Author: John Smith

Binance has been left relying on France as its last realistic route to secure a Markets in Crypto-Assets license after its expected authorization bid in Greece reportedly stalled ahead of the European Union’s June 30 deadline. Summary The Big Whale reported that Christine Lagarde helped derail Binance’s MiCA application in Greece despite regulatory progress. With the Greek route stalled, France has emerged as Binance’s last realistic option for securing EU-wide authorization. Binance said its application met MiCA requirements and warned approval delays could reduce liquidity and competition. According to a report published Wednesday by The Big Whale, European Central Bank…

Kalshi has fueled a billion-dollar dispute over sports betting regulation as trading activity on its platforms continues to surge. Summary Gaming and tribal groups urged the Senate to block sports-related prediction contracts through the CLARITY Act. The American Gaming Association estimates prediction markets have cost states about $1.08 billion in tax revenue. Kalshi’s crypto perpetual futures platform generated over $5.5 billion in volume within two weeks of launch. According to a report from Semafor, a coalition that includes the Indian Gaming Association, the American Gaming Association, and labor organizations has urged the US Senate to add language to the CLARITY…

The crypto market has remained under pressure even as reports have indicated that a U.S.-Iran agreement is moving closer to completion, with the total crypto market capitalization falling nearly 2% to $2.21 trillion. Summary Trump said a U.S.-Iran agreement could be signed soon, but crypto prices remained under pressure. Bitcoin and major altcoins fell as investors focused on Fed policy and inflation risks. The Federal Reserve kept rates unchanged at 3.50%–3.75%, extending its 2026 policy pause. According to a BBC report, U.S. officials have released details of a proposed memorandum that would extend the ceasefire between Washington and Tehran while…

ASTER has surged more than 20% after Aster unveiled a new tokenomics framework that commits almost all platform fee revenue to daily token buybacks and large-scale supply reductions. Summary ASTER surged over 20% after Aster committed 99% of platform fees to daily token buybacks. Aster plans to cut ASTER supply from 8 billion to 3 billion through ongoing reserve burns. Technical indicators turned bullish as ASTER broke above $0.65 and approached resistance near $0.81. According to a June 17 X post by Aster, 99% of the protocol’s daily fees will now be used to purchase ASTER from the open market…

Illinois has approved a new 0.2% tax on crypto transactions that state officials estimate could generate up to $60 million annually, prompting public criticism from Strategy co-founder Michael Saylor and several industry groups. Summary Michael Saylor called Illinois’ new 0.2% crypto transaction tax a “Big Mistake” after it became law. Industry groups warned the tax could hurt crypto businesses and push innovation outside Illinois. The law requires broker registration and monthly reporting and applies to some out-of-state firms serving Illinois users. In a June 17 X post, Saylor called Governor J.B. Pritzker’s decision to sign the Digital Asset Privilege Tax…

Bernstein has reaffirmed its buy rating on Coinbase and maintained a $330 price target after the company unveiled a series of new products designed to extend its business beyond crypto trading. Summary Bernstein maintained a buy rating on Coinbase and kept its $330 price target after the System Update event. Coinbase unveiled AI-powered trading tools, prediction markets, tokenized stocks, and pre-IPO trading products. Barclays stayed bearish with a $107 target, while Benchmark and Cantor Fitzgerald remained bullish. According to Bernstein, the latest announcements from Coinbase’s System Update event support its long-term bullish view on the company despite a sharp reduction…

Singapore’s Monetary Authority has added Bybit to its Investor Alert List, placing one of the world’s largest crypto exchanges alongside other platforms that are not licensed to offer regulated services to users in the city-state. Summary Singapore’s MAS has added Bybit to its Investor Alert List, warning that the exchange is not licensed or regulated to provide services to local users. The move follows Singapore’s continued push for stricter crypto compliance, weeks after MAS revoked Bsquared’s licence over regulatory breaches and false statements. Despite the Singapore alert, Bybit continues to expand globally and recently launched tokenized fixed income products through…

The world’s third-largest economy is reclassifying crypto as a financial instrument and charting a path to slash punishing tax rates. The change reaches far beyond Japan, and most of the coverage is getting the details wrong. Summary Japan has taken a major step toward treating crypto like a mainstream financial asset. The 20% crypto tax rate is a target for 2028, not a change taking effect now. Reclassification under FIEA could open the door to regulated crypto ETFs in Japan. The move matters globally because a major economy is shifting from punitive policy toward integration. On June 11, 2026, the…

A spot Litecoin ETF is trading, Litecoin is a commodity by law, and the price sits at $44, down 89% from its peak. The gap between the regulatory milestone and the dead-flat chart is the most important lesson of the coming altcoin ETF wave. Summary The Litecoin ETF proves access alone does not create demand. Litecoin has regulatory clarity, but its price still reflects weak market appetite. The next altcoin ETFs will succeed only if real capital is waiting behind the wrapper. ETF approval is a door, not a guaranteed price catalyst. The first spot Litecoin ETF began trading in…

BitGo Singapore and dtcpay have formed a partnership to support secure digital asset payment infrastructure across global markets. Summary BitGo Singapore will support dtcpay’s digital asset payment network with regulated infrastructure and custody tools. dtcpay plans to use the partnership to improve security, operations, and global payment network scale. The deal follows dtcpay’s stablecoin shift and BitGo’s wider push into regulated crypto services globally. In a Tuesday announcement, the companies said the deal will let dtcpay use BitGo Singapore’s infrastructure to improve operations, strengthen asset security, and expand its payment network. They did not disclose financial terms. Meanwhile, BitGo Singapore…