Weekly digest covering Fed rate hike, SEC tokenized-stock exemption, CoinEx shutdown, Circle's Arc mainnet launch with major validators, Deutsche Bank crypto custody plans, ECB intervention in Binance EU licensing, and NYSE 24/7 on-chain trading plans.
DeFi & Yields ·
The Federal Reserve increased its benchmark rate by 25 basis points in its first hike over three years, occurring as inflation remains elevated and the economy continues to expand. Separately, the SEC granted approval for a tokenized-stock trading exemption, while the CLARITY Act encountered defeat in a Senate vote, marking a setback for crypto-focused legislation in Congress. Exchange operator CoinEx announced it would cease operations after nearly nine years in business.
Infrastructure and institutional engagement advanced on multiple fronts: Circle rolled out its Arc mainnet with validators including BlackRock and Visa, while Deutsche Bank disclosed cryptocurrency custody capabilities under development. Regulatory dynamics shifted internationally, as the Wall Street Journal reported that ECB President Lagarde took direct action regarding Binance's application for EU licensing.
The NYSE moved forward with plans to enable continuous on-chain trading. The divergent outcomes—from legislative failure to institutional adoption and regulatory intervention—reflect ongoing tension between expansion and control in the digital-asset sector, leaving unclear how restrictive measures and market infrastructure buildout will ultimately interact.