Amir Zaidi Named CFTC Chief of Staff as Bitcoin Futures Hit Milestone

Published at 2025-12-31 20:15:08

CFTC Chair Michael Selig announced the appointment of Amir Zaidi as his chief of staff as he begins his term, an early leadership choice with clear industry implications. Zaidi, described by insiders as pro-crypto, joins the agency at a moment when Bitcoin futures markets have marked a notable milestone, underscoring heightened institutional activity and greater derivatives complexity.

The hire matters because a chief of staff helps set priorities and coordinate policy across divisions; Zaidi’s outlook could shape how the CFTC balances market integrity, surveillance and engagement with crypto firms. Market participants and lawmakers will watch whether the agency leans toward facilitative market frameworks or tighter oversight as it navigates cross-agency coordination and the evolving derivatives landscape for BTC.

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South Korea’s Supreme Court held that bitcoin stored on cryptocurrency exchanges can be seized in criminal investigations, treating virtual assets as property under criminal procedure law. The decision clarifies how exchanges must respond to law enforcement requests and could speed recovery of criminal proceeds.

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Published at 2026-01-10 02:00:10

Wall Street Banks Go All-In on Bitcoin, Stablecoins, and Tokenized Cash

Major Wall Street banks are shifting infrastructure onchain, rolling out tokenized deposits, backing stablecoins, and supporting spot Bitcoin exposure. The move marks a broad institutional embrace of crypto primitives within traditional finance.

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Published at 2026-01-09 21:15:33

Senate Republicans Rush Crypto Bill as Committee Support Remains Unclear

Sen. Cynthia Lummis says a Banking Committee draft is already circulating, while the Agriculture Committee says it is still working on a bipartisan proposal. The split raises questions about timing and bipartisan support for federal crypto rules.

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Published at 2026-01-09 21:15:20

Morgan Stanley Reportedly Launching Proprietary Crypto Wallet

Morgan Stanley is reportedly developing its own proprietary digital wallet as part of a broader push into digital assets ahead of 2026. The move follows the bank’s announcement that it plans to launch a bitcoin ETF, which would mark a first for a major U.S. bank.

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Published at 2026-01-09 21:00:22

Bitcoin Rises After Weak U.S. Jobs Report, Traders See Fed Holding Rates

Bitcoin climbed after December’s U.S. jobs report showed weaker-than-expected payrolls growth and a softer unemployment reading, boosting bets that the Fed will pause rate hikes. Markets are treating the news as supportive for risk assets but remain watchful for further macro signals.