On July 14, 2025, U.S. banking regulators issued a joint statement clarifying risk management and legal expectations for banks handling crypto-asset safekeeping. While not introducing new rules, the guidance marks a shift to principles-based oversight, urging banks to independently assess and mitigate crypto-related risks in line with established safety and soundness standards.
On July 18, 2025, President Trump enacted the GENIUS Act, the first comprehensive crypto legislation in U.S. history. The law introduces rigorous rules for payment stablecoins, including mandatory federal or state approval, 1:1 reserve backing, and enhanced disclosure obligations. Digital asset service providers must fully comply by July 2028.
On May 29, 2025, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Corporation Finance issued a statement clarifying its view that certain types of protocol staking—a process used in proof-of-stake (PoS) blockchain networks—do not involve the offer and sale of securities under federal law.
Continue Reading SEC Staff Declares Certain Protocol Staking Not a Security Transaction
The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board) has withdrawn supervisory guidance for Board-supervised banks concerning crypto-asset and dollar token activities and Board expectations for these activities. The Board, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) also withdrew joint supervisory statements on crypto-asset activities and exposures.
In late April, at the government’s request, an Indiana federal judge put a final end to the prosecution of an Indiana man for allegations that he engaged in unlicensed money transmission (and related tax offenses) in connection with his operation of a virtual currency exchange from 2009 to 2013.
Continue Reading Charges Dropped Against Early Cryptocurrency Exchange Operator
President Trump has signed into law a bill that repeals Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations that required decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms to be treated as brokers for purposes of reporting customer transactions.
Continue Reading Congress Overturns IRS Reporting Rules for DeFi Platforms
On April 10, 2025, the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance issued a nonbinding statement explaining the general application of existing disclosure requirements under the federal securities laws to crypto asset
Continue Reading SEC Staff Offers Crypto Disclosure Guidelines
In a recent statement, the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance determined that certain types of stablecoins, specifically those designed to maintain a stable value relative to the U.S. dollar and backed by low-risk, liquid assets, do not constitute securities.
Continue Reading SEC Clarifies Stance on Reserve-Backed Stablecoins
![Bitcoin-gold-coins-with-wallet-close-up-Virtual-cryptocurrency-concept[1]](https://www.gtlaw-overheardontheblockchain.com/files/2022/02/Bitcoin-gold-coins-with-wallet-close-up-Virtual-cryptocurrency-concept1.jpg)
On April 7, 2025, U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a memorandum titled “Ending Regulation by Prosecution” (Blanche Memo), outlining a new Department of Justice approach to digital asset enforcement.
Continue Reading Justice Department Issues Memorandum Realigning DOJ’s Crypto Enforcement Efforts
The California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) on April 4, 2025, issued its formal notice of rulemaking for digital financial business regulation, following receipt of two sets of 2024 comments on its draft proposed rules for California’s “Digital Finance Assets Law” (DFAL) (AB 39 and SB 401, 2023).
Continue Reading California DFPI Issues Formal Rulemaking for Digital Financial Asset Regulation