Regulation & Policy
Crypto regulation moves markets more than any other category, and it's where the legal-vs-technical gap is widest. LeoDex News covers SEC enforcement actions, CFTC oversight, the EU's MiCA framework, US congressional bills (CLARITY Act, Bank Secrecy Act reforms, state-level CBDC bans), IRS treatment changes, and the dozens of jurisdictional moves that quietly determine who can custody what.
We read the actual filings, not the press releases about them. When a state legislature passes a crypto bill, we tell you what changes for users and what changes for businesses. When the SEC drops a lawsuit, we surface the cited statutes. When MiCA consultations open, we summarize what's actually on the table. Regulatory clarity is the single biggest unlock for institutional adoption — we treat it accordingly.
Latest in Regulation & Policy
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Trump Signs AI Executive Order on Cybersecurity and Model Review
President Trump signed an executive order Tuesday aimed at strengthening U.S. cybersecurity with advanced AI, directing agencies to accelerate AI-powered security tools and establish a voluntary review process for advanced models before public release.
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Kalshi files to list XRP, SOL, ETH, DOGE perpetual futures
Kalshi filed to list perpetual futures contracts tied to XRP, SOL, ETH, DOGE, and eight additional altcoins on its regulated US venue, expanding its crypto derivatives offerings beyond Bitcoin.
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Coinbase Launches Direct Indian Rupee Rails After Regulatory Clearance
Coinbase has returned to India with direct INR banking infrastructure, allowing traders to deposit and withdraw rupees without intermediary conversions. The move marks a reversal from the exchange's 2022 exit following informal RBI pressure.
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EU proposes 0.1% crypto transaction tax, targeting €3-4B annual revenue
The European Commission proposed a 0.1% transaction tax on crypto trades alongside a capital-gains levy, projected to raise €3–4 billion yearly as part of a broader revenue package for the 2028–2034 budget period, though the plan requires unanimous approval from all 27 member states.
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DTCC to Launch Tokenized Securities on Stellar in 2027
Wall Street's clearing giant DTCC will make tokenized securities available on the Stellar blockchain beginning in the first half of 2027, leveraging compliance tools built into the network for regulated issuers.
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Vietnam Ministry of Finance Proposes Digital Assets as SME Loan Collateral
Vietnam's Ministry of Finance has proposed amendments allowing small and medium enterprises to use digital assets and intellectual property as bank loan collateral, marking a significant shift toward institutional legitimacy for crypto in the country.
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Microsoft threatens legal action against researcher over zero-day exploits
Microsoft's Digital Crimes Unit has disabled accounts and threatened legal action against security researcher Nightmare Eclipse for publishing zero-day exploits, sparking debate over vulnerability disclosure practices and researcher safety.
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Bitcoin Depot files Chapter 11 as regulators shut down crypto ATM industry
Bitcoin Depot, North America's largest Bitcoin ATM operator, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on May 18 after revenue collapsed 49% year-over-year. The collapse reflects a broader regulatory crackdown on crypto ATMs, which authorities cite as vectors for fraud and money laundering targeting elderly victims.
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SoFi becomes first US national bank to launch stablecoin in consumer app
SoFi Technologies launched SoFiUSD on May 27, making it the first US national bank to integrate a stablecoin directly into a consumer banking application. The dollar-backed token is now available to SoFi's 14.7 million members on Ethereum and Solana.
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Treasury Secretary Bessent: U.S. Seized $1B Crypto From Iran
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent disclosed that the U.S. government has seized approximately $1 billion in cryptocurrency from entities linked to Iran, stating the government "outright grabbed" wallets in a sweeping crackdown.
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CFTC approves Kalshi bitcoin perpetual futures, clears U.S. crypto perps
The CFTC has approved Kalshi to list bitcoin perpetual futures contracts and issued a no-action letter to Coinbase, establishing the regulatory framework for perpetuals in the U.S. crypto market.
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France's AMF sets June 30 deadline for crypto firms to secure MiCA licenses
France's financial regulator warned crypto firms operating without licenses have until June 30 to obtain permits or exit the country under the EU's Markets in Crypto Assets framework, while tensions mount over regulatory centralization.
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Crypto Compliance Tightens, but Indirect Monitoring Gap Persists
Around 47% of crypto organizations onboarded in 2026 are operating at compliance standards that would have ranked among the industry's strictest five years ago, yet gaps in indirect monitoring persist, creating openings for illicit actors.
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US Treasury removes 80 outdated names from OFAC sanctions blacklist
The US Treasury Department removed approximately 80 names from its Specially Designated Nationals list, targeting deceased individuals and defunct companies. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent framed the action as refocusing OFAC resources on active threats, particularly Iran's financing networks.
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US strikes Iran: Bitcoin plunges below $80K amid geopolitical tensions
US military strikes on Iranian targets in early May triggered a sharp selloff in cryptocurrency markets, with Bitcoin dropping below $80,000 and roughly $300 million in crypto futures liquidated as traders fled risk amid escalating Middle East tensions.
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Dutch authorities seize 800 servers in raid on Russian cyberattack hosting
The Netherlands' FIOD seized over 800 servers in May 2026 targeting web hosting operations suspected of enabling Russian cyberattacks, disinformation, and sanctions evasion. Two individuals were arrested.
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SoFi Launches SoFiUSD Stablecoin on Ethereum and Solana
SoFi Technologies became the first U.S. national bank to offer a bank-issued stablecoin directly within its consumer app, with SoFiUSD now available for buying, selling, and holding on Ethereum and Solana blockchains.
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Binance returns to Philippines via BlockShoals SEC sandbox partnership
Binance has partnered with BlockShoals Technologies to re-enter the Philippines market through the SEC's Strategic Sandbox framework, providing technology and compliance support while BlockShoals operates as the approved local intermediary.
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Spain Blocks Polymarket and Kalshi Over Gambling Law Violations
Spain's gambling regulator has blocked Polymarket and Kalshi, citing violations of gambling laws and lack of required administrative authorization. The platforms face three to four months of suspension as disciplinary proceedings unfold, marking the latest regulatory action against prediction markets globally.
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UK Sanctions HTX Over Alleged Russia Financial Services
Britain's government sanctioned HTX and other crypto firms for allegedly providing financial services to Russian entities, barring all UK institutions from doing business with the exchanges and requiring asset freezes on related transactions.
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OCC bank charters for crypto firms defended against Warren's regulatory claims
The Chamber of Digital Commerce pushed back on Senator Elizabeth Warren's accusations that the OCC improperly granted nine national trust bank charters to crypto firms since December 2025, arguing the approvals align with congressional direction on digital asset regulation.
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House subcommittee modernizes Bank Secrecy Act amid crypto surge
A House Financial Services subcommittee heard testimony Thursday on scaling back the Bank Secrecy Act, with crypto firms and policy experts divided over whether to reform or repeal the 1970 anti-money-laundering law as threats escalate.
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Kraken Secures VARA License for Regulated Dubai Operations
Kraken's parent company Payward received preliminary broker-dealer authorization from Dubai's Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority, enabling the exchange to offer spot and margin trading, staking, and OTC services to UAE retail and professional investors.
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South Carolina bans CBDCs, protects Bitcoin miners and crypto self-custody
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster signed Bill 163, banning state use of central bank digital currencies while protecting individuals and businesses from restrictions on digital assets, mining operations, and self-hosted wallets.