📌 Yellen Out, Bessent In

5. KuCoin Pleads Guilty

Despite the thawing crypto regulatory environment in the U.S., KuCoin, one of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchanges, has pleaded guilty to U.S. criminal charges related to operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business. KuCoin, based in the Seychelles, will pay a near-$300 million fine and quit the U.S. while two KuCoin founders – Chun Gan and Ke Tang – will leave the company.

4. Arizona's Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act Advances To Next Stage

Arizona’s Senate Finance Committee approved a bill letting the state invest up to 10% of its public funds in bitcoin and crypto. The legislation co-sponsored by Senator Wendy Rogers and Rep. Jeff Weninger could make Arizona the first state to build an official bitcoin reserve – if it survives the next legislative hurdles. Expect other crypto-curious states, like Texas and Pennsylvania, to take notes.

3. Bitcoin Resilience Shows

DeepSeek rattled US investors yesterday, but we’re here to tell you good news. While BTC dipped along with the rest of the market, it also held up relatively well compared to the NASDAQ, NVIDIA, and other “traditional” mega-cap stocks. While it is performing well in relation to the overall market, that doesn’t mean that it can’t have its own price shocks. For perspective, Arthur Hayes believes that BTC is more likely to drop 30% in the short term on a probabilistic basis than it is to rise. Now, he is also claiming $250k BTC by EOY, so really, this all just comes down to your time preference.

2. Erik Voorhees Launches VVV Token For Venice

Prominent crypto figure and founder of ShapeShift, Erik Voorhees, has launched a new token for his censorship-resistant AI platform Venice (TLDR here). The token (VVV) was launched on Coinbase’s BASE network with 100M supply. VVV is already live on Coinbase.

1. Yellen Out, Bessent In… Officially

The Senate just tapped billionaire hedge fund manager Scott Bessent to lead the Treasury, voting 68–29 in favor. Known for his pro-crypto stance and staunch opposition to a U.S. CBDC, Bessent will join Trump’s “Presidential Working Group on Digital Asset Markets” to help reframe crypto regulations. But let’s all be real for a second: He’s got much more on his plate than just crypto… y’know, like managing the national debt, cutting federal spending, advising on tariffs… keeping global financial markets calm. So good luck, Secretary Bessent – you’ll need it.