President Trump pardoned the business entity behind crypto exchange BitMEX and four of its former executives years after they copped to Bank Secrecy Act violations and lax AML controls. According to the company, Trump has issued "full and unconditional pardons" for HDR Global Trading Limited, which owns and operates BitMEX, as well as co-founders Arthur Hayes, Benjamin Delo, and Samuel Reed, and former executive Gregory Dwyer.   

The FDIC issued new guidance affirming that FDIC-supervised institutions may engage in certain crypto-related activities without receiving prior regulatory approval. FDIC Acting Chair Travis Hill said in a press release that he expects "this to be one of several steps the FDIC will take to lay out a new approach for how banks engage in crypto- and blockchain-related activities." Senate Banking Committee Republicans tweeted in support of the guidance, arguing that it “will help ensure the United States can be the crypto capital of the world.”

The CFTC withdrew two advisories to ensure that there is no suggestion that “regulatory treatment of digital asset derivatives will vary from its treatment of other products,” which could make it easier for digital asset firms to list crypto futures. The actions affect an advisory on trading from 2018, and one about clearing from 2023.

Some Democrats involved in crypto talks on Capitol Hill, including Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT), told reporters the stablecoin launch announcement from the Trump family’s World Liberty Financial is a detriment to their legislative efforts. Rep. Himes stated that he could not "think of anything quite so damaging to bipartisanship." Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) also noted that the launch could "make life harder" for lawmakers working to pass bipartisan legislation.

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) told Decrypt that he does not believe stablecoin issuers should have to comply with anti-money laundering rules in the Bank Secrecy Act. He argued that the BSA is focused on cash, while stablecoins are blockchain-driven, adding that "everything on the blockchain is open and transparent to people who understand how to follow code." Emmer also voiced concern around boxing foreign issuers out of the US stablecoin sector.

The House Financial Services Committee is scheduled to hold a markup on Wednesday to consider multiple digital asset-related bills, including the STABLE Act (H.R. 2392), the Financial Technology Protection Act (H.R. 2384), and the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act (H.R. 1919).

UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) director of payments and digital assets Matthew Long told reporters the agency intends to begin authorizing new crypto firms by next year, after it consults with firms and crafts new rules. The FCA also plans to release papers on stablecoins, trading platforms, staking, prudential crypto exposure, and more this year. The regime is expected to go live after final policy papers are published in 2026.

The European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority issued a proposal that would mandate insurance firms to maintain capital equal to the value of their crypto holdings. The proposal would set a far stricter standard than other asset classes, such as stocks and real estate, which are not required to be even half-backed.

Crypto.com CEO Kris Marszalek said in a post on X that the SEC’s investigation into the company has been closed with no action taken against it. Crypto.com Chief Legal Officer Nick Lundgren added in a statement that "Under the previous administration, the SEC weaponized and attempted to expand its congressionally granted power in order to harm an industry that its former chair disfavored."