Tag: bills

  • US House passes three key crypto bills; market reaction muted as Bitcoin dips

    US House passes three key crypto bills; market reaction muted as Bitcoin dips

    US House passes three key crypto bills; market reaction muted as bitcoin dips

    • US House passed all three key crypto bills: the CLARITY Act, GENIUS Act, and Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act.
    • Despite the “historic” legislative wins, crypto markets remained flat, with Bitcoin down 0.89% to $118,849.
    • The GENIUS Act (stablecoins) is the first major crypto bill to clear both chambers and is now on President Trump’s desk.

    The US House of Representatives has delivered a week of landmark legislative victories for the cryptocurrency industry, passing all three key bills aimed at providing long-sought regulatory clarity.

    However, in a striking display of market apathy, this historic breakthrough in Washington has been met with a collective shrug from crypto traders, with prices remaining largely flat.

    In what many industry proponents are calling a watershed moment, the US House has now passed the CLARITY Act, the GENIUS Act, and the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act.

    The CLARITY Act, which passed by a strong vote of 294 to 134, aims to establish clear guidelines for classifying digital assets as either securities under the purview of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or as commodities under the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

    The Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act, which passed by a much narrower 219 to 217 vote, effectively bans the Federal Reserve from issuing or even testing a central bank digital currency without explicit Congressional approval. Both of these bills will now advance to the Senate, where their future remains uncertain.

    The most significant of the three, the GENIUS Act, which creates a regulatory framework for stablecoins, has already cleared both chambers of Congress. Having previously passed the Senate with a 68 to 30 vote, it sailed through the House this week with a decisive 308 to 122 vote.

    This bill is now on President Trump’s desk, making it the first major piece of crypto-focused legislation on track to become US law.

    Despite these monumental legislative achievements, the crypto markets have remained conspicuously unfazed. Bitcoin (BTC) is currently trading at $118,849, down 0.89% over the past 24 hours. Ethereum (ETH) is hovering at $3,389, down 0.27%.

    The broader altcoin market has also been mostly muted. The one notable exception is XRP, which is up over 8% on the day, continuing a strong bullish run it has maintained throughout the week.

    The market’s tepid reaction is further evidenced by liquidation data. According to Coinglass, 150,169 traders were liquidated in the past 24 hours, with total liquidations reaching nearly $490 million.

    The largest single liquidation was a $3.21 million ETH-USDT long position on the crypto exchange HTX, a sign of the choppy, directionless trading that has characterized the market.

    A tale of two markets: crypto stalls as Wall Street soars

    The crypto market’s indifference stands in stark contrast to the exuberance seen in traditional stock markets.

    Major US indexes surged to fresh record highs on Friday, as upbeat corporate earnings and stronger-than-expected economic data lifted investor sentiment.

    The S&P 500 jumped 0.54% to a new record close of 6,297.36, marking its ninth all-time closing high of the year. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite also hit its tenth record of 2025, climbing 0.74% to finish at 20,884.27, driven by strength in major tech stocks.

    The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 229.71 points, or 0.52%, to close at 44,484.49.

    This rally in equities was supported by strong economic data, including a retail sales report for June that came in at 0.6%, beating expectations of 0.2%, and a drop in jobless claims, both signaling a still-resilient US economy.

    Strong earnings reports from companies like PepsiCo and United Airlines further boosted optimism as the second-quarter earnings season gets underway.

    This divergence highlights a curious moment in markets, where a significant, long-awaited regulatory victory for crypto has failed to generate the kind of bullish excitement currently being seen on Wall Street.

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  • Michigan lawmakers introduce 4 crypto bills as Congressmen revive Blockchain Regulatory Certainty bill

    Michigan lawmakers introduce 4 crypto bills as Congressmen revive Blockchain Regulatory Certainty bill

    Michigan clears 4 crypto bills as Congress revives blockchain regulatory act

    • Michigan’s HB 4510 allows pension funds to invest in crypto ETFs.
    • HB 4512 enables Bitcoin mining at abandoned oil or gas wells.
    • HB 4513 offers income tax breaks to miners in remediation schemes.

    State and federal lawmakers are charting a new course for cryptocurrency in the United States.

    In Michigan, a legislative package of four crypto-focused bills is moving forward, combining pension fund exposure, environmental cleanups, and digital asset rights.

    At the same time, lawmakers in Washington have reintroduced a bill to clarify the regulatory obligations of blockchain developers and non-custodial providers.

    These coordinated efforts aim to balance innovation with accountability, as regulators seek to provide legal clarity without stifling decentralised finance.

    The push reflects a growing political will to define crypto’s role within the broader financial and technological landscape.

    Michigan bill allows crypto in pension funds

    One of the most significant pieces of Michigan’s legislation is House Bill 4510, which would permit state-managed retirement systems to invest in cryptocurrencies through regulated financial products, such as exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

    These investment vehicles must meet market capitalisation thresholds and be overseen by relevant financial authorities, offering a relatively conservative pathway for exposure to assets like Bitcoin.

    The proposal comes amid rising institutional interest in crypto and growing demand for diversified, inflation-resistant portfolios.

    If passed, the bill would position Michigan among a small group of US states, enabling public pension managers to hold crypto-linked assets under regulatory safeguards.

    Mining linked to abandoned wells and tax breaks

    In a bid to align crypto with environmental responsibility, Michigan’s HB 4512 and HB 4513 introduce an energy reuse programme targeting abandoned oil and gas wells.

    Under the plan, Bitcoin miners would be allowed to power operations using these dormant energy sites, provided they remediate environmental damage.

    Ownership transfers, well site assessments, and environmental progress tracking would be mandated under the bill, ensuring accountability.

    In return, miners participating in the scheme would qualify for income tax deductions under HB 4513.

    The measures are designed to attract miners with incentives while tackling legacy pollution problems.

    The bills reference Bitcoin explicitly and focus on “orphan well programmes” as a potential win-win for the energy and crypto sectors.

    State protection against CBDCs and digital discrimination

    Another critical element of Michigan’s proposal is House Bill 4511.

    This bill would prohibit state and local authorities from creating restrictions, licensing rules, or special taxes targeting digital assets solely based on their digital form.

    It also bans any state agency from endorsing or promoting a central bank digital currency (CBDC), drawing a clear line between decentralised cryptocurrencies and government-backed digital money.

    The legislation signals a strong defence of crypto users’ rights within Michigan, providing legal backing for miners, node operators, and token holders against targeted regulatory pressure.

    If adopted, it could set a precedent for other states seeking to protect decentralised finance ecosystems.

    Federal legislation aims to clarify developer rules

    While Michigan pursues state-level crypto integration, Washington is moving ahead with national reform.

    US Representatives Tom Emmer and Ritchie Torres recently reintroduced the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act, which seeks to establish clear boundaries on who qualifies as a “money transmitter” under federal law.

    The Act would exempt developers and non-custodial service providers, such as those who build blockchain protocols or run interfaces that never hold user funds, from financial licensing requirements.

    Only those who directly control consumer assets would be subject to oversight.

    The lawmakers argue this clarification is needed to keep blockchain talent and startups within the US, rather than pushing them offshore.

    “Today, @RepRitchie and I introduced the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act to protect blockchain developers and service providers that never custody consumer funds from unjust government prosecution,” Emmer posted on X on 3 May.

    The bill aims to address regulatory uncertainty that critics say has slowed domestic blockchain innovation and led to uneven enforcement.

    By drawing a regulatory line between developers and custodians, the bill hopes to ease legal pressures on creators and infrastructure providers.

     

     

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  • Florida scraps Bitcoin reserve bills as state-level crypto adoption faces setbacks

    Florida scraps Bitcoin reserve bills as state-level crypto adoption faces setbacks

    Florida, Bitcoin reserve bills

    • Florida’s decision follows a broader trend of legislative setbacks surrounding Bitcoin reserve proposals.
    • Similar bills have been shelved or blocked in states like Wyoming, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
    • Only 19 US states are still actively exploring legislation related to state Bitcoin reserves.

    Florida has withdrawn two key bills aimed at creating a state-level strategic Bitcoin (BTC) reserve, marking a significant pause in momentum for state-driven crypto investment efforts across the US.

    House Bill 487 and Senate Bill 550, both introduced in February 2025, have now been “indefinitely postponed and withdrawn from consideration,” according to the Florida Senate website.

    The bills had sought to authorize the use of public funds to invest in Bitcoin, signaling a potential shift in how state reserves are managed.

    With their withdrawal, Florida becomes the latest in a growing list of states backing away from formal crypto reserve legislation.

    Multiple states stall on BTC investment plans

    Florida’s decision follows a broader trend of legislative setbacks surrounding Bitcoin reserve proposals.

    Similar bills have been shelved or blocked in states like Wyoming, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

    While many of these initiatives remain in early committee stages, few have progressed far enough to secure full legislative approval.

    Arizona had shown the most progress earlier this year with SB 1025, which passed a state House vote before being vetoed by Governor Katie Hobbs.

    The bill would have permitted investment of seized state funds into Bitcoin, representing the most advanced attempt at institutional BTC adoption at the state level.

    Despite the veto of SB 1025, Arizona is still considering SB 1373, a separate proposal that would allow up to 10% of state funds to be allocated to digital assets, including Bitcoin.

    However, that bill has yet to reach a final vote, and its fate remains uncertain amid growing legislative caution.

    Is Bitcoin legislation losing steam nationwide?

    According to data from Bitcoin Laws, only 19 US states are still actively exploring legislation related to state Bitcoin reserves (SBRs), with 36 bills under discussion.

    The number has dropped significantly over the past six months, reflecting increased hesitation among lawmakers due to market volatility, fiscal risks, and regulatory uncertainty.

    Much of this retreat has been attributed to concerns like those cited by Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, who pointed to the lack of long-term historical data supporting Bitcoin’s stability or reliability for public fund management.

    Despite the slowdown at the state level, Bitcoin reserve discussions are gaining traction federally.

    President Donald Trump has reportedly signed an executive order directing agencies to explore the feasibility of a national Bitcoin reserve system.

    Still, skepticism remains. BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes recently argued that the US is unlikely to meaningfully expand its crypto holdings, citing entrenched financial conservatism and cultural resistance toward Bitcoin.

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