macroeconomic data, reinforcing the close correlation between crypto prices and traditional market conditions. For institutional participants, the episode is notable less for any single price point than for what it signals about market plumbing: liquidity and risk appetite appear to be responding to equity drawdowns and shifting expectations around inflation. While technical levels remain widely watched, the underlying drivers are predominantly external—particularly equity volatility and monetary policy expectations. Key takeaways Bitcoin fell back below $60,000 on daily time frames for the first time since September 2024, according to charting data referenced by Cointelegraph. Equity weakness resurfaced in Asia, including a fresh activation of Sou...

Regulator-Relevant Signal: ETH Short Position Reappears After Crash

An Ethereum-linked wallet that previously took leveraged downside exposure during the October 2025 market turmoil has re-entered after an eight-month pause, opening a new 20x short position near a widely watched ETH support area. The activity underscores how some large, on-chain participants may respond to macro-driven drawdowns and internal ecosystem developments—both of which can shape liquidity and risk appetite for digital assets. Key takeaways A wallet labeled 0xf83f...6728 opened a 20x leveraged ETH short with a notional value of about $19.72 million near the $1,500 support region. The short was reportedly entered at an average price around $1,565 , with unrealized gains shown near $106,500 at the time of reporting. On-chain data indicates the same wallet last traded on Oct. 27, 2025 , when it opened a short near $4,172 and later closed it near $4,133 . While the new position is positioned for downside, the near-term chart setup includes a potential double-bottom s...

Senators Press CFTC for Investigation Into Polymarket Ad Claims

A bipartisan group of US lawmakers has asked the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to examine Polymarket after reports that the prediction market operator paid social media influencers to publish videos depicting fake bets. The request highlights intensifying scrutiny over how prediction platforms market products to US audiences—and whether existing CFTC oversight is sufficient to address deceptive advertising and gambling-style promotion. In a letter to CFTC Chair Rostin Behnam, Senators John Curtis (Republican) and Adam Schiff (Democrat) said the allegations, if accurate, would point to “deceptive marketing tactics” used to promote gambling-like products. The correspondence follows investigative reporting by The Wall Street Journal and comes as the CFTC’s broader approach to prediction markets remains a subject of legal and policy dispute. Key takeaways US Senators John Curtis and Adam Schiff have asked the CFTC to investigate Polymarket following allegations of deceptiv...

Crypto Compliance Watch: ETH Wallet Sales Under Scrutiny by Regulators

Long-dormant Ethereum (ETH) wallets dating back nearly eight years have begun moving funds again, according to on-chain monitoring shared by multiple crypto analytics sources. The activity has reintroduced additional ETH supply into the visible flow, coinciding with Ether trading slightly above the $1,500 mark. While some of these addresses have taken profits, other large holders appear to be continuing accumulation, resulting in a mixed ledger picture. At the same time, analysts say long-term whale profitability has deteriorated across major ETH holder cohorts. This matters for compliance and institutional risk assessment because persistent unrealized losses can influence large-holder behavior, custody-related transfers, and the pace at which liquidity is redeployed across venues—factors that institutions often track when managing exposure and counterparty risk. Key takeaways On-chain trackers reported activation of ETH addresses last used in 2017, with one group of wallets moving a...

Spain’s Regulator Denies Extension for Non‑MiCA Crypto Firms

Spain’s securities markets regulator has signaled that crypto trading venues will not receive extensions to comply with the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework past the July 1 deadline. Speaking to Reuters, CNMV chair Carlos San Basilio said regulators will not grant “exceptions or extensions” for firms that have not obtained EU authorization by that date—an issue highlighted by Binance’s status in the bloc. The practical compliance impact is immediate for affected platforms and their counterparties. If an exchange is not properly licensed, it may be required to stop onboarding new EU users and adjust product availability for EU-based accounts from July 1, increasing operational uncertainty for both retail and institutional participants. Key takeaways Spain’s CNMV chair Carlos San Basilio said there will be no extensions to the July 1 MiCA deadline for exchanges that are not authorized in time. Reuters reported that Binance had withdrawn its Greece MiCA application and h...

SEC and CFTC Request Comment on Unified Portfolio Margin Rules

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) have launched a joint public consultation on whether portfolio margin rules should be better aligned between securities and derivatives markets. The stated objective is to reduce fragmentation and potentially broaden cross-margining arrangements, which—if harmonized—could allow market participants to treat hedged positions more efficiently across products and accounts. In the consultation, both agencies ask stakeholders to comment on how cross-margining could be implemented, including collateral treatment, risk management, customer protections, and possible effects on liquidity and competition. The comment period will remain open for 60 days after the request is published in the Federal Register. Key takeaways The SEC and CFTC are soliciting public input on aligning portfolio margin frameworks across securities and derivatives regulation. The consultation specifically targets cross...

Democratic Senators Urge Curtailing CFTC Funding for Prediction Markets

A group of 17 Democratic US senators has asked leadership of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government to prevent the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) from using federal funding to continue lawsuits targeting state regulators over prediction markets. The senators’ request centers on Chair Michael Selig’s litigation strategy, which asserts that the CFTC has “exclusive jurisdiction” over certain prediction market products. The letter—sent to the chair and ranking member of the appropriations subcommittee—frames the issue as a practical and compliance-relevant question of federal oversight, state consumer-protection authority, and how enforcement resources are deployed in parallel regulatory systems. Key takeaways 17 Democratic senators urged subcommittee leadership to block CFTC access to federal funds for litigation against state gaming authorities tied to prediction market enforcement. The senators contend that ongoing CFTC lawsu...

Singapore Adds Hyperliquid to Investor Alert List Over Licensing

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has added Hyperliquid—an exchange platform focused on perpetual trading—to its Investor Alert List, a consumer-protection tool used to flag entities that the public may mistakenly perceive as being licensed or authorized by the regulator. MAS stated that the new entry covers the Hyper Foundation website and the Hyperliquid trading app. MAS previously expanded the same alert list to other crypto trading platforms, underscoring Singapore’s approach to reducing regulatory confusion and strengthening investor safeguards. Key takeaways MAS added Hyperliquid and the related Hyper Foundation website/app to the Investor Alert List as a potential source of public misunderstanding about regulatory status. Inclusion on the Investor Alert List is not a ban and does not, by itself, indicate an enforcement action by MAS. MAS has recently tightened oversight of crypto firms that serve overseas customers, emphasizing licensing requirements and AML/CFT al...