Hey crypto fam,
Politics around crypto became more intense this week!
In the U.S, President Trump has reiterated his support for positioning the country as the “crypto capital” of the world, while criticising past SEC leadership. In a post on Truth Social, he also pledged support for what he described as a “future-proof digital asset market structure” that would provide long-term regulatory clarity for the industry.
At the same time, lawmakers continue to debate the CLARITY Act, with negotiations still focused on how oversight should be divided between the SEC and the CFTC. Key sticking points remain around stablecoin yield products and the regulatory treatment of decentralized finance (DeFi). The result is an increasingly political environment where crypto policy is becoming tightly linked to broader Washington debates.
Generally, markets also weakened over the week. Bitcoin slid toward $73,000 as ETF outflows and whale selling drove about $1.47 billion out of digital asset funds. Ethereum fell below $2,000, with retailers stepping in to buy the dip and larger holders staying cautious. Meanwhile, stablecoins continued to expand their role in real-world payments, and DeFi activity grew, though concerns around security and market stability still exist.
Now, let’s break down the major stories of the week. If you’re not subscribed yet, join the list to get this update delivered to your inbox every week.
Lead Story of the Week:
Trump Vows Pro-Crypto Rules To Combat ‘Crypto Haters’ as CLARITY Act Faces Political Pressure (Read More)
What happened:
- Trump criticised former SEC Chair Gary Gensler and what he called the “Anti-Crypto Army,” blaming them for pushing crypto innovation out of the U.S, while reaffirming his goal of making America the “crypto capital of the world.” The comments come as lawmakers debate the CLARITY Act, a key bill aimed at defining clearer rules for digital assets, with Senator Cynthia Lummis also warning that delays could increase legal risks for developers and open-source contributors.
- A major point of debate is a proposed conflict-of-interest provision that could limit officials from promoting or trading crypto, potentially impacting Trump-linked projects like TRUMP and MELANIA meme coins, World Liberty Financial, and American Bitcoin.
Current situation:
- Political tensions are making the CLARITY Act’s path through Congress more uncertain, with prediction markets now putting its chances of passing before 2027 below 50%, down from nearly 75%.
- The bill is also competing with other major priorities like border security, housing, the farm bill, and the upcoming FISA deadline. While supporters argue that clear rules are needed to keep crypto innovation in the U.S, critics say ethical concerns around political involvement in digital assets could slow bipartisan support. Read full story
Market Update
- Bitcoin Drops to $73K as Coinbase Price Difference Shows Stronger Selling Pressure (Read More)
- Ethereum Drops Below $2,000 as Retail Traders Rush to Buy the Drip (Read More)
- Tether and Georgia to Launch GEL₮ Stablecoin Backed by National Currency (Read More)
- Smarter Web Expands Bitcoin Strategy as Debt Use, New Metrics, and Market Pressure Rise (Read More)
AI News Highlights
- OKX CEO Says AI Will Expose “Bullshit” Workers as Exchange Expands AI Reviews (Read More)
- Render Climbs 13% as AI Demand Boosts Network Activity (Read More)
Regulation & Policy Watch
- CFTC Moves to Withdraw $5 Million Penalty Against Gemini Exchange (Read More)
- Push by Aave Labs Receives FCA Approval to Operate Crypto Services in the UK (Read More)
Market Movers
Top Gainers 📈
- Nockchain (NOCK) +111.2%
- Octra (OCT) +104.5%
- Rain (RAIN) +94.5%
- Allora (ALLO) +84.6%
- Unibase (UB) +52.4%
Top Losers 📉
- Block Street (BSB) −57.4%
- Superfortune (GUA) −54.3%
- Asteroid Shiba (ASTEROID) −45.7%
- Xphere (XP) −43.6%
- Gunz (GUN) −32.0%
Source: CoinGecko
Project Spotlight
AEON Adds Mexico’s SPEI Network to Expand Crypto Payment Settlement
AEON, a settlement layer built for the agentic economy, has integrated SPEI, Mexico’s national real-time bank transfer system, into its payment infrastructure. The move connects crypto payments with one of the country’s most widely used banking rails.
The integration lets users pay merchants in Mexican pesos through AEON Pay. Users select a crypto asset and wallet, while AEON handles conversion and sends a local SPEI transfer directly to the merchant in MXN. The system is designed to make crypto payments easier for everyday use by linking digital assets with familiar banking systems in Mexico.
What to Watch Next Week
- Will rising political pressure around the CLARITY Act push U.S. lawmakers toward faster agreement, or will competing legislative priorities and ethics debates around crypto-linked conflicts stall progress further into the summer session?
- Can Trump’s renewed push for a “crypto capital of the world” actually translate into clearer regulatory direction, or will it deepen partisan divides and slow down market structure reforms in Congress?
- Will weakening prediction market sentiment and falling odds of legislative approval signal a broader breakdown in confidence, or will renewed industry lobbying and bipartisan backing stabilize expectations for the bill?
Disclaimer: This roundup is intended solely for informational purposes and should not be considered trading or investment advice. Nothing herein should be construed as financial, legal, or tax advice. Trading or investing in cryptocurrencies carries a considerable risk of financial loss. Always conduct due diligence.
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