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The post Crypto News: Cboe BZX Files First-Ever SEC Request to Allow Staking for 21Shares’ Ethereum ETF appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News The Cboe BZX Exchange has recently submitted a proposed rule change to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to allow staking for the 21Shares Core Ethereum ETF. This request, filed through a Form 19b-4, aims to enable staking for the Ethereum held by the ETF trust. If approved, it would become the first ETF in the U.S. to incorporate staking. The SEC has previously approved several Ethereum ETFs, such as the 21Shares Ethereum ETF, alongside other high-profile offerings from firms like BlackRock and Fidelity. However, most of these approvals excluded staking due to regulatory concerns. The filing said, “Based on discussions with the Sponsor, the Exchanges proposes to amend several portions of the Eth ETP Amendment No. 2, as amended, in order to allow the staking of the Ethereum held by the Trust.” What Does This Mean for Ethereum? Staking is an important feature for Ethereum, as it allows holders to earn passive rewards for helping secure the network. However, staking hasn’t been part of the Ethereum ETF offerings so far, as the SEC had previously raised concerns about whether staking could be considered a security. This was part of broader regulatory uncertainty surrounding cryptocurrencies, which saw SEC Chairman Gary Gensler labeling various crypto-related activities, including staking and stablecoins, as potential securities. However, this approach is now shifting, and many expect that the SEC will greenlight staking in 2025. This rule change request could pave the way for more crypto-related ETFs to incorporate staking, creating new opportunities for investors to earn rewards on their holdings. As a result, Ethereum ETFs could attract capital, as passive staking rewards become a compelling benefit for investors. The ETF Race Heats Up The SEC’s approval of the 21Shares Core Ethereum ETF with staking could set a precedent, with other crypto firms looking to follow suit. The Cboe BZX Exchange has been very active in the ETF space, having also filed proposals for other assets like XRP.

Author: Weilin, PANews On February 13, the U.S. Government Efficiency Department (DOGE) officially launched its website to disclose details and evidence of government cost reductions, marking the latest progress of the department in cutting costs for the U.S. government. As of the afternoon of February 13, according to data from doge-tracker (compiled from DOGE's Twitter), Musk's Government Efficiency Department has saved American taxpayers $37.89 billion, which accounts for only 1.9% of Musk's goal to reduce U.S. government spending by $2 trillion. On February 9, Coinbase CEO called for increased transparency in government spending through blockchain technology. "Great progress, DOGE," Brian Armstrong wrote in a post on the X platform on February 9. "Imagine if every government expenditure could be transparently recorded on the chain; it would make auditing much easier." On February 10, Cathie Wood, founder of asset management firm Ark Invest, also supported Musk's idea of putting all U.S. government spending on the blockchain, commenting, "Transparent, efficient, secure: win-win-win." According to a report by Bloomberg in late January, DOGE is considering using blockchain technology to reduce government costs, with informed sources revealing that internal discussions are underway. If DOGE launches the plan, it could be large-scale and potentially adopted across multiple government departments. Bloomberg cited sources stating that during the discussions, there were mentions of using blockchain to track federal spending, protect data, make payments, and even manage buildings. One insider indicated that individuals associated with DOGE have met with representatives from several public blockchain networks to assess the technology. A person who visited Palm Beach, Florida, last December proposed several blockchain applications to officials from the Trump transition team, focusing on the technology's potential in protecting critical government data and tracking the flow of funds. On February 3, Musk shared his views on putting U.S. Treasury transactions on the blockchain. In a post on the X platform, Musk emphatically responded, "Yes!" The U.S. Government Efficiency Department was officially created by an executive order signed by President Trump on January 20, tasked with modernizing federal technology and software to maximize government efficiency and productivity. Trump stated that the department would work with the Office of Management and Budget to identify spending cuts and provide recommendations by July 4, 2026. Its leader is entrepreneur Musk, who was originally set to co-lead with Vivek Ramaswamy, but Vivek withdrew for personal reasons before the official appointment. DOGE has an office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building and employs about 20 staff members. An insider revealed that Musk recruited around 100 volunteers to code for his project before Trump's inauguration. Musk is pushing for the use of blockchain technology to force government transparency, but he is not the first to propose this idea. In April 2024, former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expressed his desire to put the entire federal budget on the blockchain. At a rally in Michigan, the politician told the audience, "Every American can see every item in the entire budget at any time, 24/7. We will have 300 million eyes on our budget. If someone spends $16,000 on a toilet seat, everyone will know." Kennedy's proposal has received widespread support from advocates of small government and sound money, who believe that U.S. government spending has gone out of control. Jean Rausis, co-founder of the decentralized finance platform Smardex, stated that Musk's proposal to move the U.S. Treasury to the blockchain could make the U.S. "the de facto global leader in blockchain innovation." "While it's hard to say which blockchain could handle this task, it's important that it must be permissionless. Otherwise, the promised transparency would just be talk. However, if the U.S. Treasury adopts decentralized infrastructure, it could become a catalyst for the convergence of the Web2 and Web3 worlds." Following Bloomberg's report, Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson immediately stated on X, "I think this task should be a collaboration between Cardano, Bitcoin, and Midnight. Hey, DOGE master Musk, reach out to us, we’ll help for free." On January 26, Dragonfly managing partner Haseeb Qureshi predicted that the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) might launch an AVAX sub-chain in 2025 for reporting public spending, with all expenditures traceable on-chain via stablecoins. Government agencies and contractors' wallets would be publicly disclosed and analyzed by public data detectives daily. Currently, there are use cases on Avalanche; on July 30 last year, the California Department of Motor Vehicles digitized 42 million vehicle titles on the Avalanche blockchain to detect fraud and streamline the ownership transfer process. Additionally, Ava Labs (the company behind the Avalanche blockchain) has collaborated with Deloitte and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to launch a new disaster relief platform to help the U.S. government streamline disaster compensation applications submitted to FEMA. The idea of applying blockchain to large-scale projects is not new, although applying it to large entities like the U.S. government remains an unproven concept. As early as 2022, the General Services Administration (GSA) was studying the introduction of ledger systems (like blockchain) into the daily operations of the federal government under its IT program. The agency hosted the U.S. Federal Blockchain Forum in 2017 and is exploring the use of smart contracts in patents, trademarks, IT applications, and foreign aid delivery. According to public reports from 2022, the Delaware Blockchain Initiative has also explored blockchain technology in public records organization and private sector data security. In addition to the aforementioned Cardano and Avalanche, on January 28, the price of MOVE tokens from Movement Labs surged significantly amid rumors that the company is consulting for Musk's DOGE. Reports indicate that this modular network has reached out to the organization, although the news has not been confirmed. Shortly after, Movement Labs founder Rushi Manche responded on X to the news of World Liberty Financial's large purchase of MOVE, stating, "Strategic Move reserve. We are proud to be the first altcoin, the first modern blockchain platform, and the first alternative virtual machine under the new government leadership. MOVE is made in America." Furthermore, the Trump family project World Liberty Financial recently announced a partnership with Ondo Finance, which launched the institutional Layer 1 blockchain Ondo Chain, although this collaboration mainly focuses on the RWA track. As of the afternoon of February 13, based on World Liberty Financial's holdings on Arkham Intelligence, the project holds not only ONDO and MOVE but also a significant amount of ETH, with Ethereum serving as the deployment network for the presidential family project, potentially giving it a first-mover advantage in government collaboration. What challenges will the U.S. government face in further utilizing blockchain technology? Chainlink community contributor Zach Rynes stated on X, "It is highly unlikely that the U.S. government will use a single blockchain to cover all departments and agencies. Do you think the ledger requirements of the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and FDA (Food and Drug Administration) are exactly the same as those of the DoD (Department of Defense) and DHS (Department of Homeland Security)? Probably not." He indicated that the U.S. government will ultimately use multiple private and public ledgers for various purposes, such as increasing spending transparency or automating manual processes. What is certain is that: As Musk pushes for the U.S. Treasury to put transactions on-chain, blockchain technology may be moving toward a whole new application domain. The support from Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong and ARK Invest founder Cathie Wood adds more attention to this topic. In the future, which blockchain platform will stand out as a pillar of government digital transformation may have a profound impact on the entire cryptocurrency industry.

Bitcoin remains in consolidation, currently priced at around $96,200. While it struggles to reclaim the psychological $100,000 mark, uncertainty continues to linger among investors. The latest US economic reports failed to shake the crypto market , with BTC showing resilience despite inflation concerns. BTC-USDT 1-day chart - Bitget The latest US CPI report revealed core inflation at 3.2% in January, slightly up from December’s 3.1%. This dampened expectations of multiple interest rate cuts in 2025. While Federal Reserve Chair Powell acknowledged progress toward the 2% inflation target during his Capitol Hill testimony, he suggested rate cuts are not imminent. Bitcoin briefly dropped to $94,106 before rebounding. Following a short-lived pullback, Bitcoin gained momentum as discussions surrounding a US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR) intensified. The proposed Bitcoin Act, introduced in late 2024, suggests the US government acquire one million BTC over five years with a 20-year holding period. Such an initiative could significantly shift the supply-demand balance in Bitcoin’s favor. While the Bitcoin Act awaits congressional approval, multiple US states are taking independent steps to integrate Bitcoin into their financial strategies: If Congress passes the Bitcoin Act, it could trigger widespread Bitcoin accumulation , much like historical gold accumulation trends. A national Bitcoin reserve could fuel global FOMO, driving prices to new highs. Investors are watching closely as regulatory discussions unfold, with Bitcoin’s future potentially shaped by government policies in the coming months.

Trump-backed World Liberty Financial’s MicroStrategy-like token reserve is ‘mostly a clever grift,’ Two Prime CEO says

Once dismissed as gimmicks, meme coins are now backed by influential figures and even state-led initiatives. However, while adoption surges, regulatory oversight remains absent. The Regulatory Debate Continues According to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Commissioner Hester Peirce, many of the meme coins in the market today do not come under the regulatory scope of the securities agency. While admitting that “facts and circumstances matter,” Peirce, in a recent interview with Bloomberg, “Many of the meme coins out there probably do not have a home in the SEC under our current set of regulations. If Congress wants to address, they can do that; maybe something that the CFTC wants to address, but many of those, I think, probably are not under our jurisdiction.” Peirce, often referred to as “Crypto Mom,” was recently appointed to lead the SEC’s new crypto-focused task force. The latest comments are in line with Silicon Valley veteran and the new AI and crypto czar under Trump, David Sacks’ recent statement wherein he categorized NFTs and meme coins as collectibles while comparing them to memorabilia with cultural and commemorative value. He explained that while digital assets vary widely, these tokens fit within the collectible category rather than being classified as securities or commodities. However, regulatory concerns persist, as figures like Senator Elizabeth Warren call for investigations into meme coins linked to political figures. Critics, including Mark Cuban and Balaji Srinivasan, had too warned that such assets could harm the crypto industry’s reputation without proper regulations amidst a spike in interest in meme coins. Alarm on Meme Coins Just three days before taking office, the incoming US president introduced Official Trump (TRUMP), a meme coin aimed at fans and speculators hoping for price surges. Initially soaring from $7 to $75 within a day, TRUMP later dropped to around $40 – coinciding with the launch of Official Melania (MELANIA) by the first lady. Even the Detroit-based pastor leading the inauguration ceremony, Lorenzo Sewell, joined the trend, endorsing his own meme coin. Currently, TRUMP trades above $15, while MELANIA sits at $1.42. Additionally, the Central African Republic (CAR) President Faustin-Archange Touadéra also announced the launch of the CAR token. While the project gained rapid traction, an investor reportedly turned $5,000 into over $12 million within hours. However, concerns over its legitimacy quickly surfaced. Analysts noted inconsistencies, including AI-detection tools flagging the president’s announcement video and the project’s domain being suspended by Namecheap. Skeptics even went on to point out potential manipulation, as reports of developers allegedly altering the contract to retain millions in tokens emerged. The post SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce Says Many Meme Coins Fall Outside Regulatory Scope appeared first on CryptoPotato.