GD Culture Group Authorizes Bitcoin Treasury Sales to Fund Buyback
The board of directors at GD Culture Group has approved the sale of Bitcoin from its corporate treasury, giving the company flexibility to fund its previously announced share repurchase program. The authorization allows sales in one or more transactions, though the firm is not obligated to liquidate any specific amount of BTC.
The move represents a shift from the company's May 2025 strategy, when it committed to building a cryptocurrency reserve that included Bitcoin and Official Trump Coin. Earlier this year, GDC introduced a stock buyback plan of up to $100 million over a six month period, and the new authorization creates an additional funding pathway for that initiative.
Shares of GDC climbed more than 24% to close at $4.13 following the announcement, reflecting a strong market reaction despite broader weakness across digital assets.
GDC debut its Bitcoin treasury after it purchased 7, 500 $BTC by acquiring Pallas Capital Holding for $875 million in September 2025. Bitcoin was trading in the range of $109, 000 to $117, 000 at that moment, which was near the market highs. The transaction initially weighed on the company's stock, which declined roughly 28% after the deal was disclosed.
Recent market conditions have pressured corporate Bitcoin holders. BTC has fallen toward $60,000, more than 50% below its all time high above $126,000. Based on current prices, GDC's 7,500 BTC holdings are valued at approximately $517.5 million, compared with a market capitalization of around $236.7 million after the latest stock surge.
The company's multiple on net asset value currently stands near 0.42, indicating it trades at a discount relative to the value of its Bitcoin reserves. The authorization to sell BTC signals a more flexible capital strategy as management balances treasury exposure with shareholder returns during a volatile market cycle. #bitcoin $BTC
Is the 10AM Bitcoin Sell-Off Real? Examining the Jane Street Claims
Was Jane Street Dumping $BTC Daily? Bitcoin has just taken back the $67, 000 to $68, 000 range with a sharp breakout that slashed a wave of short positions and added more than $100 billion to its market capitalization within 24 hours. Coincidentally with the rally, a popular narrative resurfaced on crypto social media: the so called 10AM dump had suddenly ceased, and some users accused Jane Street as the supposed force that had been bringing the selling pressure. However, does any solid proof exist that Jane Street was on a daily basis systematically dumping Bitcoin at 10:00 AM Eastern Time? Let’s separate observation from assumption. What Is the “10AM Dump”? The “10AM dump” is an informal trader term describing a recurring pattern where $BTC often sold off around 10:00 AM ET. That time window matters because: US equity markets open at 9:30 AM ET The first hour typically carries the highest liquidity Major US macroeconomic data is often released at 8:30 AM or 10:00 AM ETF flows and institutional hedging adjustments frequently occur during this period Many traders observed that overnight strength during Asia and European sessions would sometimes reverse shortly after the US open. Over time, this repeated behavior evolved into a narrative that a large institutional player was deliberately selling into that liquidity pocket. However, elevated volatility around the US open is common across asset classes. It is not unique to crypto. Why Was 10AM Important This Time? What made this session different was that Bitcoin did not sell off during the usual window. Instead: BTC broke through resistance Shorts were liquidated Momentum accelerated Price reclaimed key technical levels When a widely watched intraday pattern fails to appear, traders often interpret it as a signal in itself. The absence of expected selling can suggest: Selling pressure has been absorbed Positioning has flipped A short squeeze is underway Liquidity above resistance is thin But a broken pattern does not automatically confirm that prior moves were caused by coordinated manipulation. What Is the Lawsuit About? The legal narrative stems from the collapse of Terraform Labs, the company behind the failed Terra ecosystem including TerraUSD. Terraform has made allegations within litigation that certain trading firms, including Jane Street, engaged in structured trading activity tied to UST during its peg defense period. Important context: These are legal allegations within an ongoing dispute There has been no court ruling establishing Bitcoin market manipulation The claims relate to UST and Terra related mechanics, not proven daily BTC dumping There is currently no verified evidence showing that Jane Street executed systematic daily Bitcoin sell programs at 10AM. Was Jane Street Dumping BTC Daily? Objectively, there is no confirmed proof of coordinated daily Bitcoin dumping by Jane Street. More common explanations for repeated 10AM volatility include: ETF hedging adjustments Market maker gamma positioning Options expiry dynamics Liquidity concentration at US market open Algorithmic portfolio rebalancing Scheduled macroeconomic data releases Large quantitative trading firms often choose to trade during peak liquidity windows for the reason that their trading becomes more efficient. That by itself does not infer manipulation. What Caused Probably the Recent Bitcoin Price Rally? The recent breakout aligns more closely with: A short squeeze triggered by crowded positioning A liquidity vacuum above resistance Heavy derivative imbalance Broader macro uncertainty Institutional participation during US hours When markets are heavily skewed to one side, the absence of expected selling can fuel rapid upside cascades. That structure fits the rally more convincingly than the idea that a single large seller suddenly disappeared. Final Verdict The “10AM dump” appears to be a trader observed pattern, not documented proof of coordinated daily manipulation. The lawsuit involving Terraform and Jane Street concerns Terra related events, not established systematic Bitcoin selling. So far, the available evidence does not support the claim that Jane Street was dumping BTC every day at 10AM. In markets, narratives move quickly. Evidence usually moves slower. And at this stage, the evidence does not confirm the 10AM dumping theory.
A governance clash within $AAVE has intensified after Aave Chan Initiative founder Marc Zeller released a sweeping audit of Aave Labs ahead of a proposed $51 million funding vote. In response, Aave Labs published its own performance data and counterarguments, deepening divisions over transparency, revenue allocation, and long term accountability between the DAO and the operating entity. At the center of the debate is the "Aave Will Win" proposal, which seeks $51 million in funding for $AAVE Labs. Token holders are now evaluating what deliverables, reporting standards, and governance safeguards would accompany such a mandate. Zeller’s audit revisits previous funding sources, including the 2017 token sale, venture backing, and DAO contributions, arguing that new capital requests must be tied to clearly measurable outputs. Swap fee allocation has become a flashpoint. The audit claims roughly $5.5 million in swap fees flowed to the Labs maintained front end rather than the DAO, framing it as a misalignment in value distribution. Aave Labs insists that these fees emanated from a privately operated interface and were not protocol level revenues controlled by token holders. The dispute highlights a more general structural tension typical for DeFi: what is the right balance between token holder rights and the autonomy of contributors? There have also been worries about how the governance process is conducted. A few people from the community felt that the recent proposals were ill, timed and too wide in scope. They stated that token holders should be given more time and better disclosures to evaluate major funding decisions. The governance forum is currently debating an addendum that would put in place more stringent conflict of interest provisions as well as a requirement for disclosure of new proposals. Market situation brings about another dimension. AAVE has been hovering around the $120 level, and technical signals depict a slight weakness along with increased volatility. Although price movements don't decide governance results, the perception of the openness of funding and the quality of its execution may have an impact on how participants weigh risk shortly. Another focal point is Horizon, $AAVE real world asset initiative. The audit questions its net economics and suggests that incentives and non, performing positions might have led to exaggerations of headline revenue figures. In case, these allegations are true, the DAO may be driven to enhance the strictness of its reporting standards, further define KPIs, and rethink the subsidy schemes tied to RWA expansion On the flip side, in South Korea, regulatory changes are increasingly becoming the main topic of discussion. The legislators are moving towards raising the disclosure requirements for crypto influencers on social media to such an extent that they may be required to reveal not only their holdings but also the payments they receive for the assets they promote. The breach of such rules may result in penalties at par with those for capital market offenses, which is a sign of a wider effort to establish formal standards for the promotion of digital assets. What lies ahead for Aave is how governance is going to change in reaction to the $51 million proposal, not just whether it will be approved. The decision will determine the extent to which DAOs will have to consider changes to their solutions for raising funds, giving ownership of the front end, and maintaining transparency in a DeFi world that is becoming more and more under the microscope. #DAO
549 Billion SHIB Hits Exchanges as Selling Pressure Builds
On the one hand, 549 billion $SHIB tokens have been shifted onto exchanges, which has once again stirred up worries about Shiba Inu's price stability in the near term. The bulk transfer coincides with a period when the token is undergoing a prolonged downtrend, thus getting worse the fears that the supply available on trading platforms might become a further drag on price movement.
On chain data shows a noticeable jump in exchange held balances, a metric often watched for clues about potential liquidation risk. While inflows do not automatically signal immediate selling, the timing matters. Here, the transfers coincide with a downtrend on the daily chart indicated by lower highs and lower lows, thus deepening the vulnerability of the already unstable technical structure.
Price action continues to struggle beneath declining moving averages, which are acting as dynamic resistance. Recent rebound attempts have faded near local resistance zones, where sellers have repeatedly stepped in to cap upside momentum. Volume patterns also suggest that buying pressure has not meaningfully strengthened, limiting the market's ability to absorb the expanding tradable supply.
Liquidity conditions appear thinner compared to earlier recovery phases, when stronger demand could offset heavy inflows without disrupting structure. Now, with momentum indicators staying subdued across several timeframes, the risk balance tilts to caution. Market participants are closely monitoring the immediate support levels, because a clear break in either side could lead to more volatile swings with selling pressure returning.
Unless exchange balances begin to stabilize or price structure shows clear signs of improvement, $SHIB is likely to remain vulnerable to sharp swings within the prevailing downtrend.
FCA Selects Four Firms for Stablecoin Sandbox Ahead of 2026 UK Trials
The Financial Conduct Authority in the UK has picked four companies that will test innovative products regulated with stablecoins in its new regulatory sandbox. The exercise, planned to start in early 2026, will explore the issuance of stablecoins in alignment with newly proposed rules for such operations.
From 20 applicants, after the review, the FCA decided to go with Monee Financial Technologies, ReStabilise, Revolut, and VVTX as the first batch. The selection includes various types of stablecoin use cases in the domains of payments, settlements, and trading infrastructure. The companies will be subjected to stricter regulations and operate in a significantly more controlled environment. At the same time, they will bear defined reporting and compliance requirements.
The sandbox program will revolve around topics such as reserve management, governance standards, liquidity controls, and settlement processes. The companies will be able to test their products and services being guided by regulations and supervised by the regulators. Eventually, such a process will help the FCA conduct a thorough operational risk assessment, and along with that, identify any policy issues that might remain before the publication of the final regulatory framework.
The initiative forms part of the UK's broader effort to modernize payment systems while maintaining financial stability. Findings from the 2026 trials are expected to shape the country's final stablecoin framework, with the FCA aiming to balance innovation with strong consumer and market protections.
Gold Extends Rally as JP Morgan Lifts 2026 Target to $6,300
Gold prices went up on Wednesday as traders got worried about renewed trade tensions, and also because JP Morgan came out with a strong forecast. Futures rose 0.6% to $5, 205.80 per ounce, and spot gold gained around 0.7% after a short, term fall earlier in the week.
The change was in line with President Donald Trump's State of the Union speech, where he stood by his tariff strategy and indicated trade policy will not be changed. A new 10% global import tariff was implemented on Tuesday under Section 122 authority after the Supreme Court had ruled the earlier duties unlawful. The White House is said to be getting ready to raise the rate to 15%, thus adding even more uncertainty for the markets.
JP Morgan also contributed to the rally when it raised its gold price target to $6, 300 an ounce for the end of 2026 and increased its long, term forecast to $4, 500. The bank pointed to continual demand from central banks and investors, a slightly weaker U.S. dollar, as the main reasons for the metal's performance.
Gains were partially tempered by interest rate expectations after two Federal Reserve officials signaled little urgency to ease policy. A higher for longer rate outlook normally disappoints non yielding assets like gold. However, at the same time, geopolitical events, such as the scheduled U.S., Iran nuclear talks in Geneva, continue to be watched by the market.
Other metals also advanced. Silver price was up by more than 3% to $90.44 per ounce, and the price of platinum also went up by 7% to $2, 340.10. Copper gained slightly with the London benchmark futures going over $13, 000 per ton as the demand in China showed initial signs of recovery, however, the high stock levels may hamper further tightening in the market.
As of Wednesday morning, spot gold traded near $5,185 per ounce, maintaining upward momentum amid ongoing trade and macroeconomic uncertainty.
Crypto Wallets for AI Agents Raise New Legal Questions, Says Electric Capital
Developers have started equipping crypto wallets to AI agents as they become more autonomous, enabling software to have assets, pay for services, trade tokens, and even hire other agents. The legal framework is still a long way from being settled while the technical infrastructure is falling into place.
At NEARCON 2026, Electric Capital's Avichal Garg described the moment as historically significant. "What happens if there's not a human behind it at all?” he asked. "It's some piece of code that owns a wallet, executing code to make more money… How does liability work in that case? I actually don't know".
Blockchains make this possible by providing programmable money, instant settlement, and global access. Pairing these capabilities with autonomous AI agents creates a new kind of economic participant: software that can think and transact independently. Garg compared the development to the 19th-century creation of the limited liability corporation, which unlocked industrial-scale growth by reducing participation costs.
Yet enforcement remains unresolved. "You can't punish an AI", Garg said. "You can turn them off, but they don't care". As autonomous agents increasingly trade, lend, hire, and scale businesses onchain, policymakers will face a fundamental question: who is liable when software with its own wallet acts independently?
NRG Energy Doubles Capacity, Secures $1.15B Financing, Lifts 2026 Guidance
Following disclosure by NRG Energy (NRG) of its plans to grow its capacity by 13 GW and the update on Texas Energy Fund projects, the stock price of the company rose. The statement together with the better than expected 2025 results has resulted in a 2026 upgraded financial forecast and the affirmation of NRG's role in the growing U.S. power market.
During the year, the company achieved its adjusted net income 2025 at $1.6 billion with EPS of $8.24 thus remaining on the track of expected adjusted EPS growth rate of 14% or more till 2030. Adjusted EBITDA rose to $4.1 billion, the increase being mainly organic due to the improvement of margins and stores cost control in the performance of regional operations.
NRG has bought 18 natural, gas and dual, fuel plants totaling capacity 13 GW in nine states thereby, doubling its generation capacity. The acquisition also encompassed the demand response platform of CPower, which allows the company to have a load management flexibility and, therefore, it can meet the increasing power needs of its commercial customers.
The Texas Energy Fund helped to get three projects, with a total capacity of 1.5 GW, off the ground, by providing $1.15 billion in low, interest loans. The commercial operation of the Greens Bayou facility is slated for June 2026.
Besides that, the company, after its decision to roll out the virtual power plant program to a larger scale, has set a target of 650 MW by 2030 and 1 GW by 2035.
NRG closed the year 2025 with $9.6 billion liquidity and confirmed its 2026 capital plan, which has a commitment of $1 billion in share repurchases and $400 million in dividends. Through a mixture of strategic acquisitions, operational growth, and effective financing, NRG is well, positioned to continue its expansion in the U.S. energy market.
Privacy-First DeFi Cluster Debuts at Ethereum Foundation
The $ETH Foundation has formed a new DeFi team under its App Relations division to advance privacy-focused protocols and ecosystem collaboration. The cluster will support projects aligned with open-source, self-custody, and decentralized governance principles.
Charles St. Louis, former CEO of DELV and ex-MakerDAO governance architect, joins as DeFi protocol expert, while Ivan, co-founder of Gearbox Protocol, will serve as coordinator. The team will provide research support, networking, and showcase platforms for projects exploring areas such as user-controlled AI, ZK credit lending, futarchy DAOs, and on-chain futures.
The Foundation also revealed the FOCIL protocol upgrade to be released in the second half of 2026. The purpose of the update is to enhance resistance to censorship, for instance, blocks must contain recognized transactions from validators that have been randomly chosen, thus no single authority can interfere with the matter.
Ethereum Co-Founder Vitalik Buterin outlined additional initiatives to improve user experience and security, including transaction simulation features, multi-signature authorization, spending limits, and integration of "native rollups" to enhance Layer 2 scalability. The cluster reflects $ETH ongoing commitment to privacy, decentralization, and the long-term growth of its DeFi ecosystem.
21Shares Brings Spot Sui Exposure to Nasdaq with New TSUI ETF
21Shares has launched TSUI, the first U.S.-listed spot ETF providing exposure to Sui, on Nasdaq. The fund allows investors to access Sui through traditional brokerage accounts without managing wallets or using leverage, offering a regulated and simplified route into the blockchain’s growing ecosystem.
TSUI operates as a non-leveraged product and does not provide direct token ownership. While it is not structured under the Investment Company Act of 1940, it offers market participants a new way to gain Sui exposure with reduced operational friction. The ETF builds on 21Shares’ existing crypto offerings and marks a strategic step in the firm’s U.S. expansion.
Sui’s network growth has driven demand for investment products like TSUI. The Layer 1 blockchain supports scalable applications, decentralized exchanges, and stablecoin transfers, leveraging its object-centric architecture and the Move programming language. Rising network activity has fueled interest from investors and prompted additional spot ETF launches tied to the token.
TSUI's presentation also touches on the overall move of the regulated crypto ETFs towards becoming popular in the U.S. market. As the rivalry heats up, companies are more and more coming up with the provision of both leveraged and non, leveraged strategies, hence, giving more choices to the investors who are looking for the exposure to digital assets via the conventional channels.
Polymarket Users Bet on Meteora Ahead of ZachXBT Crypto Investigation
Users on prediction market platform Polymarket are wagering on which crypto platform will be the next target of online investigator ZachXBT, who has built a reputation exposing scams and alleged insider trading. As of Tuesday, contracts indicated a 29% chance that decentralized liquidity platform Meteora would be named in what ZachXBT described as a "major investigation" into one of crypto’s most profitable businesses.
ZachXBT's investigation reportedly involves allegations that multiple employees at an unnamed exchange abused internal data for insider trading over an extended period. Polymarket users have been able to bet on a range of potential targets, including Meteora, MEXC, Axiom, and Wintermute, with over $7 million wagered on the event so far. The platform's odds reflect user sentiment rather than insider knowledge of the investigation.
The activity comes amid increasing regulatory scrutiny of prediction markets in the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chair Michael Selig recently stated that the CFTC has "exclusive jurisdiction" over prediction markets, comparing them to derivatives. Platforms such as Polymarket and Kalshi have faced lawsuits at the state level over alleged illegal gambling, but the CFTC has intervened to assert federal oversight. Polymarket is also challenging Massachusetts enforcement actions, emphasizing that state authorities lack jurisdiction over its platform.
This story highlights both the growing influence of crypto sleuths like ZachXBT and the regulatory tensions surrounding prediction markets as these platforms gain attention for high-stakes crypto events.
Stablecoin Reward Dispute Nears Resolution as Senate Prepares for Broader Crypto Debate
Negotiations over stablecoin incentives are close to a major breakthrough with administration officials determined to settle one of the last issues holding back the crypto legislation in general. With in, depth discussions speeding up, the lawmakers are working toward having a deal ready before March 1 enabling Senate debate on market structure reforms. The White House organized a series of talks between the banking industry and representatives of the digital asset world, using the draft legislation as a negotiation tool to help locate differences. The officials concentrated on establishing a very clear distinction between interest, style rewards which should be banned and the kind of incentives that are allowed and are linked to user activity, e.g., transaction based benefits. People who know about the negotiations have said that the payment for simply holding the asset is not going to be accepted in the new framework. Banks have pointed out that in general the stablecoin rewards could cause the depositors to move their money away from the banks and thereby put banks under liquidity pressure. The crypto companies have answered by saying that if the rules are made too tight, it would be like killing the goose that lays the golden eggs and the banking sector would become even more privileged. The draft provisions being examined would provide regulators with the instruments to take a closer look at those programs which are aimed at getting around the rules and to the authority to impose penalties if the situation merits it. Resolving the dispute over stablecoins is seen as a key step to unlocking a wider legislative package. Members of Congress have indicated that before they can go ahead with comprehensive reforms of the market structure, they need to know how stablecoins will be treated. The Senate Banking Committee will likely return to its discussion of the bill markup as soon as the final wording is agreed. On a different note, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has changed its internal guidance to permit broker, dealers to include most high, quality stablecoin holdings as part of their capital requirements, albeit with a small discount. Although this change was made via staff channels rather than a formal rulemaking, it nevertheless offers firms greater operational leeway when incorporating stablecoins into their trading and custody arrangements. As talks heat up and new drafts are being exchanged, the sides feel that they are close to a deal. Signed, off agreement on stablecoin incentives could be the key to solving the crypto legislation puzzle and setting federal action in motion in the coming weeks.
Trump Shuts Door on Sam Bankman-Fried Pardon, White House Confirms
The White House has affirmed that President Donald Trump will not pardon FTX founder Sam Bankman, Fried, thereby rejecting the speculation that the convicted executive might get a presidential pardon. This comes while Bankman, Fried carries on with appeals after he was found guilty of fraud and conspiracy in 2024.
White House insiders reveal that Trumps stance is consistent with his previous moves, i.e. pardoning a few other key players in the digital asset sector such as Changpeng Zhao and Arthur Hayes. Earlier, in an interview, Trump had mentioned that a clemency for Bankman, Fried was not on the table and now the administration has restated that position.
Bankman, Fried, while serving his sentence at a federal prison, was said to have made an attempt to reshape his political image by backing conservative agendas and blaming the judiciary. His change was an absolute turnaround of his previous political engagement when he had donated $5.2 million to Joe Biden in the 2020 election cycle. Nevertheless, the White House has basically made a strong signal that it is their final decision not to grant him any type of clemency and they will not be revisiting the issue.
In March 2024, Bankman, Fried was convicted of various counts of fraud and conspiracy to defraud customer funds at FTX. The exchange was at one point valued at $32 billion but had to file for bankruptcy in November 2022 following the revelation of financial mismanagement. The fallout not only caused the disappearance of billions of customer assets but also seriously damaged the trust in centralized crypto platforms.
The case led to increased regulatory attention over the digital asset industry and has been used as a reason for more stringent oversight. Now that clemency has been ruled out, Bankman, Frieds legal fate will hang on the result of his latest appeals.
SEC Clears WisdomTree for 24/7 Blockchain Trading in Major Tokenized Treasury Milestone
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has approved a request from WisdomTree allowing its Treasury Money Market Digital Fund to trade at a fixed $1 intraday price with a dealer, marking a significant step forward for tokenized real world assets. The decision enables continuous, around the clock trading with instant blockchain settlement while preserving the mutual fund’s existing regulatory structure.
Previously, investors in the fund, which trades under the ticker WTGXX, could only transact at the end of the day based on its net asset value. Under the new structure, a broker dealer will act as principal and trade from its own inventory on a 24/7 basis. This allows investors to access liquidity at any time without altering the core framework of the fund itself.
WisdomTree said the change required exemptive relief from the SEC and regulatory clearance from FINRA to expand the permitted activities of its broker dealer subsidiary. Because transactions occur against dealer inventory rather than directly with the fund, the structure maintains compliance with traditional mutual fund rules while introducing blockchain based settlement.
The firm also introduced continuous dividend accrual, allocating interest based on how long a wallet holds shares during the day. By tracking wallet activity onchain, the model ensures investors receive yield even when shares are transferred intraday.
The approval adds momentum to the rapidly expanding tokenized U.S. Treasury market, which now exceeds $10 billion in onchain assets. Major players in the space include BlackRock through its BUIDL fund launched with Securitize, as well as products tied to Circle and Ondo Finance.
With this move, WisdomTree joins a growing group of asset managers leveraging blockchain infrastructure to modernize settlement and liquidity for traditional financial instruments, signaling continued regulatory openness to tokenized capital market products within the existing framework.
Federal Reserve Moves to Eliminate 'Reputation Risk' in Bank Oversight Amid Crypto Debanking Concern
The US Federal Reserve has unveiled a formal proposal to eliminate "reputation risk" as one of the factors in its bank supervisory framework, which is seen by many as a direct answer to the continued cry for crypto debanking. The proposition will set in law the previous moves of the central bank and thus, it will be illegal for supervisors to pressure financial institutions to disengage from lawful but politically disfavored businesses, including crypto firms. The regulation introduces 60 days for public comments and aims at making the Fed's prior decision to exempt reputation risk from bank examinations a matter of record. It has been long argued by the detractors of this notion that it gave regulators a backdoor way to indirectly force banks to cut ties with certain industries, most notably crypto, without having to cite explicit safety and soundness reasons. Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle W. Bowman revealed that the Fed has gotten reports that worry them about supervisors misusing reputation risk to indirectly prompt banks to terminate customers whose political views, religious beliefs, or engagement in lawful but disfavored sectors such as digital assets do not favor them. She underlined that discrimination on such grounds is illegal and off the Fed's supervisory framework. The proposal follows similar action by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which previously removed reputational risk considerations from its oversight of national banks. The Fed initially announced in July that it would no longer factor reputation risk into examinations, and the current rulemaking would formally embed that change. Debanking in the crypto sector has been widely reported. In a recent legal response, JPMorgan confirmed it closed more than 50 accounts tied to President Donald Trump in early 2021, though it did not disclose a reason. Separately, Strike CEO Jack Mallers stated in November 2025 that his accounts at JPMorgan were closed without explanation. According to a January memo to the Board of Governors, the proposal would explicitly prohibit the Fed from encouraging or compelling banks to deny services to customers engaged in lawful business activities deemed politically sensitive. The board also indicated that permitted payment stablecoin issuers may be included within the definition of covered banking organizations following separate rulemaking processes, a development that could directly impact crypto native firms seeking banking access. Public comments on the proposal are due within 60 days of its publication on Feb. 23, marking a significant step in the evolving regulatory approach to crypto and banking access in the United States.