At the Bitcoin 2025 Conference this morning, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commissioner Hester Peirce took the stage with Fold’s General Counsel Hailey Lennon for a fireside chat that pulled no punches.

Opening with a question about enforcement priorities since the change in administration, Lennon asked, “What are the current enforcement priorities, if any, in the digital asset space?” Peirce acknowledged the public’s frustration: “Some people have taken the fact that we haven’t moved forward with a ton of these cases as inaction—but there’s a lot to digest.” She stressed that the agency is actively bringing in outside perspectives, stating, “That’s really the way…

Read more on BitcoinMagazine

Spanish bank Banco Santander is stepping up its game in the digital asset space with plans to launch a stablecoin and offer crypto services to retail customers. As Spain’s biggest bank and one of the world’s leading financial brands Santander is looking to expand through its digital arm Openbank which recently entered the US market.

The stablecoin project is still in early development but it signals Santander’s growing interest in blockchain and digital currencies. By offering new crypto services the bank aims to attract a broader base of retail clients and stay ahead in the evolving financial landscape.

Major global banks are increasingly entering the crypto space as demand for digital assets grows. Institutions like Barclays JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley are already moving into crypto investments and services. Santander is following suit by offering tokenization crypto custody and now a stablecoin to meet rising interest among both retail and institutional customers.

Bloomberg

Kazakhstan has announced the creation of a pilot zone called CryptoCity where residents will be able to use cryptocurrency for everyday purchases including real estate dining and investments. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev revealed the plan at the Astana International Forum 2025 calling it a bold step toward integrating crypto into daily life through a controlled regulatory environment.

Minister of Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev confirmed that the city of Alatau is the leading candidate for the CryptoCity zone. Alatau is already home to Kazakhstan’s scientific institutions and the Innovation Technology Park making it a strategic choice for attracting developers and tech talent. Madiyev stated that cryptocurrency would be a legal means of payment within the zone encouraging innovation and foreign investment.

The government is actively shaping crypto-friendly legislation to support the initiative. Officials believe CryptoCity could position Kazakhstan as a major blockchain hub in Central Asia. The city is already under development with a strong focus on creating the right legal and financial infrastructure for digital assets.

Source

Crypto exchange Bybit has received official approval to operate in Austria under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) framework. This regulatory move positions Austria as a growing hub for digital asset firms seeking clarity and access across the EU.

The new MiCA rules came into effect at the beginning of the year and allow licensed firms to provide services across all 27 EU member states. Austria is already home to Bitpanda a major crypto trading platform that also holds a license in Germany. Bybit’s entry strengthens the country’s crypto presence further.

Bybit was founded in 2018 by entrepreneur Ben Zhou and is now the second largest exchange by trading volume according to CoinMarketCap. Originally based in Singapore the company relocated its headquarters to Dubai in 2022. In February 2025 the exchange suffered a major hack losing $1.5 billion in digital assets marking the largest crypto theft to date. Despite this setback Bybit continues to expand under global regulatory frameworks.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has announced strong support for launching a Bitcoin-backed municipal bond and eliminating the state’s restrictive BitLicense program. Speaking at the Bitcoin 2025 conference Adams declared his intent to create a “Bitbond” allowing investors to earn interest and potentially benefit from future Bitcoin market gains.

Adams emphasized the need for new financial tools tailored for Bitcoin holders and said the city should lead the way. He criticized the BitLicense framework calling it outdated and too harsh on crypto innovation. The mayor stressed that the policy has pushed businesses away from New York due to high costs and strict rules.

In his efforts to make New York a crypto hub Adams recently introduced a digital advisory council and partnered with companies like Figure Traction and Scale to attract more blockchain investment and jobs. He reaffirmed his role as a pro-crypto leader urging the industry to return and grow in the city without unnecessary regulation.

Source