According to Cointelegraph, the cryptocurrency industry in Washington has experienced a significant transformation from a hostile environment to a more coordinated and effective political movement. For years, the industry faced regulatory challenges, lawsuits, and policy uncertainties that drove many innovators overseas. However, Kristin Smith, president of the Solana Policy Institute, highlights a dramatic shift in the regulatory landscape in the latest episode of the Clear Crypto Podcast. Smith, who has been a prominent policy leader in Washington and former CEO of the Blockchain Association, discusses the evolution of the U.S. regulatory environment with hosts Nathan Jeffay and Gareth Jenkinson. She notes that the industry, once fragmented and defensive, has now become one of the most organized political movements in recent history. Smith emphasizes that the previous regulatory assault on crypto, primarily through securities laws, aimed to create confusion and push builders overseas. Despite these challenges, the industry has not only survived but thrived, with expectations of expanding the marketplace to unprecedented levels. A pivotal moment in this transformation is the enactment of the GENIUS Act, a landmark legislation that establishes a federal framework for dollar-backed stablecoins. Smith describes this law as a victory for the industry and a validation of blockchain's role in the U.S. economy. She underscores the importance of stablecoins and the underlying blockchains on which they are minted, suggesting that the government will find it politically untenable to attack these financial rails as they become integral to value trading. The podcast episode also sheds light on the maturation of lobbying efforts within the crypto space. From a handful of policy advocates in 2017 to hundreds today, the industry has built a presence in Washington that rivals more traditional sectors. Smith points out the shift from companies avoiding engagement in Washington to establishing one of the largest super PACs, marking a real political movement. The Solana Policy Institute plays a unique role by representing an entire blockchain network rather than a single company, amplifying the perspectives of Solana developers, builders, and users. This approach is crafting a new playbook for decentralized communities to engage with regulators. Despite these advancements, Smith emphasizes that the movement is not about protecting incumbents but rather about creating a fairer, more open financial system. Advocates are driven by the belief in empowering individuals with ownership of their assets and enabling transactions without unnecessary intermediaries. For those interested in the full conversation, the complete episode is available on Cointelegraph’s Podcasts page, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

Your daily access to the back room. source: https://www.blockhead.co/2025/08/21/btc-momentum-stalls-as-capital-inflows-weaken-fed-minutes-add-policy-uncertainty/

The United States and the European Union have finalized the details of a trade agreement, formalizing a truce that almost went sour between the world’s two largest economies. The pact was published in a joint statement on Thursday, and sets out tariff reductions and regulatory commitments from the verbal deal reached in July. According to […] source: https://www.cryptopolitan.com/us-and-european-union-reach-a-trade-deal/

The decision will determine whether XRP gains its first-ever spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs), a development that could accelerate institutional adoption. source: https://coindoo.com/xrp-etf-to-be-approved-in-60-days-according-to-analysts/

Current age verification drives users to VPNs and sketchy sites. Blockchain can prove you’re over 18 without exposing your identity to data breaches. source: https://cointelegraph.com/news/verification-age-blockchain?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound

Powell's speech in Jackson Hole forces big cut in XRP longs on world's largest crypto exchange, Binance source: https://u.today/top-binance-traders-cut-xrp-longs-ahead-of-powells-speech

Bitcoin rebounded to $113,100 after a sharp correction from its ATH, with sentiment stabilizing as investors awaited Jerome Powell’s Jackson Hole speech. <p>The post Bitcoin Bounces After 10% Correction—Will Powell Spark the Next Rally? first appeared on Ecoinimist. </p> source: https://ecoinimist.com/2025/08/21/bitcoin-recovers-powells-speech-looms/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=bitcoin-recovers-powells-speech-looms

According to BlockBeats, Jill Hirzel from Insight Investment has indicated in a report that the U. S. dollar might weaken as U. S source: https://www.binance.com/en/square/post/28616097541858?utm_source=BinanceNewsRSS

According to BlockBeats, Jill Hirzel from Insight Investment has indicated in a report that the U.S. dollar might weaken as U.S. President Donald Trump's policies diminish the appeal of American exceptionalism, potentially reducing capital inflows into the United States. Hirzel stated that policy uncertainties and a more aggressive 'America First' agenda could erode the cyclical support for the dollar, leading to a prolonged period of weakness. However, she cautioned investors against excessively betting on the dollar's decline through short positions, as growth outside the United States is expected to be weak at best, and speculators may already hold significant short positions on the dollar. Additionally, real interest rates, adjusted for inflation, are likely to remain high until signs of economic weakness emerge that are concerning enough for policymakers.

null source: https://x.com/BTC_Archive/status/1958519192992285182

"Holding volume Ol is greater than market value MC" is an extremely strong speculative signal.

Recommended reading for tonight: 1. Kanye West's coin launch shrouded in doubt: Why are celebrity coins always plagued by controversy? 2. What's the current state of Bitcoin on-chain activity? 3. Hyperliquid's 11 employees power the decentralized Binance, which generates $1.1 billion in annual revenue.

稳定币的夏天是否具有持久⼒，这对发⾏⽅、现有的⽀付和银⾏系统、市场以及更⼴泛的⾦融稳定可能意味着什么？

While the minimalist structure of 11 people brings efficiency and purity, it also means that there is insufficient manpower to simultaneously address multiple fronts, including security, compliance, and ecosystem expansion. Once a technical vulnerability or hacker attack occurs, the team's ability to respond will be severely tested.

Kanye West, now known as Ye, launched a Solana-based YZY token, sparking a market surge to a $3 billion valuation within 40 minutes. Most of the supply is controlled by insiders, raising concerns about long-term stability despite high trading activity.

The comparative value also applies to regulation. The complete openness of the Bitcoin ledger allows global regulators to leverage blockchain to achieve regulatory compliance.

Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports has unveiled plans to offer 200,000 free domestic flight tickets to foreign visitors in an effort to boost nationwide tourism over the next three months.

Project, CoinDesk, Pandu Watchlist: Still Bullish? Golden Finance breaks down Bullish's fundamentals and valuation in detail.

Global online search interest in altcoins has experienced a notable decline this week, reflecting broader weakening in cryptocurrency markets as Bitcoin and altcoins retraced over the past six days.

DBS has launched its first tokenised structured notes on Ethereum, breaking $100,000 investments into $1,000 units for easier trading. The notes, initially linked to cryptocurrencies, are available to accredited and institutional investors through local digital platforms.