Wisconsin lawmakers have introduced Assembly Bill 471, a proposal aimed at exempting crypto-related activities such as mining, staking, and non-fiat digital asset transactions from money transmitter licensing requirements. The bill, backed by nine Republicans and one Democrat, seeks to encourage blockchain innovation and provide clearer rules for individuals and businesses operating in the state’s digital asset space.

The legislation outlines that people or companies engaging in blockchain development, node operation, staking, or peer-to-peer crypto transfers would not need a money transmitter license, provided no conversion to legal tender occurs. It also ensures that no state agency can restrict residents from accepting digital assets as payment for legal goods and services or from using self-hosted wallets.

Currently, businesses in Wisconsin must secure money transmitter licenses to operate, as seen with crypto payment provider MoonPay. If passed, Assembly Bill 471 could reduce regulatory barriers and strengthen Wisconsin’s reputation as one of the more crypto-friendly states in the U.S., while advancing through committee review before reaching a full vote.

Kazakhstan has taken a bold step in the digital asset space by creating a state-backed crypto reserve in partnership with Binance. The new fund, called Alem Crypto Fund, was unveiled by the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development and will be managed by Qazaqstan Venture Group under the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC). Its first purchase includes BNB, Binance’s native utility token, though the government has not disclosed the size of the investment or what other digital assets may follow.

Officials said the goal of the fund is to build long-term strategic reserves and foster growth in the country’s digital asset ecosystem. This announcement comes shortly after Kazakhstan introduced its tenge-backed stablecoin (KZTE) on the Solana network in collaboration with Mastercard, Intebix, and Eurasian Bank, reinforcing its push into blockchain innovation.

Kazakhstan has steadily advanced its crypto agenda since 2022, when Binance first partnered with the government to help shape regulatory frameworks. With projects like CryptoCity underway and a call from President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for a “full-fledged ecosystem,” the nation is positioning itself as a major player in global digital finance.

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The long-running clash between U.S. financial regulators over crypto oversight may finally be ending. Acting CFTC Chair Caroline Pham declared, “the turf war is over,” during a joint roundtable with the SEC on Monday. Both agencies acknowledged past friction over whether digital assets fall under commodities or securities, a debate that has created uncertainty for investors and crypto firms alike.

Lawmakers in Washington are pushing forward the Clarity Act, a bill aimed at creating a clear market structure for digital assets. The legislation could grant the CFTC expanded authority, setting the stage for more streamlined oversight. Pham emphasized that while regulatory boundaries haven’t always been clear, the goal now is cooperation to avoid unnecessary confusion in the markets.

SEC Chair Paul Atkins dismissed speculation about merging the two regulators, stressing that their priority is “harmonization, not merger.” The roundtable included top industry players such as Kraken, Robinhood, Polymarket, J.P. Morgan, and Bank of America, signaling strong industry engagement in shaping crypto’s future.

Today, in a media scrum after his opening remarks at the SEC-CFTC Roundtable on Regulatory Harmonization Efforts, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chairman Paul Atkins expressed his excitement in regard to bringing tokenized securities on-chain, though he didn’t offer any insight into what platforms or protocols these assets might trade on.

The latter may be particularly important to Bitcoin enthusiasts, because the wallets that you use to trade tokenized securities on-chain will likely require identifying information, and such a rule could spill over to bitcoin wallets.

So, I asked the chairman what securities coming on-chain looked like to him: Would it look…

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YoungHoon Kim, a South Korean figure who calls himself the “world’s highest IQ record holder,” says he has converted all of his assets into bitcoin.

Kim also predicted that bitcoin will grow at least 100-fold within the next decade, eventually becoming the world’s “ultimate reserve asset.”

Kim made these bold declarations in recent posts on X, identifying himself as both a “Grand Master of Memory” and the person with the highest IQ ever recorded — a claim somewhat disputed by experts. 

“I believe that Bitcoin is the only hope for the future economy. Therefore, I have converted all my assets into Bitcoin,” Kim wrote on X.

At the time of his remarks,…

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Bitcoin Magazine

NY Regulator Adrienne Harris Resigns, Calls for US-UK Crypto Passporting in Final Interview

Adrienne Harris, Superintendent of the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS), announced her resignation after four years in the role. 

“It has been a privilege and an honor to serve New Yorkers, delivering positive outcomes for consumers; cementing DFS as a global regulatory leader; and transforming the Department’s operations,” Harris said.

In her final interview, Harris expressed support to Financial Times for the potential US-UK crypto passporting scheme, emphasizing the need for international cooperation in the digital asset space.

Harris highlighted…

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Bitcoin Magazine

The Origin Story of Bitcoin Treasury Companies: Cash Is a Liability

What happens when the safest asset on a company’s balance sheet — cash — becomes its biggest liability?

This isn’t a hypothetical exercise. With bitcoin treasury companies, it has become the central question in corporate finance, forcing a not-so-quiet revolution — from Strategy (NASDAQ: MSTR) to Coinbase (NASDAQ: COIN), Strive (NASDAQ: ASST) and even miners like MARA Holdings (NASDAQ: MARA). The pain of cash melting in corporate hands has given rise to a new and strategic class of public company: a bitcoin treasury company. These aren’t just firms that accept cryptocurrency; they are…

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Solana ETF issuers are racing to update filings as the U.S. crypto market braces for a crucial October. Asset manager 21Shares has revised its S-1 filing, outlining changes to fund structure, staking provisions, and redemption processes—key details aimed at addressing SEC scrutiny.

Several other firms, including Franklin, Fidelity, CoinShares, Bitwise, Grayscale, VanEck, and Canary, have also submitted amendments in recent days. Around nine Solana ETF applications are currently pending, with updates signaling issuers’ efforts to refine proposals in line with regulatory feedback. The surge in activity suggests growing confidence that approvals may be near.

The SEC is expected to rule on 16 crypto ETF applications this month, covering altcoins such as Solana, XRP, Litecoin, Dogecoin, and Cardano. With the agency recently clearing procedural hurdles and declining to issue delay notices, industry watchers believe October could mark a turning point for crypto ETFs, opening the door for new products and broader investor access.

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