White House Crypto Rules: Clearer Waters or Just More Confusing? 🤔

by

The White House finally decided to scribble some notes on cryptocurrency — like a farmer scribbles in the dirt—hoping to untangle the mess they’ve been tripping over for years. Many digital asset folks have been stuck in a swamp of unclear rules, stumbling over securities laws that seem to shift every time they blink.

Last Wednesday, the not-so-mysterious working group, led by none other than President Trump’s crew — because who said you can’t have a little irony in crypto? — rolled out a report filled with shiny recommendations on how to organize the chaos: market structure, banking regulations, and how to get the US dollar to wear a crown of stablecoins and crypto taxes, because apparently that’s what’s trendy now.

One big a prettier divide between the SEC and the CFTC — because why argue about who gets to yell at the kids? The CFTC would get control over the spot markets, which is fancy talk for “they finally get to oversee the real cash trading.” It’s about time, right? Or so they say.

Edwin Mata, a lawyer who probably dreams of blockchain diagrams, quipped that “letting each regulator do what they’re best at” will prevent their constant bickering — like an old couple fighting over who left the lights on. “This is important,” he added with the kind of grave seriousness only lawyers can muster, “because in the U.S., courts like to have a clear story — not a soap opera.”

Justice comes slowly, but these new rules might help bring some sense to the chaos. Kick out the confusion, let the lawyers do their thing, and maybe one day settle the legal soap opera that’s been dragging on since the dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Well, almost.

Ripple’s courtroom drama — the plot thickens

Just as everyone was trying to decide if crypto laws are like a spaghetti mess or a neatly wrapped gift, Ripple’s legal soap opera wrapped up… or so they hope. The SEC sued Ripple in December 2020, alleging they raised a billion dollars by selling XRP like hotcakes without proper papers—a real Cinderella story, but with a giant legal pumpkin.

Fast forward, and Ripple’s CEO Brad Garlinghouse announced that the SEC was dropping its appeal. Victory dance emoji, anyone? Apparently, it’s a win for Ripple and, one assumes, for everyone tired of endless court drama about digital coins.

Two years prior, in July 2023, a judge said XRP isn’t a security when sold directly to retail folks, but turns into a security once institutional investors get their hands on it—mind-blowing legal split. Ripple had to cough up a tiny $125 million, which is just a drop in the ocean for a crypto giant.

Now, Ripple and SEC are playing nice, jointly asking to unlock the escrow to cover their legal bills — because who doesn’t like a little transparency (or just less paperwork)?

The “key hurdle” or just another brick wall?

These new rules are like a fresh coat of paint on the crumbling wall of crypto law—they might scare off some of the troublemakers and make the big kids feel better about playing. According to crypto analysts, it’s about “same rules for everyone,” trying to sound fair, even if it’s more like “same rules for the brave souls” who dare to invest in crypto.

But don’t hang up your party hats just yet. The experts say there’s still a lot of loose ends: no clear guidance on crypto banking or custody (holding your coins safely), and some think that’s probably being worked on, behind the scenes, in a dark room full of coffee cups.

Read More

2025-08-04 12:37