Author: Ian Mutwiri

China reinforces its long-term crypto ban, citing stablecoins as global financial threats. PBoC warns dollar-pegged stablecoins weaken smaller nations’ monetary sovereignty worldwide. The central bank intensifies coordination with law enforcement to curb crypto speculation. The People’s Bank of China (PBoC) once again solidified its stance against cryptocurrencies in the 2025 Financial Street Forum in Beijing. According to Governor Pan Gongsheng, stablecoins are a direct menace to international financial stability. He reaffirmed that the central bank will further integrate with law enforcement to stop the virtual currency activities and speculations. According to Pan, the previous policies of China are still alive…

Coinbase and Citi join forces to simplify institutional access to stablecoin and crypto payments. The partnership strengthens regulatory-compliant blockchain infrastructure for faster, always-on financial transactions globally. Market confidence rises as Coinbase and Citi drive mainstream adoption of digital assets. According to the recent announcement, Coinbase is establishing a new partnership with Citigroup to develop the adoption of digital assets and stablecoins on payments. The partnership will make the conversion between the fiat and the digital currencies easier to global financial institutions. It also aims at improving the efficiency of cross-border payments and treasury management. According to Coinbase, the initiative helps…

Programmably via ClearBank’s integration with Circle, bridges traditional banking and blockchain for faster settlements. The partnership enables regulated access to MiCA-compliant USDC and EURC stablecoins. Collaboration marks a model for compliant blockchain adoption in Europe’s financial institutions. ClearBank has signed a strategic partnership with Circle Internet Group to connect the legacy banking and blockchain-based payments. The collaboration connects the cloud-native solution of ClearBank to the blockchain network of Circle, allowing transfers across the borders in almost real time and access to stablecoins of MiCA regulation. They said that the step is one of the first integrations of a European bank…

Crypto.com’s federal charter filing strengthens its commitment to regulated digital asset custody services. A national license could streamline operations and attract institutional investors seeking secure custody. Growing regulatory clarity encourages major crypto firms to integrate with traditional financial systems. Crypto.com has made one more giant stride in enhancing its regulated financial business activities in the US. The firm declared that it has filed a National Trust Bank Charter application with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). Its strategy to become a federally regulated digital asset custodian is highlighted in the filing. This move will be an attempt…

JPMorgan’s crypto collateral plan signals mainstream banking’s growing trust in digital assets. Regulatory easing under the Trump administration accelerates Wall Street’s crypto market integration. Bitcoin’s record surge boosts institutional confidence and drives broader blockchain adoption globally. By the end of the year, JPMorgan Chase & Co. is going to allow institutional customers to pledge their holdings of Bitcoin and Ether as security on loans to them. The project represents a significant step into the further development of the crypto activity of the bank and is a sign of the increase in the digitization of the traditional finance industry. The program…

Trump’s pardon of Changpeng Zhao signals a policy shift favoring cryptocurrency innovation. The White House frames Zhao’s prosecution as politically motivated under prior leadership. Binance may regain U.S. market access as Zhao’s legal barriers are lifted. President Donald Trump granted a full pardon to Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, ending a two-year legal battle that reshaped the global crypto industry. This relocation comes after several months of trying to absolve himself and regain his influence in the digital asset industry by Zhao. The White House added that the pardon was a correction of politically motivated prosecutions on blockchain innovators. The ruling can…

EU bans Russian LNG imports to cut Moscow’s key energy and revenue lifeline. Brussels targets crypto networks and shadow fleets to block Russia’s sanctions evasion routes. Coordinated EU–US sanctions increase economic pressure on Kremlin amid ongoing Ukraine conflict. Zanewski said the European Union sanctioned Russian LNG imports, financial institutions, and crypto exchanges under a comprehensive package. The move is in line with recent actions of Washington against the oil giants of Russia, signaling a new transatlantic teamwork. European leaders said the sanctions aim to cut off the Kremlin’s funding sources for the war in Ukraine. The ruling is one of…

Trump’s crypto-friendly policies fueled a 50% surge in U.S. crypto transactions. Institutional investors reentered the market after regulatory clarity boosted stablecoin confidence. TRM Labs confirmed U.S. transaction volumes surpassed $1 trillion in early 2025. Institutional Inflows and Policy Reforms Power the Crypto Boom The U.S. crypto market has reached a new turning point in the first half of 2025. According to TRM Labs, the volume of transactions increased by 50% in January to July 2025 relative to the same period of 2024 and reached one trillion. This is the fastest development, with the administration of President Donald Trump pushing pro-crypto…

Court ruling clears Kim Beom-su, boosting Kakao’s stock and easing legal uncertainties. Case likely advances to Supreme Court, but Kakao’s regulatory risks appear reduced. Verdict safeguards KakaoBank’s ownership structure amid strict South Korean financial crime laws. The founder of South Korea-based Kakao Corp, Kim Beom-su, has won a significant battle with a South Korean court in clearing him of stock manipulation allegations, which is a big step in favor of the billionaire and the tech firm that founded the most popular messaging app in South Korea. The decision caused the share price of Kakao to soar, and the stocks increased…

Gemini expands its crypto card lineup with Solana rewards and auto-staking integration. Solana Card users earn up to 4% back and 6.77% staking yields. Gemini’s credit card growth reflects rising consumer adoption of blockchain-based payment solutions. Gemini has launched the Solana Card, a new crypto credit card that enables a user to earn instant Solana (SOL) rewards and store them automatically to earn more. The introduction is a continuation of the Gemini card product range of blockchain-themed cards, including Bitcoin and XRP versions, which the exchange is working on to integrate digital assets with conventional finance. The company claimed that…