Today’s crypto update covers major moves across the market, from regulation to mining and corporate developments. Revolut expands its crypto footprint in Europe, a well-known industry figure receives reported legal relief, and U.S. lawmakers revisit outdated financial rules. Meanwhile, Bitcoin miners take on more debt amid growing AI demand.
Revolut Approved to Roll Out Crypto Across Europe
Revolut has received a license under the EU’s MiCA framework via the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission. The approval allows the company to offer its full suite of crypto services across the European Economic Area.
With the new license, Revolut plans to launch a platform called Crypto 2.0. The update includes access to over 280 tokens, staking with up to 22% returns, and a 1:1 stablecoin-to-dollar conversion. Users will also get zero-fee staking and integrated trading tools through Revolut X.
Revolut said the move reflects its push for broader market reach under unified regulation. Costas Michael, CEO of Revolut Digital Assets Europe, said the license “enables us to deliver crypto products with more transparency and trust.”
Trump Allegedly Signs Off on CZ Pardon
According to The Wall Street Journal, former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao has received a pardon from Donald Trump. While no official records have been released by the White House, the information has been backed by multiple sources close to the matter.
Zhao pleaded guilty last year to charges linked to Binance’s failure to implement proper anti-money laundering controls. He was sentenced to four months in prison and released earlier this fall.
The story has fueled speculation in recent weeks. Betting platforms saw increased activity after Zhao made changes to his online profile, removing references to stepping down from Binance.
Miner Debt Grows as AI Demands Rise
Public Bitcoin miners have borrowed heavily over the past year. VanEck reports that total debt in the sector jumped from $2.1 billion to $12.7 billion since late 2024. This surge follows increased investment in upgraded hardware and infrastructure.
Miners are also using their energy resources to support AI computing services. With mining rewards now lower due to April’s halving, firms are shifting capacity toward other revenue streams when possible.
Analysts from VanEck noted that firms unable to reinvest risk losing share of the global hashrate. This drop would reduce their portion of daily Bitcoin rewards, pushing them further behind in an increasingly competitive space.
U.S. Senators Push for AML Rule Updates
A group of lawmakers has proposed raising thresholds for bank reporting rules that have remained unchanged since 1970. The new bill, known as the STREAMLINE Act, would adjust the Bank Secrecy Act requirements in line with inflation.
The updates would raise the threshold for Currency Transaction Reports to $30,000 from $10,000. Suspicious Activity Report thresholds would also increase to $3,000 or $10,000, depending on the case. The bill also proposes automatic reviews every five years to keep thresholds current.
Senator Pete Ricketts, one of the sponsors, said, “After more than 50 years of inflation, the Bank Secrecy Act’s reporting thresholds are badly outdated.”
The bill could reduce the compliance burden for banks and crypto exchanges while maintaining law enforcement’s access to key financial data. Exchanges like Coinbase and Kraken are among those currently subject to the existing rules.
