Regulation & Policy

A certain CEX recently responded to a U.S. senator's inquiry about anti-money laundering, stating that the allegations are false. The platform emphasized that it has established strict compliance and sanctions controls, prohibiting Iranian users. It also launched an internal investigation, delisted related entities, and helped law enforcement recover over $752 million in the past three years. Moving forward, it will continue to strengthen its compliance system.

Charles Hoskinson argues that under the revised CLARITY Act, tokens like XRP would qualify as securities, igniting his feud with the XRP community. He called Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse out again, cautioning that having no laws is better than having a bad law. Cardano founder Charles Hoskin

According to the latest FATF report, stablecoins have become a primary funding tool for illegal transactions, especially in countries like North Korea and Iran. The report indicates that by 2025, stablecoins will account for 84% of illegal virtual asset trading volume, and calls for increased regulation of stablecoin issuers to prevent money laundering and other criminal activities. The global stablecoin market value has exceeded $300 billion, and regulators need to act quickly to close regulatory gaps.

As the US-Israel coalition's military actions against Iran escalate, Iran's "shadow economy" becomes a focal point. Iran has legalized Bitcoin mining and is utilizing cheap electricity for mining to bypass US dollar sanctions, with the mining scale potentially reaching $7.8 billion and being heavily relied upon by the military. The rial has depreciated by over 96%, and the stablecoin USDT has become a new tool for trade, while the public is turning to Bitcoin to protect their assets.

Odaily Planet Daily reports that Bitcoin payment app Strike has officially received the BitLicense license issued by the New York State Department of Financial Services, allowing it to operate cryptocurrency services locally. Strike also announced the launch of a Bitcoin collateral credit line service, enabling users to borrow fiat currency in real-time for lightning payments or bill payments. Currently, this service supports low-threshold lending and will initially be launched in Georgia and Massachusetts, with plans to expand to more states across the United States.

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim proposed establishing a "Bitcoin Strategic Reserve," but city officials assessed that Bitcoin does not meet legal investment standards and recommended that the city council withdraw the proposal. According to the report, Bitcoin is not classified as a legal asset and requires reallocation of human resources to align with municipal priority plans. The Ministry of Municipal Affairs of British Columbia has already stated that local governments are not permitted to include cryptocurrencies in their financial reserves to avoid risks.

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren criticizes the SEC for reaching a $10 million settlement with Justin Sun, claiming that regulatory agencies favor crypto allies. The settlement involves SEC charges against Sun and his company. Warren emphasizes the need to ensure crypto legislation prevents the president from profiting through the crypto industry. Justin Sun calls the settlement a conclusion to the case and commits to promoting crypto innovation.

ChainCatcher News: The Pakistani Parliament officially passed the "Virtual Assets Bill 2026," announcing the establishment of the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA), responsible for licensing and regulating virtual asset service providers within the country. The bill aims to protect investors, combat money laundering and terrorist financing, and promote fintech innovation, aligning Pakistan's regulatory standards with international practices. PVARA was previously a temporary agency established by a presidential order in July 2025; this legislation marks its formal legalization.

Russia plans to legislate cryptocurrency trading regulation, with the central bank governor proposing to allow qualified banks and brokerage firms to obtain trading licenses, establish compliance systems, monitor fund flows, and control risks. This new regulation aims to be implemented by July 2026 to promote the legalization of digital assets.

The Financial Services Commission of South Korea held its first virtual assets committee meeting of 2026 on March 4 in Seoul, discussing cryptocurrency legislation and reviewing a draft of the Digital Asset Basic Act.

Chainalysis report shows that in 2025, crypto-related illegal activities linked to sanctions increased significantly, with sanctioned entities receiving $104 billion in cryptocurrency, driving the total illegal on-chain transaction volume for the year to $154 billion. Sanctioned countries such as Russia, Iran, and North Korea are using cryptocurrencies to evade financial sanctions, with stablecoins accounting for as much as 84% of illegal transactions.

Gate News reports that on March 6, U.S. SEC Chairman Paul Atkins posted on X platform stating that President Trump’s view that the United States needs clear regulatory rules for the digital asset market is correct. He pointed out that the CLARITY Act helps ensure entrepreneurs can develop next-generation financial technologies within the United States. Paul Atkins expressed his look forward to working with CFTC Chairman Mike Selig to promote the implementation of the CLARITY Act in the near future.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission submitted interpretive crypto guidance to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs for interagency review. The proposal explains how securities laws may apply to crypto transactions and token classifications without creating new federal

On March 6th, Senator Cynthia Lummis met with CFTC Chairman Michael Selig to discuss legislation on digital asset market structure. Lummis emphasized the urgency of the legislation and looks forward to continued collaboration with the CFTC on integrating digital assets.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei stated that the company has received a formal letter from the U.S. Department of Defense regarding its national security supply chain risks and will challenge it through legal channels, emphasizing that this designation only affects specific use cases, and reaffirming its opposition to domestic surveillance and autonomous weapons. At the same time, Anthropic will continue to provide services to the Department of Defense for a symbolic fee.

TD Cowen指出，随着某 crypto company gaining access to the Federal Reserve's core payment system, more crypto companies are expected to obtain this permission this year. The company was designated as a "limited-use" account, and despite facing opposition and lawsuits from the banking industry, the Federal Reserve's approval process will continue to move forward.

Senator Chris Murphy plans to introduce legislation to restrict public betting on prediction markets related to government military actions to address insider trading risks. Recently, traders profited before the airstrike on Iran, raising concerns. The bill will prohibit market trading related to war or political speeches, aiming to maintain market integrity, prevent the misuse of sensitive information, while preserving exceptions for financial contracts.

Digital asset company Strike has received a Bitcoin license and money transfer license approved by the New York State Department of Financial Services, allowing it to offer related financial products in New York. This is a significant step in Strike's compliance development, enabling New York residents to conveniently buy and sell Bitcoin, make payments, and invest through its platform.

The Iranian rial has plummeted over 96% in two months, hitting a record low. If a nuclear agreement is reached with the United States, the rial may have room for a rebound, but purchasing options are difficult and risky. Investors should be aware of U.S. sanctions risks and potential impacts of Iran's currency reforms on exchange rates. Many people are exchanging rial through cryptocurrencies, but caution is advised.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has reached a settlement with TRON founder Justin Sun. Rainberry Inc. will pay a $10 million fine and withdraw charges against Justin Sun and related entities. This settlement ends litigation since 2023 involving whether TRX and BTT are unregistered securities and market manipulation issues, reflecting changes in U.S. cryptocurrency regulatory policies. Justin Sun stated that he will continue to promote crypto innovation.