Сборщик RSS-лент
Ripple CEO Predicts Big Wins For Clarity Act And XRP
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse used a Feb. 18 appearance on Fox to argue that US crypto policy is nearing a turning point, predicting the long-stalled CLARITY Act will pass by the end of April and framing regulatory certainty as a direct catalyst for broader industry growth, including for XRP, which he emphasized has already cleared a key legal hurdle.
Why Ripple CEO Garlinghouse Is BullishGarlinghouse pointed to shifting Washington momentum and said prediction markets have moved in favor of passage. “The CLARITY Act spiked because of comments yesterday, from [a] senator […] I think now 90% will pass by the end of April,” he said. “I said a couple weeks ago I thought at the end of April […] people talked about [being] optimistic.”
He added that the White House is now actively pressing stakeholders, describing a meeting “today with a lot of leaders on both sides (crypto and banking) in the White House, […] [with] the White House pushing hard.”
Pressed on Ripple’s position, Garlinghouse argued the bill’s flaws are less important than ending what he cast as a policy vacuum that has pushed the sector into enforcement battles. “Our position [is] very much, don’t let perfection be the enemy of progress,” he said. “No bill is perfect […] we need clarity.”
He contrasted Ripple’s posture with the broader industry’s situation by referencing the company’s long-running US legal fight. “Ripple has been fortunate — sued by [the] government — a judge […] say[ing] XRP is not a security. We have clarity,” Garlinghouse said, before reiterating the point in starker terms when asked directly: “Not a security. Courts ruled clearly.”
In his telling, the CLARITY Act is meant to keep crypto from being forced into a securities regime that doesn’t map cleanly onto how many networks and tokens function. “If something is a security, all kinds of obligations because […] you own part of the company,” he said, contrasting that with crypto tokens where holders typically don’t receive dividends or governance rights analogous to electing a board. He also claimed the prior administration’s approach “failed in courts,” arguing that a modern framework is required for the US to compete.
Ripple’ Strategy And XRPThe interview also touched on the sector’s pullback from highs. Garlinghouse tied some of that weakness to policy delays. He said the CLARITY Act getting “pushed [and] stalled, late January […] did not help,” while arguing Ripple entered 2026 with strong momentum after what he called “a tremendous year in 2025.”
On relative performance, he claimed XRP has held up better than other majors. “To your point, crypto markets, XRP best performing major crypto, down 20%,” he said, while noting other assets were down materially more from peaks.
He framed Ripple’s strategy as proving demand through enterprise use cases rather than retail narratives: “The more we demonstrate real practical utility using technologies to solve real problems, [the] more you see that play out in a positive way.”
Garlinghouse cited Ripple’s M&A push as part of a broader effort to build infrastructure that appeals to corporate finance teams. He said Ripple has spent “three billion dollars [on] acquisitions since 2023,” including expanding into “custody, prime [brokerage], treasury management, stablecoin [and] payment” capabilities.
He highlighted the treasury-management firm it acquired, saying it “processed 13 trillion dollars payments last year,” and emphasizing how early institutional stablecoin adoption still is: “Crypto-enabled, zero of those were stablecoin enabled.”
For now, he suggested dealmaking is taking a back seat to integration. “We bought two big companies last year […] the first half of this year [is] very much on let’s pause […] integrate,” he said, adding: “For time being, we’re going to slow down, before we speed up.”
Garlinghouse also argued the CLARITY fight is no longer “crypto versus banks,” pointing to big incumbents wanting a rulebook. He said the “vast majority of the crypto industry” is prepared to accept imperfect language, including around customer rewards, because it would be “a major step forward.” He added that banks are now leaning in as well, citing Goldman Sachs leadership as wanting “the same level playing field” to compete as traditional finance moves deeper into crypto.
At press time, XRP traded at $1.4196.
CME Group Announces Round-The-Clock Crypto Derivatives Trading Beginning May 29
CME Group, the world’s largest derivatives marketplace, announced Thursday that it will introduce nearly round‑the‑clock trading for its cryptocurrency derivatives, with the new schedule set to begin on May 29, pending regulatory approval.
The exchange announced that its crypto futures and options will transition to continuous trading on the CME Globex platform, providing broader access beyond the traditional weekly schedule. While the platform will operate on an almost 24/7 basis, it will still include a minimum two‑hour maintenance break each weekend.
‘All‑Time High’ Demand For Crypto Risk ToolsUnder the updated framework, trades executed between Friday evening and Sunday evening will be assigned a trade date of the next business day. CME added that clearing, settlement, and regulatory reporting for those transactions will also be processed on the following business day.
According to the firm’s press release, the decision reflects the surging demand for cryptocurrency risk management tools amid falling cryptocurrency prices, including a 50% drop in Bitcoin’s value in just four months.
Notably, Tim McCourt, CME Group’s Global Head of Equities, FX, and Alternative Products, said client appetite for digital asset exposure has reached unprecedented levels.
In 2025 alone, the exchange recorded $3 trillion in notional trading volume across its cryptocurrency futures and options suite, a record for the platform.
“Client demand for risk management in the digital asset market is at an all-time high,” McCourt said, noting that continuous access to regulated crypto derivatives will allow traders to manage exposure whenever market conditions shift.
While he acknowledged that not every asset class is suited for nonstop trading, he emphasized that always‑on access to transparent and regulated cryptocurrency products will enable clients to trade with greater flexibility and confidence.
Futures Lead 47% Jump In CME Group Digital Asset ActivityCME Group’s crypto complex has continued to expand in 2026. The exchange reported average daily volume of 407,200 contracts so far this year, marking a 46% increase compared with the same period in 2025. Average daily open interest reached 335,400 contracts, up 7% year over year (YoY).
Futures activity on the platform has been particularly strong, with the average daily volume climbing 47% from a year earlier.
Although CME Group has confirmed May 29 as its target launch date, the exchange noted that the extended trading schedule remains subject to regulatory review and final approval.
If cleared, the move would mark a significant step in aligning regulated crypto derivatives trading more closely with the around‑the‑clock nature of underlying digital asset markets.
Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
Российские налоговики раскрыли число зарегистрированных майнеров
Банк России назвал сроки начала контролируемой торговли криптовалютой
Change Of Heart? Hacker Returns $21M Stolen Bitcoin To South Korean Prosecutors
A hacker has returned 320 Bitcoin (BTC) stolen from South Korean prosecutors throughout a phishing scam last year. As authorities face backlash over repeated incidents, officers have pledged to continue the investigation to uncover the full details and strengthen their custody practices.
Stolen Bitcoin Returned To Gwangju ProsecutorsOn Thursday, the Gwangju District Prosecutors’ Office announced it recovered 320.8 Bitcoin lost in August to a phishing attack after the malicious actors willingly sent back the assets earlier this week.
Local news outlet Digital Asset reported on Tuesday that the on-chain data showed the lost BTC, worth $21 million, had been transferred to a wallet managed by South Korean authorities. The assets were seemingly moved through multiple addresses before being transferred to a domestic crypto exchange wallet.
As reported by Bitcoinist, South Korean prosecutors faced backlash last month after discovering that a large stash of seized BTC had gone missing months ago. Authorities reportedly learnt of the loss during a routine check of seized financial assets held as criminal evidence.
After an internal review, prosecutors found that the crypto assets were lost to a scam in August during the handling of the sized assets. Reportedly, malicious actors drained the wallets after investigators mistakenly accessed a phishing website.
Notably, the lost Bitcoin was originally seized during a 2021 investigation into an illegal gambling website. Prosecutors launched an investigation after discovering the incident. They also took measures to recover the assets, including blocking transactions from the perpetrator’s address to domestic exchanges and sending cooperation requests to overseas exchanges.
According to the report, authorities believe that these measures exerted pressure on the hackers, ultimately pushing them to return the funds. Meanwhile, prosecutors are currently continuing to track down the malicious actors while also conducting related investigations and inspections.
“(Regardless of the recovery of the Bitcoin), we will do our utmost to apprehend the perpetrators in the future,” The Gwangju District Prosecutors’ Office stated. “We plan to continue conducting a rigorous investigation to clearly uncover the full details of the case.”
Authorities Slammed Over Repeated IncidentsThe Gwangju incident has led to a nationwide review of law enforcement’s handling of virtual assets. The review has revealed another security breach at the Seoul Gangnam Police Station.
Last Friday, the Gangnam station announced it had lost 22 BTC that were voluntarily submitted to authorities during an investigation in November 2021. According to local reports, the leak had not been detected until now, since the investigation into that case had been suspended.
The inspection revealed that the cold wallet storing the Bitcoin was not stolen, but the assets stored inside “had vanished without a trace.” As a response, the Gyeonggi Northern Provincial Police Agency launched a full-scale internal investigation to determine the details of the leak and whether any internal personnel were involved.
The incidents have raised concerns about South Korea’s Bitcoin custody practices, just as the country prepares for the Second Phase of the Virtual Asset User Protection Act, which is expected to serve as a comprehensive framework for the entire industry.
Financial authorities are also conducting an inspection of local exchanges’ internal controls following the “ghost Bitcoin” incident at Bithumb. Earlier this month, the crypto exchange accidentally distributed 620,000 BTC, worth over $40 billion, to 249 users due to an employee’s mistake.
Bithumb’s system failed to block the transaction and distributed assets that did not actually exist, distorting market prices. Lawmakers highlighted that the incident exposed “structural vulnerabilities” in the sector that must be addressed in the upcoming legislation.
The Financial Services Commission (FSC) announced last month that it is studying a proposal for prosecution measures against suspects of crypto asset price manipulation. Some officials argue it’s necessary “to complement the current Virtual Asset User Protection Act by implementing measures for the confiscation of criminal proceeds or the preservation of recovery funds in advance.”
Страницы
