Crypto bulls were blindsided Friday after the U.S. military launched airstrikes on Iran’s key nuclear sites, triggering a sharp selloff and $595 million in long-position liquidations.

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The move, announced by former President Donald Trump, saw bombers hit Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan — three of Iran’s main uranium enrichment facilities. The geopolitical jolt rattled global markets and sent crypto into a tailspin on Sunday.

In the past 24 hours, 172,853 traders were liquidated, with total losses hitting $681.8 million, meaning 87% of it was from longs. Ether (ETH) traders took the biggest hit with $282 million in liquidations, followed by bitcoin (BTC) tracked trades at $151 million.Futures tracking other majors, such as SOL, XRP, and DOGE also faced heavy losses, with at least over $22 million in losses.Liquidation refers to when an exchange forcefully closes a trader’s leveraged position due to a partial or total loss of the trader’s initial margin. It happens when a trader is unable to meet the margin requirements for a leveraged position (fails to have sufficient funds to keep the trade open).A cascade of liquidations often indicates market extremes, where a price reversal could be imminent as market sentiment overshoots in one direction.

Prices briefly plunged before stabilizing. Bitcoin held near $102,000, while Ethereum traded just above $2,280, both down intraday but avoiding freefall.

Bybit and Binance accounted for two-thirds of all liquidations. And with the U.S. threatening “far greater” strikes, traders are likely bracing for more volatility.

BTC, SOL, ADA, DOGE Bets Liquidated for $595M as U.S. Bombs Iran Nuclear Sites

American poet Charles Bukowski famously said: "The crowd is always wrong," and his words seem to sum up the situation in the financial markets perfectly.

Just 24 hours ago, social media was abuzz with fears that the U.S. airstrike on Iran's nuclear sites, combined with the talk of Iran mulling the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, will trigger a massive surge in oil prices, leading to a slide in stocks and cryptocurrencies.

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The reality, however, has turned out to be different. Oil prices on both sides of the Atlantic gapped higher by just 3% and have since erased most of the gains, according to data source TradingView.

As of writing, a barrel of Brent oil changed hands at $77, up just 1.4% for the day. Prices gapped higher to hit a five-month high of $77.79. Similarly, the West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) hit a high of $78.58 before falling back to $76.75.

Meanwhile, bitcoin

, the leading cryptocurrency by market value, has risen back above $101,000, having hit lows under $98,000 on Sunday when fears of an oil price spike led to the short-term Deribit-listed BTC puts trading at an 8%-10% volatility premium to calls. Futures tied to the S&P 500 traded just 0.3% lower.

The largely muted reaction in oil prices suggests that the market doesn't expect Iran to follow through on its threats and block the Strait of Hormuz, which could destabilize its key allies in Asia, particularly China.

"Price action this morning suggests that the market doesn’t believe (at least not yet) that flows through Hormuz will be blocked. Brent is back below $80/bbl after briefly spiking above this level earlier in the trading session," analysts at ING said in a report to clients Monday.

"With more than 80% of oil flows through Hormuz ending up in Asia, the impact on the region would be larger than that on the US. Therefore, Iran would want to be careful in upsetting the likes of China by disrupting oil flows," ING added.

According to energy market expert Anas Alhajji, Iran's threat to close the Strait is largely a rhetorical tactic for domestic consumption, which it has employed at least 15 times since the 1980s. Alhajji explained the same in a post on X, revisiting the 2018 thread that detailed how blocking the strait is easier said than done.

"For Iran to close the Strait, it means occupation and the taking over of Oman's waters where most ships go through. This will immediately invoke the defence pact of the GCC: it means war among all," the thread said, adding that a potential closure would hurt Iran's friends more than its enemies, which do not import oil from Iran and could circumvent the Strait through two underutilized pipelines.

BTC holds key support

All this means that the much-feared oil price spike may not materialize soon, which could help BTC and other risk assets avoid a sell-off. A big surge in oil would increase the risk of major economies slipping into stagflation, the worst outcome for most assets, including bitcoin.

BTC's chart shows that bears failed to establish a foothold below the horizontal support at $100,430 on Sunday. Buyers stepped in around that level on June 5, taking prices higher to $110,000 in subsequent days.

BTC's daily chart. (TradingView)

Oil's muted reaction suggests the potential for history to repeat itself. On the flip side, acceptance under the support would shift the focus to the confluence of the 100- and 200-day simple moving averages at around $95,900.

Bitcoin, Oil Price Analysis: BTC Holds Key Support; Oil Disappoints 'Doomers' as Brent and WTI Erase Early Price Gains

Good Morning, Asia. Here's what's making news in the markets:

Welcome to Asia Morning Briefing, a daily summary of top stories during U.S. hours and an overview of market moves and analysis. For a detailed overview of U.S. markets, see CoinDesk's Crypto Daybook Americas.

As Asia begins the trading week, {{BTC}} is trading above $100,500 as the initial volatility from news over the weekend that the U.S. struck some of Iran's nuclear facilities begins to subside.

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While prices briefly dipped below six figures on Sunday in a risk-off reaction, markets have since stabilized. Equity futures are flat, and gold is up only marginally, suggesting that traders are not yet pricing in a broader escalation.

The lack of follow-through in traditional markets may reflect expectations that Iran’s response will be contained or delayed, rather than immediate and destabilizing.

Crude oil is holding its gains near $76 per barrel after spiking nearly 4% Sunday evening on fears that Iran could block the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint for global oil shipments. Still, commentary from U.S. officials and muted early-week trading suggest that investors remain in a wait-and-see mode.

In crypto markets, altcoins that had mirrored BTC’s weekend drop, like ETH, XRP, and SOL, are also clawing back losses.

For now, the market appears to be treating the U.S.-Iran clash as a geopolitical flashpoint, not a structural break.

(CoinDesk)

OKX Considering U.S. IPO: Report

Crypto exchange OKX is considering a public listing in the U.S., according to a report from The Information.

Earlier this year, the exchange announced a U.S. expansion after settling with the Department of Justice over accusations that it operated in the country without a money transmitter license.

Among other crypto-linked companies, Bullish, a competitor to OKX and the parent company of CoinDesk, is also said to be considering an IPO given investors' appetite for companies with exposure to digital assets.

OKX told CoinDesk it had no comment on the matter.

Polymarket Bettors Less Certain About Second U.S. Strike on Iran



Polymarket bettors are cooling to the idea that the U.S will hit Iran a second time before the end of the month.

The 'yes' side of a contract asking if the U.S. will conduct another military action on Iran by June 30 is now trading at 54%, from 74% in the hours after the initial strike on Iranian nuclear sites.

There appears to be a growing market belief that deconfliction – on both sides – is on the agenda, as evidenced by another contract asking bettors about the likelihood of Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz, which is currently trading at 49% down from 52%.

Market Movements:

BTC : Bitcoin rebounded to $101,419 after a volatile 4.5% intraday swing, finding strong support at $99,000 amid geopolitical tensions and surging institutional buying interest, according to CoinDesk Research's technical analysis data.

: Bitcoin rebounded to $101,419 after a volatile 4.5% intraday swing, finding strong support at $99,000 amid geopolitical tensions and surging institutional buying interest, according to CoinDesk Research's technical analysis data. ETH: Ethereum fell 2.3% to $2,237 amid U.S.-Iran tensions, breaking a six-week consolidation pattern despite over $500 million in institutional accumulation.

Ethereum fell 2.3% to $2,237 amid U.S.-Iran tensions, breaking a six-week consolidation pattern despite over $500 million in institutional accumulation. Gold: Bank of America analysts predict gold could hit $4,000 an ounce within a year, an 18% jump, driven less by geopolitical tensions and more by mounting U.S. fiscal debt and a global shift by central banks away from the dollar toward gold.

Bank of America analysts predict gold could hit $4,000 an ounce within a year, an 18% jump, driven less by geopolitical tensions and more by mounting U.S. fiscal debt and a global shift by central banks away from the dollar toward gold. Nikkei 225: Asia-Pacific markets fell Monday as the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites fueled oil price spikes and fears of broader Middle East escalation, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 down 0.56%.

Elsewhere in Crypto:





Asia Crypto News: BTC Reclaims 100K as Markets Shrug off Iran Strike

Key Takeaways:

Michael Saylor, the co-founder of MicroStrategy, has built a massive fortune by heavily investing in Bitcoin, transforming both his company and personal wealth.

His net worth is closely tied to the price of Bitcoin, which means significant fluctuations based on market trends.

If Bitcoin reaches certain projected highs, Saylor’s holdings could place him among the world’s richest individuals, rivaling tech moguls like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos.

Could Bitcoin Make Michael Saylor the Richest Man Alive?

In the crypto world, Michael Saylor’s net worth is one of the most closely watched numbers. As the executive chairman and co-founder of publicly traded MicroStrategy, Saylor is famous for placing one of the most audacious corporate bets on Bitcoin in history. With his Bitcoin focused approach to accumulating wealth, the question has to be asked: can Michael Saylor net worth continue to rise higher than the wealthiest of billionaires?

Read More: $40B Bitcoin Bet: Why Michael Saylor’s Wild Plan May Push BTC to $1M Sooner Than You Think

With his high profile Bitcoin holdings, his financial influence is increasing exponentially. This article investigates how much Michael Saylor is worth today, what MicroStrategy has to do with it, and where the future of Bitcoin might end up putting him the wealthiest man on the planet.

Who Is Michael Saylor?

Michael J. Saylor is an American entrepreneur, inventor, author, and technologist best known as the co-founder of MicroStrategy Incorporated. Saylor was born in 1965 in Lincoln, Nebraska, and is the son of a military Fighting Falcon pilot, growing up around the world on different Air Force bases. He had an educational pedigree that led to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), with two degrees in aeronautics and astronautics and science, technology, and society. He attended MIT on a full AFROTC scholarship.

He co-founded MicroStrategy with his MIT fraternity brother Sanju Bansal in 1989. The company was originally built with a focus on using data analytics and business intelligence to drive better business decision-making, and that quickly won it an extensive list of tech customers in areas like media, ad tech and gaming. Saylor was also the author of The Mobile Wave, a book detailing the potential of mobile technology to change the lives of people all over the world.

Michael Saylor Net Worth Over the Years

Michael Saylor’s net worth has seen dramatic swings over recent years, largely influenced by the price of Bitcoin. Below is a breakdown of his net worth during key periods:

2020 : Estimated around $500 million before the Bitcoin strategy.

2021 : Surged past $2 billion as Bitcoin hit an all-time high of $69,000.

2022 : Dropped to around $1.2 billion amid the crypto winter.

2023 : Rebounded slightly to $1.6 billion as Bitcoin began recovering.

Michael Saylor net worth 2024 : Estimated at $2.5 billion as Bitcoin crosses $45,000.

Michael Saylor net worth 2025 (mid-year projection): Between $3.5 billion to $4.5 billion, with Bitcoin trading above $65,000.

As of today, Michael Saylor and MicroStrategy collectively hold over 214,400 BTC, making them one of the largest institutional Bitcoin holders in the world. The value of these holdings plays a central role in determining “Michael Saylor net worth today.”

The Strategic Bet: How Bitcoin Shaped Saylor’s Financial Vision

Saylor’s approach to wealth isn’t what you would expect from a typical billionaire. Rather than diversifying in to multiple sectors, he’s staked almost everything on Bitcoin, which he sees as “digital property” and a far better store of value than fiat or gold.

This long game began in August 2020 with MicroStrategy’s first purchase of Bitcoin. The company has since continued to add to its holdings, often using debt and equity issuance to finance their acquisitions. Saylor has at the same time converted a significant portion of his personal wealth into Bitcoin, making his faith in the asset’s long-term growth absolute.

Where traditional billionaires diversify to reduce risk, Saylor instead is making what he views as a one-way bet on financial sovereignty. He frequently likens Bitcoin to “a swarm of cyber hornets serving the goddess of wisdom, feeding on the fire of truth, exponentially growing ever smarter, faster and stronger behind a wall of encrypted energy.” This hyper-concentrated approach has drawn both admiration and skepticism.

Read More: $1.34B Bitcoin Buy Sends Shockwaves as Strategy Nears $40B BTC Holdings—Is a Pullback Coming?

How Saylor’s Strategy Impacts the Crypto Market

Michael Saylor’s Bitcoin play is shaking the entire crypto market to its core:

Institutional Legitimacy : His early corporate bets into Bitcoin have inspired other public companies, including Tesla and Square, to delve into digital assets.

Market Sentiment : Bitcoin has seen bullish resolves when MicroStrategy has unveiled purchases of the crypto.

Long-Term Confidence : Saylor’s conviction adds to investors’ confidence in Bitcoin as a long-term asset.

He is a figurehead for driving Bitcoin as a more accepted, mainstream asset. He’s been leading at turning down the screws on mass adoption on Bitcoin and steering public discussions on regulation, taxes, and institutional buying.

What’s Next? Future Scenarios for Michael Saylor’s Net Worth

Considering the crypto market is highly volatile, there is no confirmation of exactly what the future of Michael Saylor’s net worth looks like, but it will quadruple due to the performance of Bitcoin in the next few years.

Scenario 1: Bitcoin Surges

If Bitcoin soars to $250,000 or above — a prediction Saylor has embraced and publicly made — his net worth would top $15 billion, and he would become one of the world’s 20 wealthiest people. The former is easier to pull off, but in such a scenario MicroStrategy’s BTC holdings would be valued at over $50 billion, massively inflating the company’s and Saylor’s own valuation.

Scenario 2: Bitcoin Crashes

If Bitcoin did undergo another significant drop below $20,000, Saylor’s net worth could easily shrivel to less than $1 billion. Rightly so, but it did just pull him out of the billionaire pecking order — and reignite criticism of his concentrated strategy.

Scenario 3: Bitcoin Stabilizes

If Bitcoin trades steadily between $60,000 and $80,000 for the next few years, Saylor’s net worth would probably hover between $4 billion and $7 billion, securing him as a major figure in the billionaire club but not one of its very top members.

These estimates point to how “Michael J. Saylor net worth” is one of the most crypto-reactive wealth in the world.

Conclusion

Michael Saylor’s future as a man of means is as good as it gets with Bitcoin. His choice to go all-in on the digital currency has not only altered his personal wealth, but has shaped the wider market, and provided a catalyst for institutional adoption. The journey is treacherous, but the payoff could be epochal.

Whether or not he becomes the richest man alive one thing is for sure, the net worth of Michael Saylor will be a barometer of Bitcoin’s ultimate success. In the dynamic world of crypto, he is both a symbol of faith and a cautionary tale of risk.

Michael Saylor Net Worth – Can Bitcoin Billionaire Become the World’s Richest Man?

Wyoming has shortlisted layer one blockchains Solana (SOL) and Aptos (APT) as the main candidates for running the state’s proposed stable token idea.

The Wyoming Stable Token Commission (WYST) is a proposed virtual currency representative of and redeemable for one US dollar held in a trust by the state of Wyoming.

In a post on the social media platform X, Aptos says that the state is looking to use either chain with Layer Zero infrastructure to deploy a potential stablecoin.

“The Wyoming Stable Token Commission has placed Aptos as the highest-scoring blockchain candidate for WYST – the first fiat-backed stablecoin issued by a US State – tying for 1st place with Solana.

WYST will be deployed using Layer Zero…

Aptos is making borderless, always-on finance a reality today with three native USD stablecoins & $30 billion+ in monthly stablecoin volume, supported by sub-second finality and near-zero transaction fees at [around] $0.00055.

Following the recent passing of the GENIUS Act to establish the first regulatory framework for stablecoins and Aptos pushing further as the chain for stablecoins, the future of finance is here on Aptos.”

Last year, Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon said he would push for the adoption of a “transparent” stablecoin fully backed by the state’s short-term Treasury holdings.

“One of the big things for me is to be able to bring back onshore a lot of our debt because if it’s bought by treasuries and supported by Treasurys, it will help to stabilize that market to a degree…

[What] is clear to me is that digital assets are going to have a future. The United States has to address this issue. Washington’s being a little bit stodgy, which is why Wyoming, being a nimble and entrepreneurial state, can make a difference.”

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Disclaimer: Opinions expressed at The Daily Hodl are not investment advice. Investors should do their due diligence before making any high-risk investments in Bitcoin, cryptocurrency or digital assets. Please be advised that your transfers and trades are at your own risk, and any losses you may incur are your responsibility. The Daily Hodl does not recommend the buying or selling of any cryptocurrencies or digital assets, nor is The Daily Hodl an investment advisor. Please note that The Daily Hodl participates in affiliate marketing.

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Solana (SOL) and Aptos (APT) Named As Top Candidates for Wyoming’s Proposed Stable Token Program

DoubleLine Capital CEO Jeffrey Gundlach says that the trend of American exceptionalism has come to an abrupt end.

In a new CNBC interview, the billionaire “Bond King” says that foreign investors have been happily investing in US assets over the last two decades, leading to massive capital inflows to the tune of tens of trillions of dollars.

But now, Gundlach says he’s seeing signs that foreign investors are yanking capital out of US markets in favor of the euro and European equities. According to the hedge fund chief executive, the reversal in flows tells him that investors are now crowning a new market leader.

“Foreigners have been very willing – downright enthusiastic, almost euphoric – about buying dollar assets over the past 18 years or so. Over $25 trillion has been invested in US financial markets, more than the US has invested in foreign markets.

That’s a massive increase. It went from $3 trillion to $28 trillion by one measure. That may be reversing, and this is part of the underpinning for why I think that the trend of US outperformance is over. And I mean over for real…

I’ve been recommending Europe in European currency for dollar-based investors. The [European] index has outperformed the US index by a decent amount, but if you had the currency side of it, if you own it in euros and you get the currency translation, you are just printing money right now.

And that trade, I believe, is just getting started.”

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Disclaimer: Opinions expressed at The Daily Hodl are not investment advice. Investors should do their due diligence before making any high-risk investments in Bitcoin, cryptocurrency or digital assets. Please be advised that your transfers and trades are at your own risk, and any losses you may incur are your responsibility. The Daily Hodl does not recommend the buying or selling of any cryptocurrencies or digital assets, nor is The Daily Hodl an investment advisor. Please note that The Daily Hodl participates in affiliate marketing.

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‘Bond King’ Jeffrey Gundlach Warns Trend of US Outperformance Over ‘For Real,’ Says Investors in One Region Printing Money Right Now

A city in Washington has banned crypto kiosks in a bid to crack down on digital asset fraud.

The city of Spokane is banning crypto kiosks after the City Council voted unanimously to pass an ordinance that seeks to protect its residents against scams aided by digital asset ATMs.

“This ordinance prohibits virtual currency kiosks from being operated in the City of Spokane. Spokane has seen a significant increase in scams arising from the use of cryptocurrency kiosks, and there has been a steady increase in victims losing thousands of dollars.

This ordinance provides for a tool to protect consumers from those individuals who rely primarily on virtual currency to defraud others.”

Crypto kiosks allow users to buy and transfer digital assets using cash, debit or credit cards. While the machines do not dispense any cash, they allow users to deposit crypto assets in their personal wallets or transfer the funds overseas.

“Virtual currency kiosk transactions move quickly, and can occur anywhere and, because of the speed of the transaction, the majority of such transactions are irrevocable…

In some cases, law enforcement are able to trace cryptocurrency transactions and ‘follow the money,’ however, many of the ‘scams’ or nefarious transactions transfer funds to destinations overseas, and U.S. law enforcement may encounter significant challenges in other jurisdictions.”

Council member Paul Dillon says crypto kiosks have become the “preferred tool” of scammers looking to exploit unsuspecting individuals.

“This ordinance will protect vulnerable Spokane residents from scams involving virtual currency kiosks, and I am proud we are the first city in the state to move this legislation forward.”

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Disclaimer: Opinions expressed at The Daily Hodl are not investment advice. Investors should do their due diligence before making any high-risk investments in Bitcoin, cryptocurrency or digital assets. Please be advised that your transfers and trades are at your own risk, and any losses you may incur are your responsibility. The Daily Hodl does not recommend the buying or selling of any cryptocurrencies or digital assets, nor is The Daily Hodl an investment advisor. Please note that The Daily Hodl participates in affiliate marketing.

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City in Washington Bans Crypto Kiosks After State Witnessed $141,756,936 in Losses to Scams

What Is the GENIUS Act? Understanding the Basics

The GENIUS Act — whose formal name is Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act — will represent the most significant leap forward in U.S. financial law, a clear statement from Washington that payment stablecoins is a fundamental part of the emerging digital economy. Where other regulatory proposals have been broad, general and focused more broadly on crypto assets, the GENIUS Act takes a targeted approach to payment focused stablecoins comparing them to, for example, algorithmic tokens, commodity backed crypto, or other decentralized finance instruments.

Instead of imposing a one-size-fits-all regulatory approach, the GENIUS Act establishes a two-tiered regulatory framework which allows federal and eligible state regulators to license and supervise stablecoin issuers. This flexible architecture enables existing state-chartered entities direct access to the modular financial system and preserves a solid federal safety net — a design principle that is meant to trade off innovation and systemic risk management.

Read More: U.S. Senate Passes the GENIUS Act — What’s Really Inside the $3.7 Trillion Crypto Bill?

As digital counterparts to fiat — and the U.S. dollar in particular — stablecoins are being woven ever more deeply into the fabric of remittance platforms, blockchain settlements, e-commerce and mobile finance. The GENIUS Act provides an important policy answer: how to regulate dollar-pegged digital currencies without unduly stifling their utility and possibility for innovation.

Moreover, the bill incorporates language that supports a range of regulatory aims, including anti-money laundering (AML), countering terrorist financing (CTF), and systemic risk prevention — such that the US adoption of stablecoins does not leave regulatory gaps or weak points in the national financial structure.

How GENIUS Act Begins? Who Supports It?

The GENIUS Act didn’t appear overnight. It came amid mounting pressure for lawmakers, regulators and industry leaders to come up with clear federal rules for stablecoins, after years of fragmented oversight. Its path demonstrates bi-partisan cooperation and thorough analysis – putting the U.S. on track to become a global leader in how it regulates digital assets.

October 2024 : A public draft of the GENIUS Act was published, inviting feedback from industry, consumer protection entities, as well as the public.

February 2025 : Then it was officially introduced in the Senate by Sen. Tim Scott, after months of working with finance and crypto stakeholders.

March 2025 : The Senate Banking Committee approved the bill with nearly 40 amendments offered by both sides, on issues from reserve requirements to state-federal coordination.

May 19, 2025 : The Senate approved the GENIUS Act in a 66–32 vote, with almost every Republican supporting it and five Democrats dissenting — a breakthrough moment for stablecoin policy.

Read More: Senate Shocker: 15+ Democrats Flip as GENIUS Act Clears Key Hurdle in 66-32 Vote

Here are some key supporters behind the bill:

Senator Tim Scott (South Carolina) : The bill’s lead sponsor, Senator Scott serves as the Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee and moved the legislation to create regulatory certainty for the digital economy.

Senator Bill Hagerty (Indiana) : Pushed for fintech-friendly policies and advanced innovation in digital assets under sound supervision.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (New York) : Longtime Supporter of Sensible Crypto Legislation and Coauthor of previous digital asset bills.

Senator Cynthia Lummis (Wyoming) : Chair of the Senate’s first Subcommittee on Digital Assets, this brings deep expertise and leadership on blockchain issues.

Senator Angela Alsobrooks (Maryland) : Another young lawmaker, who saw the passage of the GENIUS Act as a sensible regulatory approach for the future.

The bill also received strong support from the crypto industry. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse described the GENIUS Act as the U.S.’s most significant financial legislation since Dodd-Frank, and added that the bill proved that it is possible to balance technology with accountability. Other digital asset companies, like Coinbase, also praised the clarity the bill offers.

With Senate approval now in hand, the GENIUS Act heads to the House, where it should further codify the U.S. stance on stablecoins and shape worldwide policy on digital finance.

What Does the GENIUS Act Aim for?

The GENIUS Act is focused on the consumer and financial protection aspects of this area by creating a robust federal structure for regulating payment stablecoins. It’s just good standard-setting, which raises transparency, blocks abuse, and lowers systemic risk. The key tenets of the GENIUS Act are summarized as follows:

Goal 1: Ensure Full Reserve Backing for Stablecoins

All payment stablecoins should have to invest 100% reserves in U.S. dollars, short-term Treasuries, or other instruments approved by regulators.

This aims to prevent depegging and ensures stablecoins maintain their 1:1 value.

Goal 2: Increase Transparency Through Public Disclosures

Issuing banks have to publicly disclose their reserve make-up on a monthly basis.

Issuers with more than $50 billion in market cap would have to disclose annual audited financial statements.

These make it possible for consumers to trust issuers and for investors to determine the solvency.

Goal 3: Prohibit Misleading Marketing and Brand Misuse

It is unlawful for any issuer to market stablecoins as being:

• Guaranteed by the U.S. government

• Covered by FDIC insurance

• Backed by the full faith and credit of the United States

Stablecoins must not be advertised in a way that leads consumers to believe they are legal tender or government-issued.

Goal 4: Prevent Destabilizing Market Runs

The act enforces strict reserve asset rules to mitigate risks, including:

• Diversification requirements for reserves

• Bans on holding riskier assets like corporate debt or equities

• Interest rate risk management standards

• Capital and liquidity risk management requirements

These measures protect against sudden withdrawals or market shocks.

Goal 5: Clarify the Role of State vs. Federal Oversight

The GENIUS Act allows qualified state regulators to oversee issuers— but only if their frameworks are “substantially similar” to federal standards.

Issuers exceeding $10 billion in issuance must:

• Come under federal oversight,

• Seek a waiver, or

• Cease new token issuance if they fail to comply.

Goal 6: Protect Stablecoin Holders in Insolvency Cases

Stablecoin holders have priority claims over all other creditors in the event of issuer bankruptcy.

The act mandates expedited court reviews and ensures reserves are returned quickly and fairly to token holders .

What Are the Pros and Cons of the GENIUS Act?

What the GENIUS Act gets in terms of benefits however, it does lose in acquiring fair critiques among industry participants.

The pros of the GENIUS Act are listed below:

Enhanced Consumer Trust: Rules of the road and reserve requirements will instill a heightened trust in stablecoin issuers.

Market Stability: Defined regulatory structure may reduce the risk of runs and systemic shocks.

Clarity for Innovators: Developers and investors now have a roadmap for compliance.

National Security Benefits: AML/auditing requirements promote financial transparency.

The cons of the GENIUS Act are listed below:

Compliance Costs for Startups: Smaller issuers may struggle to meet reserve and audit standards.

Risk of Overregulation: Excessive oversight might stifle rapid innovation.

Federal-State Friction: Federal and states regulators may not be well coordinated, which might create delays or clashes.

Exclusion of Algorithmic Stablecoins: The bill does not include non-collateralized stablecoins, and thus fails to capture a whole category of stablecoins.

What Are the Main Points of the GENIUS Act?

Rather than just imposing reserve requirements or a ban on deceptive marketing, the GENIUS Act 2025 adopts a layered regulatory framework, which suggests a nuanced understanding of payment stablecoins’ place in the wider financial system. The law covers more than just cursory oversight—it’s an offensive blueprint to bring stablecoins into the U.S. financial system while keeping systemic risk, consumer protection, and national competitiveness in check.

Below are the key elements and less-discussed but equally important provisions that form the core of the GENIUS Act:

Establishment of a New Regulatory Category: “Permitted Payment Stablecoins”

One of the most foundational contributions of the GENIUS Act is the legal categorization of a new class of digital assets known as “Permitted Payment Stablecoins.” This classification:

Distinguishes stablecoins that are used for consumer transactions from other digital assets, such as utility tokens or investment contracts.

Mandates all stablecoin issuers to have to obtain a formal designation and approval if they want to circulate stablecoins within this section.

Clears way for stablecoins to one-day plug into mainstream payment infrastructures – banking apps, merchant platforms or remittance corridors.

This step opens the gates for mass adoption by institutional and retail payment providers.

Interagency Coordination and Regulatory Roles

The GENIUS Act does not consolidate stablecoin regulation under a single agency, instead requiring cooperation among several federal regulators, such as:

The Federal Reserve : Systemic risk oversight and impact on monetary policy.

The OCC (Office of the Comptroller of the Currency) : Regulates stablecoin-issuing companies that resemble digital banks.

The SEC and CFTC : Ensures that stablecoin activity does not run afoul of securities or commodities law.

This approach mirrors a hybrid oversight framework like that holding sway over traditional financial entities; stablecoins cut across the lines of payments, investment and systemic infrastructure.

Regulatory Trigger Thresholds Based on Scale

The act also introduces a tiered regulatory framework where the degree of oversight escalates with the issuer’s market size. For instance:

Issuers with market capitalization under $10 billion can operate under state regulation, provided their framework aligns with federal standards.

market capitalization under $10 billion Once they exceed $10 billion , they must seek additional oversight by a federal payment stablecoin regulator , request a waiver , or cease further issuance.

This dynamic structure ensures early-stage innovators are not overburdened, while large-scale issuers face robust safeguards due to their potential to impact national financial stability.

Bankruptcy Process Acceleration and Legal Priority

In case of issuer insolvency, the GENIUS Act introduces judicial mechanisms to expedite the bankruptcy process:

It mandates that reserves backing permitted stablecoins be promptly distributed to holders , minimizing losses and uncertainty.

reserves backing permitted stablecoins be promptly distributed to holders The act grants first-priority creditor status to stablecoin holders, overriding claims from investors, vendors, or even internal shareholders.

This provision turns stablecoins into a safer asset class by giving users clear, court-enforced recourse—an innovation rarely seen in the digital asset world until now.

Regulatory Enforcement Powers and Penalties

Another significant point is the GENIUS Act’s provision for civil and criminal enforcement mechanisms. These include:

The ability for regulators to fine or shut down issuers who misrepresent reserve holdings or market non-compliant stablecoins.

fine or shut down issuers Expanded powers to pursue cross-border enforcement , especially in collaboration with foreign regulators where stablecoins operate globally.

The inclusion of strong enforcement provisions elevates the act from a compliance guide to a powerful legal tool, enabling meaningful accountability.

Clarification of Legal Status in Commerce

The act also helps clarify where and how permitted payment stablecoins can be used by defining:

That they are not legal tender , and cannot be forced as a method of debt settlement unless agreed upon by both parties.

That they can, however, be used for digital commerce, payroll, cross-border payments , and other functions as long as they comply with regulatory permissions.

This clarification reduces friction between traditional legal systems and Web3 payment systems and opens room for corporate adoption without legal ambiguity.

Preventing “Shadow Stablecoins” and Brand Misuse

In an effort to stop confusion and fraud, the act includes strong provisions around naming rights and consumer perception:

Only assets approved under the GENIUS framework may be called “payment stablecoins.”

It is illegal to design user interfaces, wallet experiences, or branding that suggest regulatory approval where none exists.

This provision effectively eliminates the gray zone of pseudo-stablecoins and protects consumers from deceptive UI/UX tricks or misleading app store listings.

Support for Technical Auditing and Risk Modeling Standards

The act also mandates collaboration with academic and financial research institutions to create:

Technical standards for stress testing and reserve simulations.

Risk disclosure frameworks for issuers to share operational and technological risk assumptions with regulators and the public.

This brings a level of scientific and engineering rigor to crypto that has long been missing and signals the U.S. intent to lead not just through policy, but through technical excellence.

Encouragement of Innovation Through Legal Clarity

By clearly defining which activities are permitted and which are not, the GENIUS Act:

Removes uncertainty for builders and developers , unlocking innovation by eliminating regulatory fear.

builders and developers Encourages venture capital and institutional funds to re-enter the space, especially those previously sidelined by lack of federal clarity.

venture capital Positions the U.S. as a “rules-based innovation hub” for digital finance, rivaling jurisdictions like Singapore, Switzerland, or the UAE.

GENIUS Act vs. Stable Act: A Detailed Comparison

While the GENIUS Act focuses on fostering innovation with safeguards, the Stable Act is often viewed as more restrictive and enforcement-heavy.

Feature GENIUS Act Stable Act Definition Establishes a flexible federal framework for payment stablecoins Requires all stablecoin issuers to obtain bank charters and FDIC insurance Regulatory Body Shared between federal agencies and state regulators Primarily federal oversight via the Federal Reserve and OCC Reserve Requirements 100% reserve backing with cash or Treasuries 100% reserve backing with bank-level standards Innovation Approach Encourages compliant innovation Focuses on consumer protection through heavy enforcement Marketing Restrictions Explicit bans on misleading government affiliation Broad restrictions with criminal penalties

Regulatory Approach

The GENIUS Act and the Stable Act both seek to regulate stablecoins in the U.S., but they differ significantly in how they approach oversight. While the GENIUS Act supports innovation through a flexible, risk-based framework, the Stable Act adopts a more restrictive model rooted in traditional banking oversight.

GENIUS Act :

Focuses on creating a federal framework that encourages responsible innovation by allowing non-bank entities to issue stablecoins under clear regulatory standards. It introduces tiered oversight depending on issuer size, supports state-federal coordination , and emphasizes transparency, risk management, and consumer protection without stifling startups or new entrants.

federal framework that encourages responsible innovation tiered oversight state-federal coordination transparency, risk management, and consumer protection Stable Act :

Centralizes financial activity around banks and the Federal Reserve, insisting that all stablecoin issuers must be chartered as banks and supervised as full-service national banks by the federal government. It emphasizes financial stability and the prevention of systemic risk, but critics say it could stifle innovation by restricting who can issue stablecoins, allowing only regulated banks.

Impact on Industry

Fintechs and Startups: The GENIUS Act embraces modular compliance while the Stable Act may kneecap non-bank players.

Banks: GENIUS encourages partnerships with tech firms; Stable Act reinforces bank dominance.

Retailers and Tech Giants: GENIUS enables payment integration; Stable Act could limit private stablecoin initiatives.

Professionals and Politicians’ Opinions About GENIUS Act

The GENIUS Act has prompted a lot of feedback from politicians, financial professionals, and digital asset proponents. Some view this as a balanced and more forward-thinking approach to stablecoins regulation, while others are worried about the long-term implications — particularly when compared to the more conservative Stable Act.

Positive views on the GENIUS Act : Brad Garlinghouse , CEO of Ripple, called it “the most important digital asset legislation since Dodd-Frank.” Senator Tim Scott emphasized that the bill “creates clarity without killing innovation,” highlighting its industry-informed development process. Coinbase and other crypto firms view the act as a productive compromise that encourages growth while imposing necessary safeguards.

Critical views on the GENIUS Act : Privacy advocates warn that it lacks clear protections for anonymity and may increase surveillance risks. Small fintech startups argue that even with a flexible framework, compliance costs could be high , especially for those nearing the $10 billion issuance threshold. Traditional banks and some policymakers feel the GENIUS Act is too lenient , preferring the stricter Stable Act , which aligns digital asset issuance with full bank-level regulation.

Supporters of the Stable Act : Banking lobby groups favor the Stable Act for its emphasis on systemic risk reduction by placing stablecoin issuance squarely under banking laws . Some Democratic lawmakers argue that the GENIUS Act’s lighter oversight could leave gaps in consumer protection and AML enforcement .



Conclusion: What This Means for Crypto Investors and Industry

The GENIUS Act 2025 creates a model for stablecoin regulation that other nations might take into account during legislative processes. By setting clear reserve requirements, transparent audit practices and restricting what can be said in marketing materials, the act aims to solve the trust and stability issues that have long plagued the crypto industry.

For investors, that means better protection and more creditworthy issuers. For innovators, it provides legal certainty that could speed the pace of product development. And for regulators, the law paves a path between crypto innovation and financial oversight.

FAQs

GENIUS Act 2025 – All You Need to Know About This New Stablecoin Regulation

A man who orchestrated a scheme to steal over $1 million from banks has been sentenced to five years behind bars.

In a new press release, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) says that Oliver Tejada, 25, of the Bronx, New York, has been handed a 60-month prison sentence for masterminding a scheme that stole cash from 11 different bank branches, 10 of which were located in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Authorities say that Tejada and his co-conspirators stole more than $1 million from 23 victims, though in some instances the banks caught on and reversed their transactions, resulting in the banks losing a total of $780,837.

To pull off their scheme, Tejada and his co-conspirators would target the elderly and other victims to obtain their private bank account information, make calls to banks to gather additional information about their targets, then use an impostor with fraudulent documents, such as a fake ID, to come in to various branches and make large withdrawals or wire transfers.

The transfers would be sent to an account of someone who was recruited to receive the money and quickly deplete the account.

In some instances, the imposter would use the fake identification documents to obtain a debit card.

Tejada was originally charged in May 2024, and he pleaded guilty earlier this year to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.

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Scammer Causes Banks To Lose $780,837 After Running Elaborate Cash Heist at 11 Different Branches

Bitcoin

fell below $100,000 on Sunday, its lowest point since May, signalling risk aversion on Wall Street on Monday amid reports that Iran is leaning towards blocking the Strait of Hormuz.

The Strait, located between Oman and Iran, connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, handling roughly 20% of the global oil trade.

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Reports of Iranian politicians mulling the closure of the Strait had observers worried about a significant spike in oil prices early Monday.

"After US strikes on Iran last night, 50+ large oil tankers were scrambling to leave the Strait of Hormuz. Markets have been closed, but an immediate drop in supply is expected to send prices higher. JP Morgan described this as their worst-case scenario in the Israel-Iran war," The Kobeissi Letter said on X.

According to JPMorgan, oil could surge to $120-$130 per barrel in that scenario. That could potentially lift the U.S. inflation rate to 5%, the highest since March 2023. At the time, the Federal Reserve was raising interest rates.

The losses in BTC weighed heavily over the broader crypto market, as usual, dragging major altcoins such as XRP, SOL, and ETH lower. The payments-focused XRP slipped 6% to $1.935, the lowest since April 10. Ethereum's ether token slipped to levels seen in early May, according to CoinDesk data.

BTC, ETH, XRP News: Bitcoin Price Slips Below $100K, Hinting Oil-Led Risk-Off on Wall Street as Iran Looks to Block The Strait of Hormuz

A Connecticut man involved with a massive theft of Bitcoin (BTC) from a Washington, D.C. victim reportedly pleaded guilty to fraud and money laundering conspiracy charges.

ABC News reports that Veer Chetal, who is among the three men charged with siphoning 4,100 BTC worth $243 million in an elaborate scam last August, also agreed to testify against his co-defendants, Malone Lam and Jeandiel Serrano.

Authorities say that the trio engaged in online social engineering attacks targeting cryptocurrency holders. Lam would send fake alerts to victims about unauthorized attempts to access their crypto accounts. Chetal and Serrano would then call and pose as representatives from companies like Google and Yahoo in an effort to access victims’ accounts.

Prosecutors say that Chetal, Lam and Serrano lived large after the heist, spending millions on cars, jewelry, rental mansions and nightclub parties.

But a week after the theft, Chetal’s parents were abducted in a botched ransom scheme. The suspects planned to demand payment from Chetal, believing he held large amounts of cryptocurrency.

But the abductors were arrested quickly after the police responded to eyewitness calls. An off-duty FBI agent also happened to be passing by just as the kidnapping unfolded.

Unsealed court documents also show that Chetal is being accused of playing a role in 50 similar heists that siphoned $3 million from victims between November 2023 and September 2024.

Chetal now faces up to 24 years in prison, a fine ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 and restitution to the victim.

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Mastermind of $243,000,000 Bitcoin (BTC) Hack Cooperates With Feds, Pleads Guilty to Charges: Report

Economist and best-selling author Nassim Taleb says a single asset has overtaken the US dollar’s position as the world’s de facto reserve currency.

In a new interview with Bloomberg, the Black Swan author says that the US dollar has lost its status as a reliable safe-haven asset, noting that people prefer to invest in the stock market rather than hold a currency that declines in value over time.

He also says that America’s sweeping sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine marked the beginning of the end of the dollar’s reign as the world’s reserve currency. According to Taleb, gold is now the world’s reserve currency, highlighting that the dollar’s credibility eroded after America and its allies weaponized the USD.

“That would end up being reflected in stocks, the slow decline of the dollar, and effectively, there’s a second risk. The first one is the deficit, the second one is effectively that the dollar is losing its status as a reserve currency…

You can see the accumulation of gold in the reserves and the behavior of gold over the past 12 months. And it didn’t start with Trump’s policies. Of course, it started with Biden when he froze the accounts of people connected to Putin, and of course, thinking that it would be limited there, but people not connected to Putin decided to stay away from the euro and the dollar.

And gold is effectively now the reserve currency. Transactions take place in dollars and euros, usually dollars, and at the same rate, however, they get converted back into gold. And we can see that from the accumulation of reserves.”

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US Dollar Now Effectively Replaced As World’s Reserve Currency by This Asset, According to Black Swan Author Nassim Taleb

Fundstrat’s head of research, Tom Lee, says the Federal Reserve may be forced into a rate-cutting phase after overdoing monetary tightening.

In a new interview on CNBC, Lee says he’s watching for a point when the Fed could run into an “accident,” where it waits too long to address a slowing economy.

Lee says he’s anticipating a potential “panic” scenario from the Fed.

“There could be an accident because what we are ignoring is that housing is choking and collapsing under the weight of higher interest rates, and the labor market isn’t as strong as it appears.

When we look at the ability to get a job, it’s much harder. So… there’s long and variable lags, and there could be an accident where the Fed would have to panic, so I think that’s something we have to watch in the incoming data…

I think there could be a point where the Fed suddenly realizes the risks are actually to the downside for the economy weakening, and so the Fed will actually have to respond to an economy that they’re strangulating and really fighting what they believe is a supply shock inflation. So I’m a little concerned that the Fed could be late if they continue to hold.”

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BTC, SOL, ADA, DOGE Bets Liquidated for $595M as U.S. Bombs Iran Nuclear Sites

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