Regulatory Shifts and Policy Power Plays
A wave of regulatory and legal developments shaped the crypto space this week.
In the US, SEC Commissioner Paul Atkins is scheduled to deliver a keynote on tokenization on May 12, joined by representatives from Fidelity, Nasdaq, BlackRock, and Invesco. This signals ongoing institutional interest in turning real-world assets into digital tokens.
Meanwhile, Hester Peirce, another SEC official, openly criticized the commission’s handling of Bitcoin ETF approvals, calling the process “very poorly managed” and urging patience for future ETFs. Despite the messy past, optimism remains.
And finally — the Ripple vs. SEC case is officially over. A joint settlement was filed: Ripple will pay only $50 million, and $125 million in frozen fines will be released. This is being seen as a win for Ripple and may breathe life into XRP‘s price action.
On the legislative front, the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) confirmed that banks may legally buy and sell crypto assets, as long as third-party custody and risk management practices are in place.
In Europe, the tone is turning strict: the EU announced a ban on anonymous crypto accounts by 2027, with all transactions over €1,000 flagged for monitoring. That includes a planned ban on privacy coins. This could reshape DeFi access in Europe.
Stablecoins, Tokenization, and TradFi Bridging
This week also saw moves toward bridging traditional finance with crypto:
- Robinhood is building a blockchain network in Europe to support tokenized US securities, targeting retail investors.
- Meta (formerly Facebook) is exploring stablecoin payments after a 3-year pause.
- The USD1 stablecoin, launched just two months ago and tied to Trump’s ecosystem, climbed to become the 7th largest stablecoin, now at 2.2 billion USDT in market cap.
Source | Coinmarketcap
- Tether could soon fall under US jurisdiction if a new stablecoin bill — the Genius Act — passes. This would apply regardless of Tether’s offshore status.
Also, Trump’s World Liberty Financial project launched an airdrop voting mechanism using Snapshot, hinting at a broader role for WLFI holders.
Ethereum Progress and Market Activity
The Ethereum Pectra upgrade launched quietly on May 7. There were no major interface changes, price movements, or hype — but that’s the point. Ethereum is playing the long game, and this update reinforces its focus on stability and incremental progress.
That said, ETH/BTC had its strongest daily move since May 2021, surging +14.7%, possibly reflecting renewed confidence in Ethereum post-upgrade.
Source | Tradingview
Gas fees on BNB Chain were reduced 10x, likely aiming to compete better with Ethereum Layer 2s.
And over at Sui, the network hit 180 million total accounts, growing 38.56% in just the past month — a sign that adoption may be outpacing headlines.
Source | suiscan
Institutional Inflows and Derivatives Expansion
Two major flows shook the market:
- Cumulative Bitcoin ETF inflows reached a record $40.62 billion.
Source | checkonchain
- Bitwise filed an S-1 form with the SEC to launch a NEAR ETF, signaling interest beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum.
In parallel, Coinbase is acquiring Deribit — one of the largest crypto options exchanges — in a $2.9 billion deal. This marks Coinbase’s bold move into derivatives and hints at institutional demand for structured products.
Global Politics and Economic Tensions
The week was heavy with geopolitical moves:
- The India-Pakistan conflict escalated, with Pakistan reportedly targeting Indian cities including Amritsar and Jammu.
- China increased its gold reserves for the sixth straight month and injected 1 trillion yuan into markets as part of quantitative easing.
- The US Federal Reserve held interest rates steady, which angered Trump. He slammed Fed Chair Jerome Powell as “a fool” and claimed the US economy is recovering not due to the Fed, but thanks to his tariff strategy.
Source | TruthSocial @realDonaldTrump
- Trump also announced a major trade deal with the UK, calling it “comprehensive,” with more deals expected soon. Meanwhile, the EU is threatening $100 billion in tariffs on US goods if ongoing trade talks fail.
- US Commerce Secretary Lutnick stated there’s “no chance” of halting China tariffs. This sets the stage for further economic friction.
Public Figures, Scandals, and Security Alerts
It wasn’t just governments making noise:
- Warren Buffett made a cryptic remark suggesting the US may soon want to “own other currencies” — hinting at deeper macro concerns.
- Trump, in an unexpected turn, said he’s open to a “tiny” tax increase on the rich — possibly returning the top tax rate to 39.6%.
- Alex Mashinsky, the founder of Celsius, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for crypto fraud — a final chapter in the lending platform’s collapse.
Alex Mashinsky leaving court on Thursday after he was sentenced to 12 years in prison © Yuki Iwamura/Bloomberg
- Over 45 million USDT was stolen from Coinbase users via social engineering scams, per researcher ZachXBT. It’s a stark reminder to never share wallet credentials or connect to suspicious links.
- Finally, New Hampshire and Arizona became the first two US states to pass Bitcoin reserve legislation, giving crypto a formal place in state-level fiscal policy.
Events to Watch
- Trump is teasing a major TRUMP announcement on May 22 in Washington D.C.
- JD Vance will speak at Bitcoin 2025 conference.
- Paul Atkins’ tokenization panel happens on May 12.
- A major Saudi investment summit will include Elon Musk, Larry Fink, and Mark Zuckerberg.
Final Thoughts
This week was proof that crypto is no longer operating in a vacuum. From stablecoin regulation and ETF momentum to geopolitical showdowns and social media scams, it’s clear: what happens in crypto now echoes across the real world — and vice versa.
As always, this is not financial advice. Please do your own research and protect your assets carefully. Stay informed, stay alert.
The line between crypto and traditional finance keeps getting thinner — and this week, it nearly disappeared. From courtrooms and ETF filings to wars and trade deals, digital assets are now part of bigger global conversations.
But that also means the stakes are higher. Regulation is no longer just coming — it’s here. Whether it’s the EU banning privacy coins, the US extending its legal reach to offshore stablecoins, or China pushing its economy with aggressive easing, these moves ripple directly into crypto markets.
And yes, Ethereum quietly upgrading with no drama might not trend on social media, but it’s exactly this kind of calm, consistent improvement that makes a protocol durable in the long run.
If you’re reading this and thinking of jumping into anything — a new token, an ETF, or just connecting your wallet somewhere — remember this: Millionero believes education is your first tool. Nothing here is financial advice. We’ll never tell you to buy, sell, or ape into anything. The crypto space is exciting, but it’s risky, fast-moving, and unforgiving if you don’t do your own research.
So take a breath. Stay curious. Stay skeptical. And stay safe.
More deep dives and news coverage are always available on Millionero’s Blog.