Bitcoin reacted to Iran war news while stock markets were closed, showing how crypto is becoming a real-time gauge of macro risk. Crypto markets became the first outlet for investor reaction after US and Israeli strikes on Iran rattled global sentiment over the weekend. At around 7:30 am (UTC) on Saturday, or in the wee hours of Wall Street, US President Donald Trump posted a video to announce that the US and Israel had launched attacks against Iran. Bitcoin (BTC) immediately reacted and dropped to around $63,000. Meanwhile, traders rushed to crypto-native platforms to trade commodities futures while traditional markets remained closed. Read more
Lawmakers asked if stablecoins could drain bank deposits and threaten financial stability, while Coinbase and Innovate Finance warned that strict regulation risks driving innovation offshore. The United Kingdom House of Lords grilled Coinbase’s top international policy executive on Wednesday over whether stablecoins would drain bank deposits and add new risks to the UK financial system, pressing him on everything from Silicon Valley Bank‑style runs to illicit finance and Know Your Customer (KYC) rules. During the Lords’ stablecoins inquiry, Tom Duff Gordon, Coinbase’s vice president for international policy, insisted that fully reserved, regulated stablecoins were “safer than uninsured bank deposits” because they are backed one‑to‑one by cash and high‑quality government securities and can be redeemed at par. He argued that stablecoins could materially reduce payment costs, speed up cross‑border payments, and underpin new artificial intelligence driven “agentic” payment flows. Read more
South Korea’s government and ruling party reportedly agreed on a proposal to cap major shareholder stakes in crypto exchanges at 20%, with limited exemptions for new operators. South Korea’s government and ruling party have reportedly agreed on a plan to cap the ownership stakes of major shareholders in domestic crypto exchanges at 20%. The Democratic Party of Korea’s digital asset task force and the Financial Services Commission (FSC) agreed to set the maximum shareholding limit at 20% after discussions, according to a Wednesday report by local media outlet Herald Economy. However, regulators may allow exceptions of up to 34% for new businesses through an enforcement decree. The threshold references the Commercial Act’s 33.3% veto threshold in general shareholders’ meetings, per the report. Read more
XRP analysts highlighted the potential for a rebound to $1.95 as the price broke above a symmetrical triangle amid persistent institutional demand. XRP (XRP) price is up 5.5% over 24 hours and 3% in seven days, trading around $1.40 on Wednesday. This puts XRP in a position for further gains backed by several market and technical factors, according to analysts. Key takeaways: XRP’s potential to rise to $1.95 is backed by persistent demand from US-based ETFs. Read more