Crypto

FIT21 Act Aims to Streamline Cryptocurrency Regulations in the U.S.

Published

2 years ago

May 21, 2024

FIT21 Act Aims to Streamline Cryptocurrency Regulations in the U.S.

This month marks a potential turning point for the cryptocurrency industry as the House of Representatives gears up to vote on the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act (FIT21).

The FIT21 bill, formally designated as HR 4763, seeks to streamline cryptocurrency regulation across the United States. It aims to establish a clear regulatory framework for digital assets, addressing their unique characteristics and ensuring consumer protections.

Regulatory Roles and Classifications

A primary objective of the bill is to delineate the regulatory roles of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This distinction is critical because it determines whether digital assets are classified as securities or commodities, thereby affecting their regulation.

Under the proposed legislation, the CFTC would regulate digital assets if the associated blockchain or digital ledger is both functional and decentralized. Conversely, the SEC would oversee assets as securities if the blockchain is functional but not decentralized. Decentralization, as defined by the bill, means that no single entity controls more than 20% of the digital asset or its voting power.

Support and Criticism Over The FIT21

The bill has garnered bipartisan support but also faced criticism, particularly from the crypto community. Some stakeholders are concerned about the bill’s strict decentralization requirements, fearing it grants the SEC excessive power to withdraw support from tokens or projects that shift towards centralization. Additionally, there are worries that the bill does not clearly delineate the boundaries between the SEC and the CFTC’s authorities, potentially leading to regulatory confusion.

Despite these concerns, proponents of FIT21 argue that the bill will provide the regulatory clarity the crypto industry needs to thrive in the U.S. They believe that clear rules will help crypto businesses gain public trust, innovate with confidence, and ensure accountability for bad actors. As the House of Representatives prepares to vote, the entire crypto industry is watching closely, hopeful that FIT21 will usher in a new era of clear and effective regulation.

Comparison with the EU’s Approach

This development is particularly significant considering that the European Union (EU) has made substantial strides in creating a comprehensive regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies, leaving the United States trailing with a fragmented and uncertain regulatory landscape.

The EU has taken a proactive approach to cryptocurrency regulation with the introduction of the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework. MiCA aims to establish a clear and harmonized set of rules across all EU member states, providing legal certainty for both cryptocurrency businesses and investors.

This regulation covers a wide range of crypto assets, including utility tokens, stablecoins, and other digital assets, ensuring they are subject to robust consumer protection, transparency, and anti-money laundering (AML) requirements. MiCA’s comprehensive nature and its focus on consumer protection and market integrity make it a pioneering piece of legislation in the crypto space.

In contrast, the regulatory approach in the United States has been piecemeal and inconsistent. Multiple regulatory bodies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), have jurisdiction over different aspects of the cryptocurrency market.

This fragmented regulatory environment has created uncertainty for crypto businesses and investors, as they must navigate a complex web of regulations that can vary significantly from one state to another. Additionally, the lack of clear guidance on the classification of certain crypto assets has led to legal disputes and enforcement actions that further complicate the regulatory landscape.

The U.S. Regulatory Landscape

One of the key areas where the EU has outpaced the U.S. is in the regulation of stablecoins. MiCA includes specific provisions for stablecoins, recognizing their potential to facilitate payments and enhance financial inclusion while also addressing the risks they pose to financial stability and monetary policy. In the U.S., however, stablecoin regulation remains largely undeveloped, with various proposals and reports yet to culminate in a cohesive regulatory framework.

Moreover, the EU’s regulatory approach reflects a more collaborative and forward-looking stance. European regulators have engaged with industry stakeholders to develop regulations that foster innovation while ensuring robust oversight. This approach contrasts with the U.S., where regulatory actions have often been reactive and enforcement-focused, potentially stifling innovation and driving crypto businesses to more favorable jurisdictions.

As the House of Representatives prepares to vote on FIT21, the outcome could significantly influence the future trajectory of the cryptocurrency industry in the United States, potentially aligning it more closely with the comprehensive and proactive regulatory framework established by the EU.

Crypto

The Cryptocurrency That Could Be About to Explode 1,000% | The Motley Fool

Published

10 hours ago

December 21, 2025

Press Room

The Cryptocurrency That Could Be About to Explode 1,000% | The Motley Fool

This tiny AI coin could be ready to skyrocket in 2026.

It’s slim pickings in the crypto market right now, with nearly every cryptocurrency down 25% or more over the past 90 days. But if you’re willing to dig for bargains and hold your nose at the same time, it’s possible to come up with some potential blockbuster plays for 2026.

My favorite pick right now is Artificial Superintelligence Alliance (FET 0.25%), down 68% over the past 90 days, and more than 80% for the year. This is exactly the type of beaten-down cryptocurrency that could be ready to explode higher by 1,000% or more over the next 12 months.

Rules for picking 1,000% winners

In order for any cryptocurrency to soar 1,000% or more within a relatively short period of time, it needs to meet a few key criteria. First of all, it needs to be dirt cheap — that’s the only way to attract speculative retail money. So, as a first cutoff, let’s narrow our search to beaten-down cryptos trading for $1 or less.

Second, the cryptocurrency needs to be in a red-hot sector or backed by a red-hot investment thesis. Within the blockchain and crypto world, there are plenty of potential hot ideas to choose from, including real-world asset tokenization, stablecoins, and decentralized finance (DeFi).

But let’s face facts here: If you try explaining real-world asset tokenization or stablecoins to your friends and family over the winter holidays, you’ll probably be met with a very frosty reception. The investment narrative needs to be easy to grasp and easy to explain. And I can’t think of a better one right now than artificial intelligence (AI).

Image source: Getty Images.

So let’s further narrow our search down to so-called AI coins. This was once a red-hot category, and includes some major names like Bittensor, Render, and Artificial Superintelligence Alliance (FET 0.25%).

The case for buying Artificial Superintelligence Alliance

Of these AI coins, the only one that’s trading for less than a buck right now is Artificial Superintelligence Alliance (the cryptocurrency formerly known as Fetch.ai). It has a super-low discount price of $0.20 — almost as cheap as some meme coins. In order for FET to explode in price by 1,000%, all investors need it to do is hit a price of $2.20.

Today’s Change

(-0.25%) $-0.00

Current Price

$0.21

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$480M

Day’s Range

$0.20 – $0.21

52wk Range

$0.19 – $1.65

Volume

54M

Thankfully, it has already done that in the past. In March 2024, Artificial Superintelligence Alliance hit an all-time high of $3.47. So, getting back to a price level of $2.20 may not be as insurmountable as it seems at first.

Moreover, the crypto (via the involvement of Fetch.ai in the alliance) is at the forefront of the hot new field of agentic AI, so there’s plenty of long-term growth potential.

Just keep in mind that there’s a big reason the price of Artificial Superintelligence Alliance has cratered by nearly 95% over the past 18 months. Simply put, investors have given up on the “alliance” that was supposed to create the world’s foremost AI coin.

The multistep merger process that was supposed to result in a single token called ASI has gone on much longer than expected. It has also been much messier than many people expected. In October, Ocean Protocol — one of the three big AI players involved — finally pulled out of the alliance, and that sent the price of FET tumbling.

What can investors expect in 2026?

As recently as December 2024, the price of Artificial Superintelligence Alliance was around $2. That’s why I’m optimistic about a potential rebound in price in 2026. Crypto traders have likely overreacted and are now dumping this AI coin indiscriminately.

That being said, a 1,000% surge in price is by no means guaranteed. It’s quite possible that the price of Artificial Superintelligence Alliance could go to zero. So, buckle up now if you plan to invest in this AI coin — the path ahead is likely to be filled with turbulence and stomach-churning moves up and down.

Crypto

China Discovers ‘Largest’ Undersea Gold Deposit in Asia as State Mining Ambitions Expand

Published

22 hours ago

December 21, 2025

Press Room

China Discovers ‘Largest’ Undersea Gold Deposit in Asia as State Mining Ambitions Expand

China says it has uncovered Asia’s largest undersea gold deposit, a massive offshore find that strengthens domestic supply, reshapes regional resource rankings, and highlights Beijing’s accelerating push to secure strategic minerals.

Crypto

North Korean hackers allegedly stole record $2.02 billion of cryptocurrency in 2025. Here’s how they did it | Stock Market News

Published

1 day ago

December 20, 2025

Press Room

North Korea remains dominant threat to cryptocurrency security in 2025, even while confirmed incidents have decreased, according to a report by blockchain analytics company Chainanlysis.

Hackers from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) allegedly stole a record $2.02 billion of crypto this year — a 51% jump compared to 2024, and taking their all-time total to $6.75 billion, it added.

The analysis further found that the DRPK is achieving larger thefts with fewer incidents, using unique methods to gain access and pull off their heists.

North Korea’s alleged crypto heists: Here’s how they did it

As per the report, these hacks were often carried out in unique fashion by embedding IT workers inside crypto services or using sophisticated impersonation tactics targeting executives.

Embedding IT workers

This is among the DPRK’s “principal attack vectors”, the report said. It added that the hackers secured jobs inside crypto services to gain privileged access and enable high‑impact compromises.

“Part of this record year likely reflects an expanded reliance on IT worker infiltration at exchanges, custodians, and web3 firms, which can accelerate initial access and lateral movement ahead of large‑scale theft,” it noted.

Fake jobs

Further, taking the IT worker model and “flipping it on its head”, the analysis said that DPRK-linked operators are also increasingly impersonating recruiters for prominent web3 and AI firms. This way, they orchestrate fake hiring processes that culminate in “technical screens” designed to harvest credentials, source code, and VPN or SSO access to the victim’s current employer.

“At the executive level, a similar social‑engineering playbook appears in the form of bogus outreach from purported strategic investors or acquirers, who use pitch meetings and pseudo–due diligence to probe for sensitive systems information and potential access paths into high‑value infrastructure,” it added.

Higher- value attacks

Over the years, DPRK-linked operators are increasingly undertaking significantly higher-value attacks compared to other threat actors. “This pattern reinforces that when North Korean hackers strike, they target large services and aim for maximum impact,” the report added.

It noted that “this year’s record haul came from significantly fewer known incidents”, including the massive $1.5 billion Bybit hack in February 2025.

DPRK’s distinctive laundering patterns

Not just the hacking process, the laundering of stolen funds is also distinctive, the report said. It noted that more than 60% of laundering was of volume concentrated below $5,00,000 transfer value tranches, despite the total stolen amounts being larger.

“Even while the DPRK consistently steals larger amounts than other stolen fund threat actors, they structure on-chain payments in smaller tranches, speaking to the sophistication of their laundering,” it added.