The Winklevoss twins' Gemini agreed to settle a case with the CFTC, paying a fine of $5 million. Gemini neither confirmed nor denied charges of misleading the finance regulator.

Crypto markets are poised for a dynamic start to the new year, with a series of pivotal events set to reshape sentiment and trading volumes. From macroeconomic decisions by the Federal Reserve to protocol updates and legal proceedings, here are the key developments demanding close attention from investors: #1 Crypto Awaits The FOMC Minutes Release (January 8) On Wednesday, the minutes from December's Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting are scheduled for release, offering insights into policymakers' deliberations and possible hints at upcoming rate decisions.

Users of the decentralized betting market are giving the conservative politician 89% odds in favor of winning the upcoming federal election.

A cryptocurrency whale has managed to turn an investment of around $2 million into more than $21 million by betting on a popular cryptocurrency linked to an artificial intelligence agent in a matter of months. According to data from on-chain analysis service Lookonchain, the trader bought 10.

Justin Trudeau's resignation on January 6, 2025, opens the door for Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, with an 87% chance of becoming Canada's next Prime Minister, potentially leading to a major shift in Canada's approach to cryptocurrencies.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has liquidated a diverse portfolio of meme coins, such as DOGE, SHIB, and others referencing celebrities like Elon Musk. The proceeds, totaling approximately $2.5 million, have been converted into USDC and ETH to support his biotech charity, Kanro, which focuses on advancing biotechnology research and other philanthropic causes. The post Vitalik Buterin Liquidates $2.5M in Meme Coins to Fund Kanro Charity appeared first on Cryptonews.

Analysis suggests crypto market cycle nearing its peak with Bitcoin above $100K, as experts debate between a potential correction and unprecedented adoption wave in 2025.

On-chain detective ZachXBT has called 99% of AI agents plain scams. In a comment on X, he noted that AI agents are even worse than memes as memecoins do not pretend to have any inherent value.

MoonPay, BitStaete, ZBD, and Hidden Road have secured the MiCA license from the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM). Meanwhile, Socios.com has gained a license in Malta.

United States President Joe Biden rejected Japan's Nippon Steel takeover deal with US steel, sparking animosity with the Japanese government.

A volunteer moderator of a cryptocurrency forum has gone into hiding with his family after surviving an alleged kidnapping attempt, according to a report by Quebec's La Presse.

CoinShares data revealed that 2025 has been off to a good start with $585 million inflows so far.

The European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation rolled out its first phase in June 2024. Economists believe the regulatory framework could position Europe as a trailblazer in crypto oversight.

Michael S. Barr, the Vice Chair for Supervision at the Federal Reserve, announced he is resigning from this role today. Barr will no longer fill this third-ranking position on the Board of Governors, but he intends to remain at the Fed until further notice.

Purveyors of exchange-traded funds are finding ever more creative — and potentially riskier — ways to lure investors into the crypto craze. Bloomberg News' Vildana Hajric has the story.

Gemini, the crypto exchange founded by the Winklevoss twins, will pay $5 million in penalties to settle with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

Gemini Trust Co., founded by Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, has agreed to pay $5 million to settle a case with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The dispute involved allegations that Gemini Trust provided false and misleading information during its attempt to launch the first US-regulated Bitcoin futures contract.

CPAI, a project aiming to address crypto tax complexities, has announced the launch of its native utility token, (CRYPTO: CPAI), on the Uniswap (CRYPTO: UNI) decentralized exchange. The token is intended to provide access to its AI-powered crypto tax reconciliation platform.

Leading crypto manager CoinShares says institutional investors poured billions into crypto investment vehicles last year, obliterating previous inflow records. In its latest Digital Asset Fund Flows report, CoinShares says that 2024 saw a new record of over $44 billion in institutional digital asset inflows despite the final trading days of the year posting outflows.

As the second week of 2025 begins, several crypto airdrops are set to capture the attention of market participants.

There has been a quiet uproar happening in the crypto space, and it's not bitcoin's surging price. Rather, it is the ongoing accusations by U.S. crypto exchange Coinbase, as well as other stakeholders in the crypto space, that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has been engaged in deliberating hindering the crypto sector's access to banking activities.

Chiliz Group's Socios.com earns a Malta VFAA license, marking a key step toward MiCA compliance. This enables broader operations across Europe, aligning with upcoming EU crypto regulations and Fan Token engagement. The post Socios.com Secures Malta VFAA License, Advancing MiCA Compliance appeared first on Cryptonews.

The proposed consent order, if approved by a judge, could allow Gemini Trust to avoid a Jan. 21 civil trial with the CFTC over alleged “false and misleading” statements.

The head of a prominent crypto investment management firm foresees one “non-obvious” way in which tokenization, the process of converting traditional assets to tokens on blockchain, will impact markets. In a new post on the social media platform X, Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley lays out how he sees tokenization upending traditional stock and equities markets.

The crypto market is set for continued growth in 2025, driven by accelerating institutional adoption, evolving regulatory frameworks, and expanding DeFi ecosystems, according to Binance Research's latest Monthly Market Insights report.

Michael Barr, a Federal Resrve Board Member has stepped down from his role as the Vice Chairman for Banking Supervision about 2 weeks before the next administration. Per the announcement from the Federal Reserve, Barr will officially relinquish his role as the Supervision head on February 28.

In a “proposed consent order” on Monday signed by the CFTC and Gemini, the company agreed to settle while not admitting or denying the allegations.

Web3 gaming firm ZKcandy has raised $4 million in a private funding round with investment from Wemix Pte, Animoca Ventures, Spartan Group, Perlone Capital, and more. The post Web3 Gaming Firm ZKcandy Raises $4M in Funding Round appeared first on Cryptonews.

South Korea-based Jeju island announced the issuance of NFT digital cards to boost its tourism. The island plans to start issuing NFT cards from H2 2025 after a trial operation.

A globally distributed workforce allows us to recruit better people and serve our customers more effectively, says Binance CEO Richard Teng.

As DeFi adoption grows, exchanges are evolving to meet the demand for secure, accessible decentralized trading.

Non-custodial crypto wallet Phantom just issued a statement denying rumors that it will have a token airdrop. Last month, Phantom announced that it would be making the wallet more social by enabling users to customize their profile and search for and follow friends.

In a latest development, the Federal Reserve Board announced on Monday that Michael S. Barr will step down as Vice Chair for Supervision of the Federal Reserve Board. However, he will remain a member of the Board of Governors. The Fox Business Journalist, Eleanor Terett took to X and shared that Michael S.

The DSA's efforts could significantly influence the ethical governance of emerging technologies, impacting innovation and regulatory frameworks. The post Digital Sovereignty Alliance launches to champion ethical crypto policies in the US Senate and House of Representatives appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Hunter Horsley, the CEO of digital assets management firm, Bitwise, believes that the Donald Trump administration's deregulation of mergers and acquisitions could benefit the crypto industry. According to Horsley, consolidation by major companies will only make the decentralization that crypto offers more attractive.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he'd step down as prime minister and his party's leader, opening the chance for a crypto supporter to replace him.

Vice Chair of the Federal Reserve for Supervision Michael Barr, who has been adamant about a need for stablecoin regulation, will step down.

MoonPay, BitStaete, ZBD, and Hidden Road have acquired Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) licenses from regulators in the Netherlands to operate within the EU region. These licenses allow them to function across the 27-member bloc counties.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has once again made headlines by selling memecoins, generating a profit of over $100,000. According to blockchain tracking service Lookonchain, Buterin sold a range of memecoins he received for free, including DOG, ESTEE, and DINU, in exchange for Ethereum and USDC.

Guangzhou's action plan for the digital yuan highlights adoption in daily transactions, transportation, and trade. Key initiatives include pilot zones in Yuexiu, integration into metro payments, and cross-border trade facilitation. The post Guangzhou Expands Digital Yuan Pilot with New Action Plan for 2025 appeared first on Cryptonews.

Global crypto funds hit a record $44.2 billion in net inflows in 2024, with Bitcoin-based products contributing $38 billion.

The analyst explained that the ongoing bull cycle will likely end between this year's first and second quarters.

The crypto market surged to record levels in 2024, driven by institutional adoption, resulting in a new all-time high for bitcoin. Historic Market Cap for Cryptocurrencies The cryptocurrency market reached a significant market cap of $3.91 trillion in December 2024.

Crypto will reach a turning point when it becomes as useful for companies as the internet became in the 1990s, according to Animoca Brands' co-founder.

Learning to buy or sell effectively in the crypto market means you need to learn crypto trading strategies that work in this volatile market.

Sanctum plans to launch staking for its governance token, CLOUD, later this month, according to an official announcement.

Vietnamese police detained four suspects in Dong Nai Province for operating a Vietnamese crypto scam involving fake mining schemes and education materials. The group defrauded over 200 victims of $157,300, transferring proceeds to their wallets. Authorities continue cracking down on global crypto fraud networks. The post Vietnamese Police Arrest Four Suspects in Crypto Scam Amid Global Crackdown on Crypto-Linked Schemes appeared first on Cryptonews.

Digital asset prices may still see substantial gains before the market corrects, the analyst said.