Here’s what happened in crypto today
Today’s crypto roundup highlights three storylines shaping markets and policy: Gemini secured a key European license that paves the way for wider EU expansion; a Federal Reserve governor urged regulators and banks not to fear decentralized finance; and a senior U.S. senator outlined a timeline for a long‑awaited market‑structure bill.
Gemini — the exchange owned by Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss — received a Markets in Crypto‑Assets (MiCA) license from Malta’s regulator, clearing a major regulatory hurdle for its European push. The approval follows the firm’s May receipt of a MiFID II authorization that lets it offer derivatives in Europe, and comes as Gemini pursues other growth moves, including a recent filing to list Class A common stock on Nasdaq and the rollout of tokenized stock trading on Arbitrum targeting European customers.
At the Wyoming Blockchain Symposium, Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller delivered a pro‑innovation message, telling peers and private bankers there is “nothing to be afraid of” about crypto payments and decentralized finance. He framed DeFi and related tools — smart contracts, tokenization and distributed ledgers — as new technology for moving and recording value and encouraged collaboration between policymakers and financial firms to build secure crypto payment infrastructure. Observers note Waller is viewed as a contender to succeed Jerome Powell as Fed chair.
Also at the symposium, Senator Cynthia Lummis offered a timeline for U.S. legislative action on crypto market structure. She said the long‑anticipated market‑structure bill could reach President Trump’s desk before the end of the year, setting the stage for implementation in 2026, and suggested Thanksgiving as a possible inflection point. Lummis said the Senate’s work will largely build on the House‑passed Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act while incorporating elements from the Senate’s Responsible Financial Innovation Act.
Taken together, these developments point to accelerating regulatory engagement on both sides of the Atlantic: European authorities are operationalizing MiCA and enabling licensed firms to expand product offerings, while U.S. lawmakers and regulators are moving toward clearer market structure and oversight for digital assets. Industry participants will be watching how implementation details and legislative tweaks affect adoption, trading products and cross‑border services.
