So, 2025 was the year Trump "saved crypto," huh? Gimme a break. This report from TRM Labs is painting a rosy picture of regulatory clarity and institutional adoption, all thanks to the "GENIUS Act." Seriously? I'm supposed to believe that one bill magically fixed everything?
Let's be real, "regulatory clarity" in crypto is like finding a unicorn riding a skateboard. It sounds great in theory, but the details are always a nightmare. This GENIUS Act, which I'm already side-eyeing because of the name alone, is supposedly a game-changer for stablecoins. Okay, great. More stablecoins. More ways for institutions to dip their toes in without actually understanding what the hell they're investing in.
80% of jurisdictions seeing financial institutions announce digital asset initiatives? That's not progress, that's just FOMO (fear of missing out) on a grand scale.
And this whole "institutional adoption" thing? It's a double-edged sword. Sure, it brings in more money, but it also brings in the same old Wall Street BS that got us into this mess in the first place. They want to slap regulations on everything, turning crypto into just another version of the traditional financial system. What's the point then?
The Basel Committee is "reassessing" its prudential rules for banks' crypto exposures. Oh, how generous of them. They almost made it impossible for banks to touch crypto, and now they're having second thoughts? It's not like they care about innovation, they care about missing out on potential profits.
Compliance and risk management are "central priorities" for these institutions, and crypto-native firms are suddenly recognizing that "strong regulatory standing is key to partnership." Translation: Everyone's selling out to the man. The whole point of crypto was to get away from these guys.
This report keeps harping on the need for "global consistency" in crypto regulation. Good luck with that. Crypto's global and borderless nature makes it impossible to control. The FATF warns about "gaps in standards implementation" and the FSB cautions about "gaps and inconsistencies." No duh. It's like trying to herd cats.
North Korea's $1.5 billion hack on Bybit is cited as an example of how illicit actors exploit unregulated technologies. Okay, but even with all the regulations in the world, criminals will still find ways to exploit the system. That's what they do. Regulations just make it harder for the rest of us.
They want "better cross-jurisdictional coordination and real-time information sharing between compliant VASPs and law enforcement." Sounds like a surveillance state to me.
Then again, maybe I'm just paranoid. But let's be real, the government and big corporations aren't exactly known for their benevolent intentions.
The US leading an "acceleration in crypto policymaking" and friendlier regulatory attitudes? It's all smoke and mirrors. Trump's "GENIUS Act" is probably just a way for him to score political points and make his buddies on Wall Street even richer. I ain't buying it. According to the Global Crypto Policy Review Outlook 2025/26 Report, the US is leading this acceleration.
See, this is what happens when you let the suits in. Crypto was meant to be a revolution, but now it's just another tool for the powerful to consolidate their control. And we, the supposed "decentralized" masses, are just falling in line.
