Author: Vickie Helm

Dear President-elect Trump,In your keynote address at the Bitcoin conference in Nashville last year, you promised to make the United States the crypto capital of the world if re-elected to a second term. As you return to the Oval Office this Monday, we write to you as practicing members of the Cryptocurrency Law Bar to recommend regulatory policies that will help achieve that goal.The United States, built on the same foundation of individual freedom as cryptocurrencies, is naturally in a position to lead the world in the development of cryptocurrencies. Unfortunately, U.S. regulators have so far refused to adapt (or…

Virtually every bitcoiner might think they are excited by the concept of the US government obtaining BTC (and perhaps a basket of other crypto assets) and effectively ratifying it as a resultant global asset. But I count myself among a few holdouts where development is not considered positive for Bitcoin or the US government itself. There are eight reasons why you don’t support policies.What you can do is easily revertIf Bitcoiners want to sustain the reserve, they should want Trump to seek Congressional approval for the purchase (as is customary due to large spending). If it was done solely by…

Blockchain Analytics Firm Arkham Intelligence has launched a new tagging system on its platform, allowing users to track cryptocurrency transactions of influential people in the cryptocurrency space.The feature, announced in the X post, applies to people with over 100,000 followers on the microblog platform, labeling them as “key opinion leaders” or KOLS, and linking the associated wallet addresses.The new tag currently has 950 addresses. Among those identified are Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, Crypto Antrepreneur Justin Sun, Binance founder and former CEO Changpeng Zhao, Yomen Finance, Sonic Labs co-founder Andre Cronje, and US President Donald Trump.

As a lifelong Democrat and former Virginia governor, I always believed that our party should be on the side of growth, innovation and economic opportunity. That’s why I’m worried that too many Democrats are on the sidelines or are getting in the way of one of the most transformative financial innovations of our time: blockchain and cryptocurrency.Blockchain and Crypto are already driving job creation nationwide, from data centers and fintech startups to cybersecurity companies and developers working on decentralized infrastructure. This technology means more jobs, higher wages, and more money in people’s pockets, especially in communities that have been left…

Today’s “Crypto for Advisors” newsletter Kevin O’Leary, entrepreneur and investor Kevin O’Leary shares both his opinion and his paper on crypto investment, and how both have changed over time.MLTECH CEO Leo Mindyuk then answers questions about how daily investors can access these investments in “Ask An Expert to Experts.”- Sarah MortonRethinking Crypto Investing: Looking beyond digital assetsFrom garbage to money: Why code?In 2019, I made headlines by calling Bitcoin “garbage.” At the time, there were no regulations or oversights. It was chaos. The government was hostile and unsure of how to approach code. Now the scenery has completely changed.For days…

If an AI system were to successfully attack or destroy the cryptography of a well-regarded blockchain, even in the field of white-hat research, all the panic selling of cryptocurrencies that had occurred up to that moment would be dwarfed. If quantum computers destroy blockchain, we might all just close up shop. The whole point of blockchain would be forever undermined.The good news is that there is a clearly defined technology roadmap to avoid this. Some protocols already implement it, although not enough. But why are so many people lacking?This is a real and immediate threat, and the crypto industry is…

Cryptoassets have emerged as one of the fastest growing sectors in global finance, presenting significant opportunities for both retail and institutional investors. With European revenues expected to grow by more than 30% each year, Europe is well placed to take full advantage of the growth in this dynamic sector, but it must embrace scrutiny and adapt quickly or risk being left behind.The recent adoption of the Market in Crypto Assets (MiCA) Regulation by the European Union (EU) is a significant step forward in supporting the acceptance of the crypto industry on the continent and has helped establish Europe as a…

The world of cryptocurrencies has always had a strange relationship with privacy. Cypherpunk dates back to the 1990s, when cryptographers and activists spread a manifesto for using encryption to defeat government surveillance, and privacy has been treated as almost sacrosanct ever since. Eric Hughes, one of the founders of the cypherpunk movement, wrote in 1993 that “cypherpunks don’t wait for governments to protect their freedom; they write code.” Another early cypherpunk, John Gilmore, wanted assurances that would keep even the NSA at bay, “by physics and mathematics, not by law.” This radical spirit gave birth to Bitcoin and inspired coins…

A lot has happened this year in crypto-related policy. This year, Congress passed the first major encryption bill in U.S. history, and the president signed it. Federal regulators have significantly scaled back enforcement actions against crypto companies while announcing further rulemaking efforts aimed at revitalizing the industry. Companies themselves also feel more aggressive in launching new products and services in the United States.You’re reading State of Crypto, a CoinDesk newsletter that examines the intersection of cryptocurrencies and government. Click here to sign up for future editions.storyLast year, CoinDesk’s policy team explained what we want in 2025. Here’s how we explained…

Nearly a year ago, we published an open letter reflecting the views of crypto law regulators and outlining practical and achievable steps the next administration could take to make the United States the crypto capital of the world. The goal was not to promote cryptocurrencies as an ideology, but to convey the perspective of lawyers working in the field about how thoughtful regulatory policies can unleash innovation and ensure that the next generation of financial and internet infrastructure is built on American soil.On the anniversary of this letter, and with the Market Structure Bill in jeopardy, it is worth reflecting…