SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce offered a candid, cautious optimism about the regulatory progress surrounding Bitcoin, highlighting a shift from early agency mishandling to more open engagement. While she welcomed the legitimizing effect of spot Bitcoin ETFs, she warned against sacrificing Bitcoin’s foundational ethos. “I’m not an advocate for any asset, but I’m an advocate for freedom,” she said, calling for principles-based regulation that adapts with technology. Peirce addressed ongoing questions around qualified custody, in-kind ETF redemptions, and peer-to-peer protocols, urging regulators to protect innovation and privacy without defaulting to surveillance. She affirmed that Bitcoin should not be forced into legacy regulatory molds, advocating for dual systems where individuals can choose between regulated and unregulated frameworks. “Come talk to us,” she told the audience, stressing industry engagement as key to future policy success that supports builders while preserving liberty.
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Castle has secured $1 million in an oversubscribed pre-seed round led by Boost VC and supported by Winklevoss Capital and others, aiming to simplify bitcoin treasury management for small and medium-sized businesses. The Miami-based startup integrates with tools like QuickBooks and Stripe to automate recurring bitcoin allocations and dynamically adjust strategies based on operational needs. “Castle is built to be invisible,” said CTO João Almeida, emphasizing ease of use. The platform offers features such as automatic purchases tied to cash thresholds and adjustable exposure settings to help businesses hedge against inflation. “We believe all businesses will begin upgrading to bitcoin over the next 10 years,” said CEO Stephen Cole. By targeting diverse industries with a free, no-fee solution, Castle positions itself as a turnkey financial layer for Main Street, expanding bitcoin’s role into an easy to adopt cornerstone of your balance sheet.
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The European Union is preparing to ease restrictions on dollar-backed stablecoins like USDC and USDT, a shift driven largely by momentum from the United States' advancing GENIUS Act, according to a Moody’s report. The EU's new guidance would allow foreign stablecoins to be treated equivalently to Europe-specific versions, overcoming prior barriers that required eurozone reserve backing. “What happened in the U.S. is reverberating across the globe,” said Moody’s analyst Cristiano Ventricelli. The move reflects growing pressure on the EU to avoid becoming a “flyover zone” in the digital asset economy, especially as the U.S. and Asia establish clearer regulatory frameworks. If enacted, the change could significantly expand dollar-denominated liquidity in Europe and reshape the competitive landscape for euro stablecoins, potentially spurring similar regulatory recalibrations in the UK, Asia, and the Middle East.
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A new Cygnal poll highlights the growing political influence of Bitcoin owners ahead of the 2026 U.S. midterms, identifying them as a key emerging voting bloc. Bitcoiners tend to be younger, wealthier, more educated, and lean Republican, with 59% favorability toward Donald Trump—compared to 47% among voters overall. “Republicans unlocked how to talk to the Bitcoin community and win on their issues,” said Cygnal President Brent Buchanan. Though less likely to vote than the general electorate, 76% of Bitcoin owners say they are more likely to support lawmakers who promote Bitcoin-friendly policies. Only 29% of Bitcoiners trust the federal government to regulate digital assets fairly, surfacing a critical challenge for policymakers. Current support for legislation like the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act remains tentative but suggests an opening for bipartisan appeal. As ownership trends broaden, Bitcoin’s relevance as both an economic and electoral force continues to expand.
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