The Ethereum co-founder warned that closed systems breed abuse and monopolies, urging open-source, verifiable infrastructure for healthcare, finance and voting. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin called for open-source, verifiable infrastructure across critical sectors, including healthcare, finance and governance, warning that centralized systems risk eroding trust and security. In a Wednesday blog post, Buterin argued that as digital infrastructure becomes embedded in everyday life, relying on closed, opaque systems increases the danger of abuse and monopolization. “The civilizations that gained the most from new waves of technology are not the ones who consumed the technology, but the ones who produced it,” Buterin wrote, adding that “openness and verifiability can fight against global balkanization.” Read more
US Commodity Futures Trading Commission acting chair Caroline Pham said her agency is looking to allow derivatives traders to post stablecoins and tokenized assets as collateral. The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission is looking to allow tokenized assets, including stablecoins, to be used in derivatives markets as collateral in a move supported by crypto executives. CFTC acting chair Caroline Pham said on Tuesday that her agency will “work closely with stakeholders” on the scheme and is encouraging feedback on using tokenized collateral in derivatives markets until Oct. 20. If implemented, stablecoins like USDC (USDC) and Tether (USDT) would be treated similarly to traditional collateral like cash or US Treasurys in regulated derivatives trading. Congress passed laws earlier this year regulating stablecoins, which have seen their adoption grow among financial institutions. Read more
Ian Calderon, a former California lawmaker and Bitcoiner, started his campaign for California governor as a long shot among several established candidates. Former California Assemblymember and Bitcoin advocate Ian Calderon has kicked off his campaign for California governor in 2026, entering a crowded and competitive race to replace Gavin Newsom. Calderon confirmed his bid for governor in a post to X on Tuesday, centering most of his promises around affordable homes, groceries and gas while positioning himself as a Bitcoin (BTC) proponent. “My generation pays bills on our phones, we send money to each other with Venmo and we save in Bitcoin — but the people running our government, they’re trying to use yesterday’s ideas to solve today’s problems, and it isn’t working,” he said. Read more