Key Points:

• RFK Jr. — Bitcoin advocate and investor

• Robinhood expands cryptocurrency offerings amid market optimism

• Gary Gensler resigns as SEC chairman

Former presidential candidate and current cabinet nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently revealed that he has invested most of his wealth in Bitcoin, emphasizing its role as a "free currency" and a hedge against inflation. Kennedy is a long-time supporter of Bitcoin, and he has emphasized the asset's potential to stabilize the dollar along with other hard assets such as gold and silver. His advocacy includes buying Bitcoin for his children and proposing innovative policies such as putting the U.S. fiscal budget on-chain to increase transparency. Kennedy's vision also includes a strategic reserve of Bitcoin, aimed at strengthening the dollar's reserve currency status.

Robinhood Markets Inc. has added Solana, Cardano, XRP and memecoin Pepe to its lineup of crypto products for U.S. users. Renewed optimism in digital asset markets following Donald Trump’s election has driven Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies higher. Pepe shares surged 51% following the announcement. Robinhood, which previously came under SEC scrutiny for its crypto business, now offers 19 tokens, including Doge and Shib, to its retail investor base.

SEC Chairman Gary Gensler has announced that he will be stepping down, a move he hinted at in a recent speech in which he reviewed his tenure since 2021. This included reforms to the Treasury and equity markets and enforcement actions by the SEC. Under his leadership, the SEC approved a Bitcoin futures ETF with a focus on information disclosure and investor protection. Gensler acknowledged the challenges of regulating emerging technologies such as blockchain, emphasizing the need for innovation and oversight while praising SEC staff for their dedication to public service. Ultimately, however, this is a change that many blockchain industry stakeholders are happy about, as they viewed Gensler's behavior during his tenure as somewhat hostile to blockchain entities.

news

• “I have most of my wealth in Bitcoin, so I’m all in” — RFK Jr.

• Robinhood Offers Tokens to U.S. Crypto Customers

• MicroStrategy buys another 27,200 BTC for $2 billion; Bitcoin profit is $11 billion

• UK fintech firm Revolut expands cryptocurrency exchange to 30 new markets in Europe

product

• Coinbase offers free US bank accounts linked to wallets

• Immutable announces in-game signature functionality for Web3 games

• Note, Solana: Starknet 4x TPS in 3 months

• NYSE Arca Files Form 19b-4 to List Bitwise 10 Crypto Index Fund (BITW) as an ETP

Regulation

• Gary Gensler issues statement hinting at resignation as SEC chairman

• Italy to Water Down Proposal for 42% Tax on Crypto Transactions

• Pennsylvania lawmaker proposes "Bitcoin strategic reserve" bill

• 18 states sue SEC and Gensler for "regulatory overreach" on cryptocurrencies

funds

• Cryptocurrency venture capital investment fell in the quarter before Trump's victory

• Franklin Templeton Expands $410 Million Money Market Fund to Ethereum Blockchain

• BlackRock expands its tokenized money market fund to Polygon, other blockchains

• Wyden Raises $16.9 Million in Series B Funding