Regulation

CoinDesk reports that Kentucky is advancing regulatory legislation targeting prediction markets, potentially making the state a red state that clashes with the Trump team on policy. The Trump family has recently been deeply involved in prediction market platforms, and this regulatory move has raised industry concerns about political interference. Analysts note that prediction markets, as an important application track in the crypto industry, will affect the broader digital asset market landscape. ...

Illinois added a 0.2% tax on digital asset holding and transfers in its state budget at the last minute, drawing strong opposition from the crypto industry.

Major U.S. gaming industry groups sent a letter to the Senate calling for an explicit ban on sports and casino-style prediction markets in the crypto market structure bill under consideration.

World Liberty Financial, backed by the Trump family, is nearing approval for a federal trust bank charter from the OCC, allowing it to issue and redeem its USD1 stablecoin under a single federal regulator.

The IMF warns that stablecoin adoption in Nigeria is testing monetary and regulatory framework limits, cautioning that digital dollarization risks could undermine monetary policy sovereignty in emerging economies.

Core Summary Zimbabwe enacted Statutory Instrument 99 of 2026 on June 12, requiring all virtual asset service providers operating in the country to register with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s Financial Intelligence Unit. This marks a shift from the country’s eight-year-old crypto ban to formal regulation. Details Eight years ago, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe prohibited domestic banks from handling cryptocurrency. The new regulation requires all crypto firms to complete registration and submit to anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing reviews. This aligns with a broader African trend toward crypto regulation, with Nigeria and Kenya also advancing similar frameworks. ...

The US has imposed sanctions on multiple Iranian cryptocurrency exchanges, alleging they facilitate terror financing and money laundering. The sanctions are part of broader economic pressure on Iran. Cryptocurrencies have become a key channel for sanctions evasion due to their decentralized nature, prompting regulators worldwide to tighten monitoring.

Trump Administration Factions Clash Over AI Policy Direction Internal divisions within the Trump administration over AI regulation have surfaced, with some officials pushing for mandatory safety testing of large AI models while others favor deregulation to maintain U.S. competitiveness. The split reflects a broader policy debate: how to balance AI innovation with risk prevention. The U.S. Commerce Department has already conducted safety testing on AI models from Google, Microsoft, and xAI, but the mandatory nature of these tests and the subsequent regulatory framework remain contested. ...

The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has admitted it should not have sued crypto exchange Gemini, joining the company in a motion to vacate a 2025 consent order. The rare reversal signals regulatory self-reflection on enforcement overreach.

China’s Supreme People’s Court will develop judicial guidance for crypto-related cases amid rising legal disputes.