It’s been another restless week in crypto – new bills in Washington, bold moves from Asia, and upgrades that could reshape how blockchains run.
The industry is maturing at a rapid pact.
If you missed the action, don’t worry – we’ve pulled together the biggest stories and the subplots that hint at where crypto is headed next.
#1 Wall Street Could Soon Trade Like Crypto
The SEC and CFTC are taking cues from crypto’s nonstop pace. In a joint statement, SEC chair Paul Atkins and CFTC acting chair Caroline Pham proposed a “24/7 Markets” policy that would put U.S. securities trading online around the clock. They argued the move would align Wall Street with global markets like crypto, gold, and forex that never sleep.
Alongside this, the agencies floated plans to ease rules on prediction markets, perpetuals, and DeFi platforms – a shift they call “a new beginning” for U.S. finance.
#2 Senate Draft Bill Redefines Crypto Rules
The U.S. Senate Banking Committee has released a new draft of its long-debated crypto market structure bill, and it could reshape the industry. Section 101 removes staking, airdrops, and pre-legal tokens from being automatically treated as securities, giving everyday crypto activity some breathing room. DePIN projects also see clear exemptions, a first for Washington.
The draft calls for SEC-CFTC cooperation, ending years of confusion. If passed, it would be the most significant shift in U.S. crypto policy to date.
Trump Media has closed a $105 million deal with Crypto.com, buying 684.4 million CRO tokens – about 2% of supply. The tokens will be staked in custody and integrated into rewards on Truth Social and Truth+. Executives called CRO a “versatile utility” and a step toward wider adoption.
But the timing adds scrutiny, coming soon after headlines about the Trump family amassing a $5 billion fortune from the WFLI token launch, which drew sharp criticism over credibility and market impact.
A leak shared by on-chain investigator ZachXBT has revealed how organized the crypto influencer market has become. The spreadsheet listed over 200 accounts, complete with wallet addresses and rates – from $500 to $20,000 per post, with bundles and video add-ons.
“From 160+ accounts who accepted the deal I only saw <5 disclose,” ZachXBT said. With almost no transparency, investors are left guessing what’s genuine and what’s paid hype.
#5 WLFI Surges After Blacklisting Advisor Justin Sun’s Wallet
World Liberty Financial stunned markets by freezing nearly $550 million worth of advisor Justin Sun’s WLFI tokens, including 2.4 billion staked coins. The sudden lock tightened supply and sent the token rebounding 8%, lifting its market cap by about $400 million and pushing prices back above $0.18.
The move follows allegations of insider dumping and market pressure during WLFI’s chaotic launch. This came across like an aggressive attempt to restore confidence.
Also Read: Justin Sun To Purchase $10M In WLFI After a Controversial Wallet Freeze
#6 Fed to Spotlight Stablecoins at October Payments Conference
The US Federal Reserve is bringing stablecoins and tokenization to center stage. On October 21, it will host the Payments Innovation Conference, covering everything from business models for stablecoins to the role of AI in payments.
“Innovation has been a constant in payments to meet the changing needs of consumers and businesses,” Fed Governor Christopher Waller said.
The move reflects a softer stance under the Trump administration, with earlier restrictions on banks’ crypto activities rolled back and stablecoins now viewed as tools to strengthen payment systems.
#7 Japan Plans Securities-Style Rules for Crypto
Japan’s Financial Services Agency has proposed a major shift in how crypto is regulated. In a new report, the FSA suggests moving oversight from the Payment Services Act to the tougher Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, which governs securities. The aim is stronger investor protection, with tighter rules on disclosures, trading, and unregistered operators.
With more than 12 million accounts and $33.7 billion in deposits, officials say it’s time crypto faced the same rules as traditional markets.
Solana’s community has cleared the path for its most ambitious upgrade yet. The Alpenglow proposal won 98.27% approval from stakers, marking a decisive moment for the network. With participation from over half the staker base, the upgrade introduces two new systems, Votor and Rotor, to replace Proof-of-History and TowerBFT.
The change will slash transaction finality from more than 12 seconds to just 150 milliseconds. For Solana, that means faster confirmations, stronger performance, and new possibilities for DeFi and gaming applications.
#9 XRP vs Litecoin: Old Rivalry Sparks Fresh Debate
Crypto Twitter lit up after Ripple CTO David Schwartz clapped back at a Litecoin influencer who called XRP “a psychological operation.” The spat, fueled by mocking posts from Litecoin’s official account, quickly turned into a debate over proof-of-work versus energy-efficient tokens.
Schwartz argued XRP’s low energy use makes it more sustainable than mined coins like Litecoin. Market numbers underline the contrast: XRP’s $281B valuation and ETF filings tower over Litecoin’s $8B market cap, giving Ripple’s token the clear upper hand.
#10 Robinhood Joins S&P 500 as MicroStrategy Gets Left Behind
Robinhood is officially stepping into the big leagues. The trading app that rewired Wall Street for a new generation will join the S&P 500 on September 22, replacing Caesars Entertainment. Its stock popped 7% on the news, as analysts hailed the move as proof of financial strength and fresh credibility with institutional investors.
Strategy, widely expected to secure a spot thanks to its massive Bitcoin holdings, missed out this round – showing how selective the S&P committee can be.
In the Spotlight
Here’s a few quick hits you shouldn’t miss!
Venus Recovers $13.5M from Lazarus Hackers: The DeFi lender pulled off a rare win, seizing funds from a North Korean phishing attack after an emergency vote forced liquidation of the attacker’s wallet in under 12 hours.
Stripe, Paradigm Unveil Tempo Blockchain for Stablecoin Payments: Backed by a $91.5B fintech and one of crypto’s top venture firms, Tempo is being pitched as a payments-first chain, part of a growing wave of stablecoin-focused layer-1 projects.
NFT Trading Surges on Collector Spending: August volumes jumped 9% even as sales slipped, with higher-value purchases and rising activity on Coinbase’s Base network driving the sector’s strongest run since February.
Gemini Aims for $2.2B Valuation in Nasdaq IPO: The Winklevoss-led exchange is seeking to raise $317M through a Nasdaq listing under “GEMI,” with Wall Street heavyweights backing the deal despite steep losses in the first half of 2025.
Ondo Opens Global Access to 100+ Tokenized U.S. Stocks: With its new platform on Ethereum, Ondo is letting investors across Asia, Africa, and Latin America trade tokenized shares of giants like Apple and Tesla – bringing Wall Street liquidity directly on-chain.
What’s Next for Crypto?
Major shifts to expect ahead
Clearer rules are coming – With the U.S. Senate advancing a draft bill and Japan shifting oversight, regulation is moving from debate to action. That means less uncertainty and a more defined path for the industry.
Stablecoins move into the mainstream – Central banks, payment giants, and new blockchains are all pushing stablecoin adoption. They’re set to play a much bigger role in global payments and financial infrastructure.
Exchanges face a new test – Gemini’s IPO and Robinhood’s S&P inclusion show how far trading platforms have come. The next phase will reveal whether they can deliver growth while staying profitable under scrutiny.
Networks race for performance – Solana’s upgrade and NFT activity on Base highlight how blockchains are competing on speed, scale, and user demand. The winners will set the standard for DeFi and digital assets.
Politics and crypto keep colliding – From Trump Media’s CRO deal to Ripple’s ongoing battles, political influence is shaping markets. Expect more headlines where regulation, campaigns, and tokens intersect.
This week showed how fast things change in crypto — let’s see what happens next.
