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Trump Appoints Pro-Bitcoin Fed Economist, Boosts Crypto & Bitcoin Hyper Sentiment
- Stephen Miran appointed to Fed board through 2026
- Bitcoin rallies past $117K following the announcement
- Bitcoin Hyper Layer 2 launch to address network scaling issues
Bitcoin Surges on Trump’s Fed Appointment
Bitcoin’s momentum surged as U.S. President Donald Trump announced the appointment of Stephen Miran, a known Bitcoin advocate, to the Federal Reserve Board. The flagship cryptocurrency rallied to $117K, gaining nearly 3% in 24 hours, following what many see as a pro-crypto policy shift from the Trump administration.
Miran, previously a Treasury official and current Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors, is known for his skepticism of traditional inflation models and for favoring looser monetary policy. His presence on the Fed board could pave the way for slower rate hikes and growth-oriented strategies—a tailwind for Bitcoin, which tends to perform well in inflationary or dollar-weakening environments.
“Miran questioned the accuracy of current inflation models and hinted at a more cautious approach to rate hikes—an outlook that could favor $BTC.”
Crypto Market Reacts Quickly
Following Trump’s Truth Social post:
- Bitcoin jumped from $114K to $117.5K, settling back at $117K.
- All top 10 Bitcoin ETFs closed in the green.
- ProShares’ BITO ETF led in activity, recording a 9.31% turnover rate.
This movement reflects renewed confidence among institutional and retail investors as sentiment shifts toward a pro-crypto monetary environment.
But Bitcoin’s Network Still Faces Scalability Issues
Despite the bullish momentum, Bitcoin’s base layer continues to grapple with limitations:
- Slow transaction speeds
- High gas fees
- Network congestion during high demand
During the April 2024 halving, fees soared above $128 per transaction, a scenario worsened by the launch of the Runes protocol, which increased demand for block space.
Enter Bitcoin Hyper: The Layer 2 Scaling Solution
Set to launch this quarter, Bitcoin Hyper is designed to solve Bitcoin’s scalability problem without compromising its core Layer 1 principles.
Key features of Bitcoin Hyper include:
- Faster transactions and significantly lower fees
- Solana Virtual Machine (SVM) integration to enable smart contracts
- A Canonical Bridge that wraps and unwraps $BTC for use on Layer 2
- Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs) for secure, trustless validation
By batching transactions off-chain and settling them efficiently, Bitcoin Hyper enables a smoother user experience for DeFi protocols, dApps, and mainstream payments.
$HYPER Token: Fueling the Ecosystem
The native token $HYPER powers the Bitcoin Hyper network. Holders benefit from:
- Lower gas fees
- Governance voting rights
- Staking rewards up to 139% APY
Since launching its presale on May 16, 2025, the token has already raised over $7.7 million, indicating strong investor interest.
- Current Presale Price: $0.012575
- Projected Mainnet Launch Price: $0.32
- Potential ROI: Over 2,445%
Verdict: Bitcoin Hyper Arrives at the Perfect Time
Trump’s move to place Stephen Miran on the Federal Reserve Board signals a turning point for crypto monetary policy, with implications for both Bitcoin and the broader market.
But as Bitcoin adoption increases, so too do the technical challenges. With the launch of Bitcoin Hyper on the horizon, the timing couldn’t be better for a Layer 2 solution focused on scalability, usability, and economic inclusion.
Investors looking to capitalize on this shift are eyeing $HYPER as a promising opportunity—though as always, conduct your own due diligence.
@ Newshounds News™
Source: Bitcoinist
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SEC Staff Liquid-Staking Guidance Leaves Regulatory Questions, Could Be Contested
- Nonbinding guidance may benefit institutions
- Key legal questions remain unresolved
- Tax and ETF-related challenges still outstanding
New SEC Guidance Raises as Many Questions as It Answers
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued new staff-level guidance on liquid staking, one of crypto’s fastest-growing innovations. The response from the industry has been a mix of cautious optimism and regulatory concern.
While some see the move as a potential catalyst for institutional adoption, others warn that the guidance remains nonbinding, not enforceable, and open to legal contestation.
“First, these guidelines are not law… and they could be contested at some point,” said Scott Gralnick, head of institutional staking at Marinade.
Not the Commission’s Official Position
A key detail buried in the SEC’s language is that this guidance:
- Represents only the views of a division, not the full Commission
- Is not a rule, regulation, or formal agency statement
- Did not go through a Commission vote
A source close to the process confirmed to Cointelegraph that while this kind of guidance is not unusual, it still lacks legal binding authority, leaving the door open for challenge or reinterpretation.
What Is Liquid Staking—and Why It’s Complex
Liquid staking allows users to earn staking rewards while retaining access to their tokens—unlike traditional staking which locks assets. This is particularly attractive for DeFi users, hedge funds, and retail investors who want flexibility without sacrificing yield.
However, the complexity lies in how:
- Different protocols handle staking and token issuance
- Models range from purely administrative to highly abstracted
- Advanced structures such as restaking and cross-chain staking introduce further layers of difficulty
“This guidance confirms that liquid staking activities are not considered a securities offering,” said Sam Kim, Chief Legal Officer at Lido Labs.
“That said, there are still open questions around restaking, cross-chain staking, and complex financial products built on staking.”
Narrow Scope, Conditional Clarity
According to Michael Hubbard, Chief Strategy Officer at SOL Strategies, staking protocols that:
- Issue 1:1 receipt tokens
- Don’t control timing or returns
- Keep operations administrative in nature
…may find a degree of regulatory clarity under this framework.
However, Hubbard adds that:
“The guidance is highly specific in its parameters and emphasizes that any deviation from the described structure could result in different regulatory treatment.”
Taxation Still a Major Gray Area
Perhaps the most consequential omission from the SEC’s guidance is the issue of taxation on staking rewards.
According to Evan Weiss, Chief Operating Officer of Alluvial, there are still unresolved questions:
- When are staking rewards taxed—at receipt or upon sale?
- How are staking assets treated under grantor trust rules?
- Can staking rewards be effectively integrated into ETFs and retirement portfolios?
“There is significant ongoing advocacy at the congressional level seeking fair staking taxation treatment to support the industry’s continued development,” Weiss noted.
He also emphasized that the grantor trust rules—which affect inheritance taxation—are a major barrier to ETF integration for staking-related products.
Conclusion: Guidance, Not Green Light
While the SEC staff guidance may offer a tentative green light for some liquid staking models, it does not resolve the foundational legal and tax uncertainties plaguing the space.
- Nonbinding status means it could be challenged
- ETF integration still hampered by tax rules
- Complex staking products remain in regulatory limbo
- Congressional action and advocacy are still needed
Until more formal guidance—or legislation—is passed, liquid staking will continue to operate in a high-risk, high-reward regulatory zone.
This guidance may nudge the market forward, but it’s not yet a signal of regulatory clarity.
@ Newshounds News™
Source: Cointelegraph
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Ripple-SEC Lawsuit Ends, But XRP Drama Erupts Over “Security” Claims
- Five-year legal battle ends with Ripple’s partial victory
- Ex-SEC lawyer reignites dispute over XRP’s status
- XRP surges 12% amid legal closure and acquisition rumors
Ripple-SEC Case Officially Closed
The long-running battle between Ripple Labs and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has come to an end. A joint stipulation of dismissal has been filed, closing all remaining appeals and finalizing a historic crypto legal case after five years.
- The dismissal leaves intact the 2023 court ruling that found XRP is not a security in secondary market sales.
- However, Ripple remains liable for its institutional sales, which were deemed securities offerings.
- Both parties agreed to bear their own legal costs, ending further escalation.
Former SEC Lawyer’s Comments Stir Backlash
Despite the legal conclusion, controversy has reignited following statements from Amanda Fischer, a former SEC attorney. Fischer denied that the SEC had ever directly claimed XRP itself was a security—a position that prompted immediate backlash from pro-XRP lawyer John E. Deaton.
“I would never have intervened if the SEC didn’t argue XRP was a security,” Deaton said.
Deaton cited page 24 of the SEC’s response to his motion to intervene, in which lead SEC prosecutor Jorge Tenreiro argued that secondary sales of XRP still represented securities transactions:
“The XRP traded, even in the secondary market, is the embodiment of those facts, circumstances, promises, and expectations, and today represents that investment contract.”
Deaton labeled this the “embodiment theory”, a term credited to attorney Lewis Cohen, suggesting that the SEC was arguing the token itself was inseparable from the investment contract—an interpretation with no legal precedent.
Judge Pushes Back Against SEC Overreach
Deaton also recalled that even Judge Analisa Torres appeared skeptical of the SEC’s position. She challenged the implication that under the SEC’s view, “every individual in the world who is selling XRP” could be violating securities laws.
“That argument reflected a massive overreach by the agency,” Deaton said.
He further supported his case by citing SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce, who told Thinking Crypto that the SEC was indeed targeting the XRP token itself, not just the method of sale—contradicting Fischer’s claims.
Deaton Challenges Fischer’s Credibility
Deaton closed his response by questioning Fischer’s credibility outright, citing past court findings and ethical concerns:
- Judge Sarah Netburn accused SEC lawyers (including Fischer) of lacking “faithful allegiance to the law”.
- The SEC’s legal team was previously sanctioned by a federal judge for “perpetuating a fraud upon the court.”
Deaton argued these incidents make Fischer’s reinterpretation of the SEC’s XRP position “misleading and revisionist.”
Markets React: XRP Volatility on Legal Win and Rumors
The XRP market reacted strongly to the finality of the case and the swirling controversy:
- XRP surged over 12% on the news of the lawsuit’s conclusion and renewed investor confidence.
- Whale activity has increased, with large XRP holders reportedly selling into the rally.
- Rumors also emerged that Ripple may be acquiring Fortress Trust, sparking speculation of institutional expansion.
- XRP briefly dropped over 6% on the Fortress rumor, but then rebounded as markets digested the news.
Another surprise: Ripple may have paused this month’s escrow release—a rare move that led to an additional 4% price spike.
Conclusion: Legal Closure, But No End to Controversy
The Ripple-SEC lawsuit may be over in the courts, but the debate over XRP’s legal identity is far from resolved. As former regulators, crypto attorneys, and retail investors clash over what the SEC really claimed, the larger fight for regulatory clarity in the U.S. continues.
For now, XRP’s secondary market classification remains non-security, but the controversy over intent, precedent, and interpretation is alive and well.
@ Newshounds News™
Source: Coinpedia
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Ripple to Acquire Stablecoin Payments Firm Rail for $200 Million
- Ripple to acquire Rail for $200 million, targeting stablecoin payment dominance
- Deal combines advanced automation and always-on digital asset settlement capabilities
- If approved, partnership positions Ripple and Rail as global leaders in B2B stablecoin payments
Strategic Acquisition to Expand Ripple’s Stablecoin Capabilities
Ripple has announced an agreement to acquire Rail, a global payments platform specializing in stablecoin infrastructure, in a deal valued at $200 million. The acquisition, expected to close in Q4 2025, remains subject to regulatory approval.
This bold move is designed to accelerate Ripple’s leadership in stablecoin-based payments by combining the companies’ complementary technologies.
Ripple and Rail: Transforming Stablecoin Transactions
According to the official press release, the integration of Rail’s automated back-office tools and virtual account infrastructure with Ripple’s blockchain settlement technology will significantly enhance the global utility of stablecoins—particularly RLUSD and XRP.
- Financial institutions will gain 24/7 access to seamless, on-demand stablecoin payments.
- The platform will allow banks and fintechs to adopt digital asset settlements without direct exposure to cryptocurrency.
- Ripple aims to remove friction for traditional finance participants seeking to integrate real-time settlement.
This capability is vital in the evolving digital economy, where always-on financial infrastructure is quickly becoming a baseline expectation.
Ripple Responds to Rising Demand
Ripple confirmed that the acquisition reflects the growing demand for fast, secure, and regulatory-compliant stablecoin payments.
“No such thing as the August doldrums at @Ripple… very excited to share that we’re acquiring @RailFinancial! Ripple + Rail together will be THE go-to provider of stablecoin payments infrastructure for global financial institutions around the world,”
— Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse, via X (formerly Twitter)
The announcement underscores Ripple’s confidence in its vision to lead enterprise-grade digital asset solutions, even as competitors scramble to catch up.
Rail Brings Automation, Efficiency, and Scale
Industry analysts highlight how Rail’s platform enhances Ripple’s value proposition:
- Virtual account features simplify onboarding for institutions.
- Automated treasury tools reduce operational costs for cross-border settlements.
- The combined system offers regulatory-grade security while maintaining high throughput and real-time clearing.
With these features, Ripple and Rail are poised to become the dominant player in global B2B stablecoin infrastructure, rivaling the likes of Circle, PayPal, and emerging tokenized banking platforms.
Competitive Ripple Effects Across the Industry
The Ripple-Rail deal has sparked industry-wide discussions about strategic positioning in the stablecoin sector. As Ripple expands its influence, other players in digital payments and fintech may accelerate partnerships, acquisitions, or integrations to stay competitive.
Pending regulatory approval, this acquisition marks another step in Ripple’s push to deliver the backbone infrastructure for global stablecoin settlement.
@ Newshounds News™
Source: BeInCrypto
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