SEC’s new crypto playbook: what Paul Atkins’ agenda means for digital assets in 2025

  • Project Crypto offers clear, tailored rules for issuing, trading, and holding digital assets.
  • Safe harbors and investor-friendly exemptions aim to encourage compliant blockchain innovation.
  • SEC seeks to bring crypto activity onshore while balancing innovation with investor protection

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under Chairman Paul Atkins, is taking a noticeably different approach to crypto regulation in 2025.

Dropping the enforcement-heavy style of past administrations, Atkins rolled out a “crypto playbook” aimed at updating securities laws to better fit blockchain technology, while still keeping investor protections in place.

Branded as “Project Crypto,” the initiative lays out a proactive roadmap that could reshape the US crypto market and potentially influence global digital asset rules as well.

A rules-based framework centered on innovation

Atkins is pushing a new regulatory vision that aims for clearer, more practical rules around issuing, trading, and holding digital assets.

He’s criticized the SEC’s old approach as outdated disclosure rules that only saw four crypto offerings ever registered. His plan calls for tailored registration, investor-friendly exemptions, and safe harbors to encourage compliant innovation.

Expanding custody options, including self-custody, and updating broker-dealer and custodian rules are also key parts of the agenda.

The framework also backs the rise of “super-apps”, platforms that can handle crypto securities, non-security tokens, and traditional securities under a single regulated license.

Atkins has hinted he’s willing to use interpretive and exemptive powers creatively, aiming to remove regulatory roadblocks that could slow tech adoption.

The message is clear: rules should enable business, not block it.

Tough road ahead

The playbook is meant to pull crypto activity back onshore, tackling concerns that businesses have been moving offshore because of unclear rules.

Atkins has been clear: regulatory clarity is key to keeping US leadership in blockchain finance.

His plan lines up closely with the President’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets, which calls for SEC, CFTC, and Treasury to coordinate more closely.

That said, the path isn’t easy. Congress is split on sweeping crypto legislation, so much of the rulemaking falls to the SEC.

The industry is waiting on concrete guidance, especially around custody, tokenized securities, and conditional registration exemptions.

Observers warn that encouraging innovation while protecting investors will be tricky, and it will likely take ongoing tweaks and dialogue to get it right.

At its core, Paul Atkins’ crypto playbook signals a big shift in how the US approaches digital assets as leaning toward collaboration, clearer rules, and innovation-friendly regulation.

This could end up shaping not just domestic markets but global crypto dynamics for years.

Traders and investors will want to keep a close eye on upcoming SEC moves, any new legislation, and guidance updates to stay ahead and spot opportunities in this evolving space.

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Mega Matrix files $2B shelf registration for Ethena stablecoin strategy

  • Mega Matrix files $2B shelf registration to buy Ethena’s ENA token, betting on stablecoin growth.
  • USDe stablecoin climbs to $12.5B market cap, with $500M in revenue as adoption accelerates.
  • Analysts warn of risks in yield-bearing digital assets, likening them to 2008-era CDO products.

Mega Matrix, a publicly traded holding company with roots in short-form streaming, is making a bold pivot toward digital asset treasury management.

The firm has filed a $2 billion shelf registration with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to support a strategy centered on Ethena’s stablecoin ecosystem, marking one of the largest such filings for a company of its size.

The initiative reflects a growing trend among smaller firms to diversify into digital assets as a balance-sheet strategy, even as the sector continues to face questions over stability and risk.

Building exposure to Ethena’s ENA governance token

Mega Matrix outlined that proceeds from the shelf registration will be used exclusively to accumulate ENA, the governance token of the Ethena protocol.

Ethena operates USDe, a synthetic stablecoin designed to maintain its dollar peg using collateral hedged with perpetual futures contracts.

Unlike fiat-backed stablecoins such as USD Coin (USDC) or Tether (USDT), USDe generates yield from derivatives market funding rates.

Once Ethena’s “fee-switch” mechanism is activated, ENA token holders are expected to receive a share of the protocol’s revenues, giving investors indirect access to yield generated by USDe.

By concentrating its exposure in ENA, Mega Matrix aims to capture both influence in Ethena’s governance and potential returns from the protocol’s revenue model.

The company cited the rapid rise of Circle, the issuer of USDC, and the expanding role of digital asset treasuries as drivers behind its decision.

The firm also pointed to the US GENIUS Act, which prohibits issuers from paying yield directly to stablecoin holders, as a regulatory factor accelerating demand for synthetic, yield-bearing alternatives like USDe.

Ethena’s rapid growth in the stablecoin market

Ethena Labs, the developer behind USDe, has seen its protocol expand quickly despite the relative novelty of its model.

In August, the company reported that cumulative gross interest revenue had surpassed $500 million.

According to CoinMarketCap data, USDe has grown to a market capitalization of $12.5 billion, making it the world’s third-largest stablecoin.

While still much smaller than fully collateralized competitors such as USDT and USDC, Ethena’s unique structure and ability to generate yield have positioned it as a rising player in the stablecoin market.

Its growth has been closely tracked by investors looking for stablecoin models that go beyond traditional fiat-backed structures.

Risks and industry context

Mega Matrix’s $2 billion shelf registration is notable given its relatively modest market capitalization of $113 million.

The firm reported first-quarter revenue of $7.74 million and a net loss of $2.48 million, with its core business still tied to FlexTV, its short-form streaming platform.

Earlier this year, Mega Matrix also purchased $1.27 million in Bitcoin as part of its gradual move toward digital assets.

The company is not alone in this shift. Other firms, such as ETHZilla, BitMine Immersion Technologies, SharpLink Gaming, and Bit Digital, have pursued similar treasury strategies focused on cryptocurrencies.

Still, analysts caution that such approaches carry significant risks.

Josip Rupena, CEO of lending firm Milo, compared the engineering of yield-bearing digital assets to collateralized debt obligations (CDOs), which played a pivotal role in the 2008 financial crisis.

He warned that investors may not always fully understand the exposure they are assuming.

As Mega Matrix embarks on its Ethena-focused plan, the strategy underscores both the appeal and the risks of digital asset treasuries.

Its success may hinge on the continued growth of USDe and the stability of the wider crypto ecosystem.

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Ethereum eyes gains above $4,500 as whales ramp up ETH accumulation

  • Ethereum hovers above $4,400 amid a resilient display.
  • Bitmine’s aggressive accumulation comes as institutional demand grows, fueling predictions of ETH price hitting a new all-time high.
  • Traders are thus likely to closely monitor the $4,200–$4,500 range.

Ethereum signals resilience as its price gains to near $4,500, with institutional interest surging as the ETH “microstrategy” firm Bitmine Immersion Technologies bolstered its crypto treasury.

With whale accumulation and technical support levels pointing to potential upside, traders are eyeing a recovery above $4,500.

The top altcoin reached an all-time high near $5,000 in August. But what’s the outlook today?

Whales buy ETH and Bitmine drives treasury sentiment

Bitmine, dubbed the “Ethereum MicroStrategy,” continues to double down on ETH, and its move has helped keep the token’s price above $4k.

On Thursday, On-Chain data showed the company had added to its ETH haul, with an additional 80,325 ETH worth over $358 million.

The coins came from Galaxy Digital and FalconX and pushed Bitmine’s total holdings of the altcoin to a staggering 1,947,299 ETH.

Bitmine has accumulated over $8.69 billion worth of ETH, bringing its purchases to about 1.44% of Ethereum’s total supply.

It means the company surpasses the holdings of SharpLink Gaming, the second-largest corporate ETH holder, by more than double.

Ethereum price outlook: Bulls eye recovery $5000

Bets on Ethereum’s long-term value, including across staking opportunities and ETFs, have analysts predicting ETH price at $10k by end of year.

Ethereum’s price action in the past month has included swings to highs of $4,946 and lows of $4,200.

Ethereum price chart by TradingView

As well as the treasury asset trend and spot ETF inflows, bulls have shown resilience amid multiple tokenized stocks launches on Ethereum.

Among them is Trust Wallet, integrating tokenized US stocks and Ondo Finance, bringing over 100 tokenized US stocks and ETFs to investors.

On-chain data supports the bullish case, with whale accumulation and reduced exchange reserves signaling confidence in Ethereum’s fundamentals, despite seasonal volatility risks in September.

The Ethereum Validator Queue shows over 833,141 ETH is awaiting the staking queue, with this amount of fresh staking surpassing that exiting the queue.

Analysts at Glassnode have noted:

“In August, ETH’s biggest holders moved in opposite directions. Mega whales (10k+ $ETH) drove the rally with net inflows peaking at +2.2M $ETH (30d), but their accumulation has now paused. Meanwhile, large whales (1k–10k $ETH), after weeks of distribution, are back in accumulation at +411k $ETH (30d).”

These moves and the broader sentiment suggest buyers are not done yet.

A decisive daily close above $4,500 will allow bulls to retest its all-time high at $4,946.

However, profit taking and overall risk assets weakness could allow sellers a route to support at $4,200 and $4,000.

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Ripple expands RLUSD stablecoin into Africa to power cross-border payments

  • Ripple has inked key collaborations to roll out its dollar-backed stablecoin across Africa.
  • Chipper Cash, Yellow Card, and VALR will integrate RLUSD to support trading and payments.
  • That signals increasing demand for regulated stablecoins in emerging markets.

Ripple has confirmed bringing its institutional-grade stablecoin, RLUSD, to Africa.

The blockchain company has collaborated with fintech platform Chipper Cash, payment provider Yellow Card, and Africa’s top crypto exchange VALR to expand Ripple USD access.

The move marks a notable milestone in the continent as remittances, access to the US dollar, and cross-border payments play a vital role in Africa’s financial landscape.

RLUSD has recorded impressive growth since its late 2024 launch, with a market cap above $700 million.

Its new expansion into Africa reflects Ripple’s dedication to making it central in financial models of growing economies.

Commenting on the move, Ripple’s Stablecoin SVP Jack McDonald said:

RLUSD has quickly become established in enterprise financial use cases, from payments to tokenization to collateral in both crypto and traditional trading markets. We’re seeing demand for RLUSD from our customers and other key institutional players globally, and are excited to now begin distribution in Africa through our local partners.

Fueling RLUSD adoption with strategic alliances

The African move comes weeks after Ripple joined forces with SBI Group to fuel RLUSD in Japan.

Once more, the blockchain company has tapped key players within the African tech space to expand stablecoin utility on the continent.

Chipper Cash, which offers fintech solutions to millions in Africa, will add RLUSD to streamline payments.

The company is already working with Ripple to streamline global transactions, and integrating RLUSD cements that collaboration.

Chipper Cash co-founder and CEO Ham Serunjogi promises to make the stablecoin available to its users “as soon as possible,” adding:

RLUSD is uniquely positioned to drive institutional use of blockchain technology across Africa and broader global markets, including through cross-border payments.

On the other hand, Yellow Card and VALR will broaden RLUSD’s access. The former has established itself as a lucrative payment network for users, even introducing gas-free transactions in July.

Yellow Card CEO Chris Maurice trusts the stablecoin integration will satisfy the rising demand for digital assets that support secure cross-border transactions and treasury management.

The CEO of crypto exchange VALR commented:

The listing of RLUSD reflects our broader strategy to support trusted stablecoin options that serve the evolving needs of both institutional and retail clients seeking a reliable digital dollar for a growing range of use cases.

RLUSD’s social impact

Furthermore, Ripple is navigating using the stablecoin for humanitarian activities.

For instance, Kenya’s Mercy Corps Ventures is leveraging RLUSD to pilot climate insurance programs.

The stablecoin can serve as insurance against drought, with funds held in escrow and released if data indicates famine risks.

Another pilot focuses on rainfall, promising timely support during life-threatening weather conditions.

Such projects show how stablecoins can offer real-world solutions in emerging communities.

Africa is only part of Ripple’s international expansion goals.

The stablecoin is already accessible through exchanges like Gemini, Kraken, Mercado Bitcoin, Bullish, and Bitstamp.

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Bitcoin could stabilize as dominance level drops; Check forecast

Key takeaways

  • BTC has been trading around $111k and could stabilize soon to allow altcoins to rally.
  • The Bitcoin dominance level has dropped to 55 amid growing altcoin demand.

BTC stagnates at $111k as altcoin demand grows

Bitcoin, the leading cryptocurrency by market cap, has been trading around $111k over the past two days. This performance comes despite altcoins rallying higher, with Ether now approaching $4,500 after adding over 1% to its value.

However, Bitcoin’s stagnation comes with a decline in its dominance level. Bitcoin dominance has declined from its 62% peak to 55%, an indication that investors could be shifting funds from Bitcoin to altcoins.

Bitcoin dominance measures Bitcoin’s market capitalization as a percentage of the total cryptocurrency market cap. This metric helps investors determine if Bitcoin is favored at a particular period or if altcoins are the preferred investments.

In an email to Coinjournal, Sergei Gorev, Head of Risk, YouHodler, stated that historically, the dynamics of the BTC price have usually caught up with the dynamics of M2 growth. Gorev added that,

Perhaps this divergence is caused by the local summer vacation period, and, with the beginning of the autumn business season, the price of BTC may straighten again. In our opinion, the strengthening of the position of second-tier coins is quite long-term. Firstly, this is due to the market redistribution of profits of early investors in BTC, and secondly, in the future, the creation of crypto reserves may occur in the most liquid crypto projects, which can attract a wide range of corporate investors willing to invest billions of dollars. We think the next interesting market ideas could be SOL and XRP.

BTC still targets $113k despite declining dominance level

The BTC/USD 4-hour chart has seen an improvement compared to the bearish price action in August. The technical indicators have started switching positive, with the RSI of 59 showing that sellers are no longer in control.

BTC/USD 4H Chart

If the recovery continues, BTC could look to overcome the 4-hour resistance level and TLQ at $113,487. A breakout above this level would enable BTC to reclaim the $117k resistance with ease.

However, with the market still jittery, BTC could face a downward correction and drop to the Monday low of $107,250.

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