Overview
- On Jan. 10, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao suggested a potential crypto “super cycle,” tying his view to changing U.S. regulatory priorities.
- The SEC in November removed crypto from its 2026 Examination Priorities and redirected exam resources to AI and third‑party vendor risks while continuing custody, fiduciary, and AML enforcement.
- The GENIUS Act, signed in July 2025, created the first federal framework for payment stablecoins, providing legal clarity for issuers and users.
- The Senate Banking Committee is set to mark up the CLARITY Act on Jan. 15, a step that could clarify SEC–CFTC jurisdiction and require coordinated oversight.
- Spot bitcoin ETFs have drawn more than $56 billion since 2024 and banks such as JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley are developing crypto products, though analysts caution that macro factors could temper any “super cycle,” a view CZ acknowledged by noting he cannot predict the future.