US House Schedules 'Crypto Week' to Debate Three Key Digital Asset Bills
The U.S. House will kick off "Crypto Week" on July 14, focusing on three major crypto bills: the GENIUS Act, CLARITY Act, and Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act. The GENIUS Act, which aims to regulate stablecoins, has already passed the Senate and is expected to advance swiftly. The CLARITY Act seeks to clarify token classifications and bolster consumer protections, while the Anti-CBDC Act would block the Federal Reserve from launching a central bank digital currency. These bills mark a major push by GOP lawmakers to advance President Trump's crypto agenda during his term. (Be in Crypto)
Minna Bank Pilots Solana-Based Stablecoins for Payments and Trade in Japan
Minna Bank, Japan’s first digital-only bank, has partnered with Fireblocks, Solana Japan, and TIS to explore the issuance and use of stablecoins on the Solana blockchain. The joint study will assess how stablecoins can improve cross-border payments, asset trading, and everyday transactions. This initiative reflects Japan’s growing interest in Web3 technology amid a global surge in stablecoin adoption, especially for reducing payment costs and improving financial efficiency. Fireblocks noted Japan’s focus on corporate banking and trade as key drivers for stablecoin innovation in the country. (Decrypt)
Figma Reveals $100M Bitcoin Bet in IPO Filing
Design software firm Figma disclosed in its IPO filing that it holds $70 million in Bitcoin ETFs and has board approval to allocate another $30 million via USDC for additional BTC purchases. This move places Figma among a growing cohort of tech companies integrating Bitcoin into their corporate treasury strategies. The total $100 million crypto allocation highlights increasing institutional confidence in Bitcoin as a reserve asset. Figma’s IPO filing adds to the narrative of digital assets gaining traction in mainstream finance. (Crypto Briefing)
Tether Expands Bitcoin Mining in South America with Adecoagro Partnership
Tether has signed a memorandum of understanding with Brazilian renewable energy firm Adecoagro to mine Bitcoin using surplus energy, marking another step in its growing mining presence in Latin America. Adecoagro, which produces over 230 megawatts of renewable power, sees this initiative as a way to stabilize energy revenues and gain strategic Bitcoin exposure on its balance sheet. This expansion follows Tether’s previous mining ventures in Uruguay and Paraguay, and is part of its broader investment strategy under CEO Paolo Ardoino. Tether continues to channel profits into diverse sectors including AI, peer-to-peer tech, and Bitcoin mining, backed by its massive $149B in reserves. (The Block)
JPMorgan and XRP Ledger Make Major Blockchain Moves
JPMorgan’s Kinexys unit is developing a blockchain platform to tokenize carbon credits, aiming to boost transparency, efficiency, and trust in the voluntary carbon market. Partnering with S&P Global, EcoRegistry, and the International Carbon Registry, the initiative will trace the full lifecycle of credits, addressing issues like double-counting and market fragmentation. (Crypto Briefing)
Germany’s Top Banks Set to Launch Crypto Services by 2026
Deutsche Bank and the Sparkassen Group, Germany’s two largest banking institutions, have announced plans to enter the crypto market by 2026. Deutsche Bank will launch Bitcoin and crypto custody services for institutional and high-net-worth clients, offering secure storage solutions akin to traditional assets. Meanwhile, Sparkassen will enable over 50 million retail clients to trade cryptocurrencies directly from their bank accounts. These developments signal a major shift toward mainstream crypto adoption in Europe, driven by client demand and regulatory clarity. (Cryptoticker)
