The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is set to host a high-level roundtable titled “DeFi and the American Spirit” on June 9, at its headquarters in Washington, D.C. The event will focus on the decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem and aims to address ongoing questions about the future of regulation in the digital asset space.
The post US SEC To Host Crypto Roundtable On DeFI On June 9 appeared first on CoinGape.
President Donald Trump has escalated his sudden rupture with Elon Musk by implying the government could sever ties with the tech titan’s businesses.
‘The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts. I was always surprised that Biden didn’t do it,’ Trump wrote Thursday on Truth Social.
Various estimates have been put forward about just how much Musk’s firms, primarily SpaceX and Tesla, benefit from U.S. government contracts and subsidies. The Washington Post has put the figure at $38 billion, with SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell estimating that company alone benefits from $22 billion in federal spending. Reuters has reported that the true figure is classified because of the nature of many of the contracts Musk’s firms are under.
NASA relies on SpaceX to ferry astronauts to and from the International Space Station. The agency’s only other option at the moment is to pay around $90 million for a seat aboard Russia’s Soyuz capsule.
Last year, SpaceX was selected to develop a vehicle capable of safely de-orbiting the International Space Station in 2030, when NASA and its partner space agencies agreed to end operation of the orbiting laboratory. SpaceX is also expected to play a major role in NASA’s efforts to return astronauts to the moon and eventually travel beyond to Mars.
Later Thursday afternoon, Musk posted that he would begin ‘decommissioning’ SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, which regularly flies astronauts and cargo to the ISS, in response to Trump’s threat.
NASA spokesperson Bethany Stevens said the agency ‘will continue to execute upon the President’s vision for the future of space.’
‘We will continue to work with our industry partners to ensure the President’s objectives in space are met,’ she said in a statement on X.
Tesla, meanwhile, has benefited from approximately $11.4 billion in total regulatory credits aimed at boosting electric-vehicle purchases, though that figure also includes state-level subsidies. Musk has claimed he no longer needs the credit, which he says now primarily benefits rivals.
Following Trump’s threat, shares in Tesla, which had already fallen 8% on Thursday as the tit-for-tat escalated on social media, declined as much as 15% following Trump’s post. SpaceX is privately held and its shares do not trade on the open market.
Trump’s warning came as part of a stunning exchange with Musk — who spent more than $250 million to help him get elected — that erupted into public view.
Earlier in the day, president told reporters in the Oval Office that he was disappointed in Musk’s criticism of the Republican policy bill that is making its way through Congress. Musk has blasted the bill, calling it a ‘disgusting abomination,’ amid concerns it would worsen the U.S. fiscal deficit.
Musk, who officially left his White House role last week to spend more time on his companies, spent much of Thursday launching into a tirade on X, his social media platform, where he posted a variety of critiques of Trump, the bill and other Republican politicians.
A make-good on Trump’s threat would come at a sensitive time for Tesla, which has seen global sales plunge partly in response to Musk’s very involvement with the Trump campaign. Year to date, its shares are down some 25%.
Trump’s warning also raises the specter that Trump could resurface pending government investigations into Musk’s firms. According to a report in April from Democratic staff of the Senate Homeland Security Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Musk’s firms were facing $2.37 billion in potential federal liabilities when Trump took office in January.
Since then, many of those actions have been paused or outright dismissed alongside the rise of the previously Musk-helmed Department of Government Efficiency, which gutted many of the agencies looking into Musk’s businesses.
Most religions of the world have the fundamental beliefs that are strikingly similar to the Ten Commandments. History has taught humanity that life does not seem to work well without such guiding principles. As responsible parents, we should have a parallel foundation of ten life skills that we impart part to our children. Your list will vary from mine, of course, but these are the ten essential precepts which I imparted to my son.
Many parenting books have been written on each of these ten topics, but I’d like to highlight the last one – #10. I propose that financial literacy alone has 10 essential skills that we should cultivate in our children. Giving them the gift of a money-wise toolkit along with your time will go along way to ensure their long-term success. It will be the proud legacy you leave and how you’ll be remembered.
These are my Ten Financial Commandments to teach your offspring.
In a spirit of full disclosure, it’s important that I acknowledge the other half of the equation in writing about the ten basic life skills and financial commandments instilled in my son. He was also raised by a devoted and well-educated mother who has an MBA and understands the markets as well.
The bottom line: teach your children about money management. If you don’t, you are intentionally placing them instead into the hands of that merciless professor called “Experience”. The tutorial will be ruthless, and the lessons learned will be costly and late.
Trade well; trade with discipline!
P.S. If you would like to be notified when I post a new Traders Journal blog, please submit your preference via the tile in the right column titled FOLLOW THIS BLOG.
All of our major indices continue to rally off the April 7th, cyclical bear market low. A couple, however, have broken out of key bullish continuation patterns that measure to all-time highs. I’ll focus on one in today’s article.
The IWM is an ETF that tracks the small-cap Russell 2000 and it’s chart couldn’t be much more bullish right now. After setting an all-time high on November 25, 2024 at 243.71, the IWM fell into its own cyclical bear market, dropping to a low of 171.73 on April 7th. That represented a drop of 71.98 points, or 29.54%, well beyond the 20% cyclical bear market threshold. A bottoming reverse head & shoulders pattern formed and I’ve been awaiting for a breakout above neckline resistance at 211. We saw that on today’s open after nonfarm payrolls highlighted our somewhat resilient economy as jobs came in ahead of expectations and the unemployment rate held steady. Check out this chart on the IWM:
I’m not saying that we’ll see a straight up move to 249, and short-term direction could be impacted by how we finish today. A weak afternoon could lead to further short-term selling, possibly back to the rising 20-day EMA. But, ultimately, and during 2025, I’m looking for that all-time high. A strong finish this afternoon and close on or near the daily high would add more bullishness to this chart.
The small cap IWM is no different than any of our other major indices, like the S&P 500 and NASDAQ 100. When you see an index breakout, you need to look to the leading stocks in that area in order to outperform the benchmark index. We started our Leading Stocks ChartList (LSCL) two weeks ago and the results have been absolutely phenomenal so far, which I would expect them to be. After last week, we produced our 2nd weekly LSCL and the results have been awesome once again. There were 43 stocks included and 32 of the 43 have outperformed the S&P 500 this week. That’s similar results to our first weekly LSCL.
Individual stock leaders from our LSCL included the following big winners as of 1pm ET today:
These are exceptional returns when you consider the benchmark S&P 500 gained just 1.38% this week.
I want to provide all of our followers a SPECIAL OFFER to join our FREE EB Digest newsletter. Subscribe HERE with only your name and email address (no credit card required), and we’ll provide you a link and password to download this unique Leading Stocks ChartList (LSCL) and check it out for yourself. You need to be an Extra or Pro member at StockCharts in order to download the ChartList into your account. Basic members and non-members can view the ChartList and check out the stocks we include for next week.
Happy trading!
Tom
This week, we got a smorgasbord of jobs data — JOLTS, ADP, weekly jobless claims, and the nonfarm payrolls (NFP). Friday’s NFP, the big one the market was waiting for, showed that 139,000 jobs were added in May, which was better than the expected 130,000. Unemployment rate held steady at 4.2%, and average hourly earnings rose 0.4% for the month.
The stock market rallied on the news. The S&P 500 rose above the 6000 level and closed slightly above it. That’s the first time the index has hit the 6K level since February. And the party wasn’t just in the S&P 500. All the major stock market indexes closed higher, and the Cboe Volatility Index ($VIX) closed below 17, suggesting investors are pretty complacent.
When you look at which sectors did best this week, it’s pretty clear that Technology was leading the charge. But is the leadership as strong as it was last year?
To answer, we can begin by taking a look at the MarketCarpet for S&P Sector ETFs below. It clearly illustrates the strength of the Technology sector.
FIGURE 1. WEEKLY PERFORMANCE OF THE S&P SECTOR ETFS. Technology is in the lead while Consumer Staples is the laggard.Image source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.
Now, if you drill down, it’s evident from the MarketCarpet of the Technology Sector that heavily weighted large-cap stocks, across the many different categories within the sector, displayed strong performance for the week.
FIGURE 2. WEEKLY PERFORMANCE OF TECHNOLOGY SECTOR. Large-cap heavily weighted stocks were in the green this week.Image source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.
Within tech, the semiconductors look especially strong, with several dark green squares in the MarketCarpet. This warrants a closer look at this industry group.
The weekly chart of the VanEck Vectors Semiconductors ETF (SMH) shows an upside move, with the ETF trading above its 40-week simple moving average. However, SMH is still underperforming the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY). The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is trending higher and is in better shape since the end of March, but needs to gain more momentum to push it into overbought territory.
FIGURE 3. WEEKLY CHART OF VANECK VECTORS SEMICONDUCTOR ETF (SMH). While the price action in SMH is leaning towards the bullish side, it’s underperforming the SPY and needs more momentum.Chart source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.
If SMH continues to move higher with strong momentum, it would be a positive indication for the equity markets. However, there are several moving parts that investors should monitor.
While stocks are inching higher on low volatility, news headlines disrupt trends, sometimes drastically.
The weakening U.S. dollar and rising Treasury yields can sometimes signal headwinds for the stock market. Next week is going to be all about inflation, and we’ll get the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Producer Price Index (PPI) for May.
With the job numbers in the rearview mirror, investors will be focused on inflation, especially since the Fed meets the following week. As of now, the Fed isn’t expected to make any changes to interest rates until perhaps their September meeting. Let’s see if next week’s inflation data changes the picture.
Watch the price action unfold by monitoring the StockCharts MarketCarpets and the StockCharts Market Summary page.
Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The ideas and strategies should never be used without first assessing your own personal and financial situation, or without consulting a financial professional.
Stay ahead of the market in under 30 minutes! In this video, Mary Ellen breaks down why the S&P 500 just broke out, which sectors are truly leading (industrials, technology & materials), and what next week’s inflation data could mean for your portfolio.
This video originally premiered June 6, 2025. You can watch it on our dedicated page for Mary Ellen’s videos.
New videos from Mary Ellen premiere weekly on Fridays. You can view all previously recorded episodes at this link.
If you’re looking for stocks to invest in, be sure to check out the MEM Edge Report! This report gives you detailed information on the top sectors, industries and stocks so you can make informed investment decisions.
After consolidating for two weeks, the Nifty finally appeared to be flexing its muscles for a potential move higher. Over the past five sessions, the Nifty traded with an underlying positive bias and ended near the week’s high point while also attempting to move past a crucial pattern resistance. The past week saw the Index oscillating in the 527-point range, which was in line with the previous weeks. The volatility also cooled off; the India VIX came off by 9% to 14.63 on a weekly basis. While staying largely in a range trading with a positive bias, the headline Index closed with a net weekly gain of 252.35 points (+1.02%).
Over the past couple of weeks, the Nifty has traded in a well-defined range created between 24500-25100 levels. This would mean that the markets would remain devoid of directional bias unless they take out 25100 on the higher side or violate the 24500 level. Despite visibly strong undercurrents, staying reactive to the markets rather than getting predictive would be prudent. Although there are heightened possibilities of the Nifty taking out the 25100 level, we must consider it as resistance until it is taken out convincingly.
The weekly RSI is 60.94; it continues to remain neutral and does not show any divergence against the price. The weekly MACD is bullish and remains above its signal line. A strong white candle emerged; this shows the bullish trend that the markets had during the week.
A pattern analysis of the weekly chart shows that the Nifty resisted the upward rising trendline that began from the low of 21350 and joined the subsequent rising bottoms. The Nifty has attempted to penetrate it after resisting it for a couple of weeks.
Overall, the coming week may see the markets trading with an underlying bullish bias. However, for this to culminate in a good trending move, the Index will have to take out the 25100-25150 zone convincingly on the upside. Until this happens, the markets may continue to consolidate in a broad trading range. Unless there is a strong move that surpasses the 25100-25150 zone, one must consider this level as an immediate resistance point. Some pockets have run up too hard over the past few days; one must also focus on protecting gains at current levels rather than chasing the up moves. Fresh purchases must be kept limited in stocks with strong technical setups and the presence of relative strength. A cautiously positive approach is advised for the coming week.
In our look at Relative Rotation Graphs®, we compared various sectors against the CNX500 (NIFTY 500 Index), representing over 95% of the free-float market cap of all the listed stocks.
Relative Rotation Graphs (RRG) show that the Nifty PSU Bank Index continues to build on its relative momentum while staying inside the leading quadrant. It may continue outperforming the markets relatively. The Infrastructure, Consumption, and PSE Index are also inside the leading quadrant but are seen giving up on their relative momentum.
The Nifty Bank Index has rolled inside the weakening quadrant. The Nifty Services Sector, Financial Services, and Commodity Indice are also inside the weakening quadrant. Individual performance of components from these groups may be seen, but overall relative performance may slow down over the coming weeks.
The Nifty FMCG Index has rolled inside the lagging quadrant. The Nifty Metal and Pharma Indice are languishing in this quadrant. The Nifty IT index is also inside the lagging quadrant but is seen in a strong bottoming-out process while improving its relative momentum.
The Nifty Energy, Media, Realty, and Auto Indices are inside the improving quadrant and may continue improving their relative performance against the broader markets.
Important Note: RRG charts show the relative strength and momentum of a group of stocks. In the above Chart, they show relative performance against NIFTY500 Index (Broader Markets) and should not be used directly as buy or sell signals.
Milan Vaishnav, CMT, MSTA
Consulting Technical Analyst
Hempalta Corp. (TSXV: HEMP) (‘Hempalta’ or the ‘Company’), a Canadian-based provider of nature-based carbon credit solutions, today issued a corporate update outlining recent developments in its strategic transition.
Equipment Sale Update
On May 22, 2025, Hempalta announced its wholly owned subsidiary, Hempalta Processing Inc. (‘HPI’), had entered into a US$1.15 million agreement to sell its hemp processing and biochar equipment (the ‘Transaction’). Despite follow up discussions and repeated assurances, the purchase price has not been paid to HPI; accordingly, HPI has retained ownership of all equipment and associated intellectual property and has reinitiated the asset sale process. Interested parties may contact the Company for additional details.
FCC Forbearance Agreement
In connection with the termination of the Transaction, HPI, has entered into a forbearance agreement with Farm Credit Canada (‘FCC’) dated effective June 2, 2025. This agreement extends protection through June 30, 2025, providing HPI time to complete a revised monetization plan for its processing assets while maintaining transparency and compliance with its senior lender.
Carbon Credit Market Momentum Continues
The Company’s 2024 carbon credits now total 29,448 tonnes of CO₂ removal across 12,669 acres under the Hemp Carbon Standard. These credits are available for purchase via the Company’s Cloverly storefront (hempcarbonstandard.cloverly.app), and discussions with corporate buyers are ongoing.
CEO to Speak at Canadian Climate Investor Conference
Hempalta President and CEO Darren Bondar will be speaking at the 2025 Canadian Climate Investor Conference hosted by the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX and TSXV) on June 11, 2025, at the Arcadian Court in Toronto. Mr. Bondar will outline Hempalta’s strategic pivot to nature-based carbon credit markets and showcase the scalable growth opportunity through its Hemp Carbon Standard platform.
About Hempalta Corp.
Hempalta Corp. (TSXV: HEMP) is a Canadian clean-tech company focused on high-integrity carbon removal credits derived from industrial hemp. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Hemp Carbon Standard Inc., the Company supports regenerative agriculture, biochar deployment, and AI-powered MRV to deliver transparent, verifiable carbon credits aligned with global climate goals.
Learn more at www.hempalta.com or contact Investor Relations at invest@hempalta.com.
For more information, please contact:
| Investor Relations Hempalta Corp. Email: info@hempalta.com Website: www.hempalta.com |
Hempalta Corp. Web: https://www.hempalta.com/ Email:info@hempalta.com |
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.
Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains statements and information that, to the extent they are not historical fact, may constitute ‘forward-looking information’ within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information is typically, but not always, identified by the use of words such as ‘expects,’ ‘plans,’ ‘continues,’ ‘intends,’ ‘anticipates,’ ‘potential,’ ‘aims,’ ‘will,’ and similar expressions, including negatives thereof.
Forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding: the Company’s ability to complete the sale of its hemp processing and biochar equipment; the resolution of the outstanding forbearance with Farm Credit Canada (FCC); negative cash flow from operations and the Company’s ability to operate as a going concern; the anticipated proceeds and timing of any asset sales; the scaling of the Hemp Carbon Standard platform; the sale of verified carbon credits; the development of new corporate offtake agreements; and the Company’s broader growth initiatives under Hempalta carbon credit platform.
Such forward-looking information is based on assumptions and expectations, including but not limited to: the Company’s ability to remarket and sell the equipment; continued support from major shareholders and new investors; demand for nature-based carbon removal credits; successful onboarding of additional farmers; favorable regulatory conditions; and Hempalta’s ability to execute its strategic plan and secure necessary financing on reasonable terms.
Although the Company believes the assumptions and expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them, as actual results may differ materially due to known and unknown risks. These risks include, but are not limited to: economic conditions and capital market volatility; failure to close the asset sale or private placement; changes in carbon credit market demand or pricing; regulatory changes; inability to retain key personnel; weather-related challenges impacting hemp cultivation; and those risks set forth in the Company’s public disclosure documents available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
Forward-looking information in this news release is provided as of the date hereof, and the Company does not undertake to update such information except as required by applicable securities laws.
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES OR OVER U.S. NEWSWIRES
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/254819
News Provided by Newsfile via QuoteMedia
In a move that has ignited a storm of opposition from Indigenous communities and environmental groups, Ontario’s Progressive Conservative government passed Bill 5 on Wednesday (June 4).
Formally titled the Protecting Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, the legislation grants the province unprecedented authority to override provincial and municipal laws in favor of economic development.
Specifically, Bill 5 allows the government to establish ‘special economic zones’ where environmental protections, labor regulations and other statutes can be suspended for projects led by ‘trusted proponents.’
Premier Doug Ford’s government argues that the bill is critical for expediting development in the mineral-rich Ring of Fire region and countering global economic threats, including US tariffs.
But the bill’s passage, by a vote of 71 to 44, has drawn fierce backlash from First Nations leaders who say they were not consulted, in violation of treaty rights enshrined in the Canadian constitution.
Speaking to reporters, Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation, which represents 49 First Nations in Northern Ontario, warned that protests and blockades — reminiscent of the Idle No More movement — are likely.
‘I think after today we need to look at every option that is at our disposal, including legal, political, economic, everything – including taking direct action,’ he said, adding, ‘Everything is on the table.’
Ford was not present in the legislature for the vote, drawing condemnation from Indigenous leaders and opposition politicians. He reportedly missed the vote due to an overrun in an online meeting with a US congressman.
Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles stood alongside First Nations representatives to denounce the premier’s absence and vowed to continue resisting the legislation, which she predicted will end up in court.
Public gallery benches erupted during the vote with shouts of ‘Shame on you!’ and ‘Where’s the premier?’ Security escorted several individuals out, including one man who yelled, ‘Our land is not for sale!’
Opposition parties attempted to stall the bill with thousands of proposed amendments, but the Progressive Conservative majority pushed it through after using time allocation to cut short debate.
Legal experts warn that Bill 5 could significantly alter the legal and environmental landscape in Ontario. The legislation includes Henry VIII-style provisions — named after the 16th-century monarch notorious for consolidating executive power — which allow the provincial cabinet to override laws without legislative scrutiny.
Laura Bowman, a lawyer with Ecojustice, said, ‘This is not just undemocratic; it’s anti-democratic.’
Environmental advocates have also raised alarm about Bill 5’s implications for conservation. It rewrites Ontario’s endangered species law by giving the cabinet, not scientists, final authority on which species merit protection.
Additionally, it eases rules on preserving Indigenous archaeological sites.
The government has floated the possibility of Indigenous-led economic zones as part of the regulations it must still draft, but details remain scarce, and First Nations groups say the damage has already been done.
Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict, who previously met with Ford in a tense private session, said the discussions were necessary, but insufficient. “Our Chiefs have made it clear that they fully reject Bill 5, and the Chiefs of Ontario stand by and defend the position of the Chiefs,” Benedict maintained in a statement. “First Nations rights holders must be at the table, and the Government must fulfill its constitutional and treaty obligations.”
The Ring of Fire region, located in the James Bay lowlands, is at the center of the controversy.
While some First Nations near the area support road construction projects, others oppose the rush to mine in the region without thorough consultation and environmental safeguards. The Ford government has touted the area’s reserves of critical minerals — such as nickel and lithium — as essential for Ontario’s economic future.
While some industry stakeholders have cautiously welcomed provisions in Bill 5 that streamline mining approvals under a “one project, one process” regime, critics and civil liberties advocates say its rhetoric risks escalating tensions.
Among them is the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, which has condemned Bill 5 as a dangerous overreach that could hollow out legal safeguards without meaningful public oversight.
Legal scholars say the government’s interpretation of its duty to consult remains contested. While a 2018 Supreme Court ruling (Mikisew Cree) found that governments are not constitutionally required to consult Indigenous groups during the drafting of legislation, it emphasizes that such consultation is often politically and morally necessary.
Moreover, many Indigenous leaders say consultation is no longer enough. Invoking the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, they are calling for ‘free, prior and informed consent’ as the new standard.
In the coming weeks, the Ford government must draft the regulations that will define how Bill 5 is implemented. These rules, it insists, will be subject to consultation. But with Indigenous leaders threatening direct action and legal battles on the horizon, Ontario may be on the brink of a new phase in its fraught relationship with First Nations.
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Friday (June 6) as of 9:00 p.m. UTC.
Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ethereum and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrency market news.
Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$104,245 as markets closed for the week, up 2 percent in 24 hours. The day’s range for the cryptocurrency brought a low of US$104,006 and a high of US$105,201.
Bitcoin price performance, June 6, 2025.
Chart via TradingView.
After dipping below US$101,000 during the dispute between US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, Bitcoin recovered to around US$105,000 early in the trading day, influenced by a strong US labor report.
Despite the rebound, analysts are wary due to technical indicators like a weakening relative strength index, suggesting potential downside. A possible rate cut from the US Federal Reserve on June 18 could push Bitcoin to US$112,000, but the outlook is uncertain. Order book data indicates a liquidity trap, and limited short interest points to a fragile recovery.
Additional selling pressure and investor distrust are contributing to shaky market sentiment.
Ethereum (ETH) finished the trading day at US$2,490.63, a 2 percent decrease over the past 24 hours. The cryptocurrency reached an intraday low of US$2,482.52 and saw a daily high of US$2,519.25.
On stage at the San Francisco-based Bloomberg Tech Summit on Thursday (June 5), Uber Technologies (NYSE:UBER) CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said the company is “definitely going to take a look” at using stablecoins to help reduce the cost of moving money around the world.
“We’re still in the study phase, I’d say, but stablecoin is one of the, for me, more interesting instantiations of crypto that has a practical benefit other than crypto as a store of value,” he said. “Obviously, you can have your opinions on Bitcoin, but it’s a proven commodity, and you know, people have different opinions on where it’s going,” he added.
The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has announced plans to lift its ban on retail investors buying crypto exchange-traded notes (ETNs), a major shift from its earlier risk-averse stance.
Initially barred due to concerns over volatility and investor protection, the FCA now says consumers should have the right to choose whether these high-risk assets fit their portfolios. David Geale, the FCA’s digital assets chief, said the move is part of a broader push to ‘rebalance’ the regulator’s approach to financial risk. The proposal, which would allow ETNs to be sold on FCA-registered investment exchanges, will now enter a public consultation phase.
This regulatory pivot follows the UK’s introduction of draft laws in April aimed at integrating crypto into the formal financial system. The FCA emphasized that its separate ban on crypto derivatives for retail traders will remain in place.
The government of Switzerland has adopted a bill to enable the automatic exchange of information (AEOI) on crypto with 74 partner countries, including the UK, all EU member states and most G20 countries.
The measure excludes the US, Saudi Arabia and China. The bill is currently under discussion in parliament and, if approved, the AEOI framework for crypto assets will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026.
Switzerland will only engage in AEOI with partner states that also desire information exchange with Switzerland.
Strategy (NASDAQ:MSTR), the company known for its aggressive Bitcoin acquisition strategy, is launching a nearly US$1 billion capital raise through its new 10 percent Series A STRD preferred stock. The offering includes over 11 million shares and promises a high fixed yield, making it attractive to yield-hungry investors in a low-rate environment.
Unlike other Strategy offerings like STRK (convertible) and STRF (senior status), STRD offers the highest payout at 10 percent, but comes with more risk due to its non-cumulative dividend and junior status. Dividends are only issued when declared, and the shares cannot be called under normal market conditions.
Proceeds will go toward “general corporate purposes,” which notably include expanding its Bitcoin holdings.
Tokyo-based Metaplanet (OTCQX:MTPLF,TSE:3350) is taking its Bitcoin commitment to the next level with a massive US$5.3 billion stock warrant issuance, the largest of its kind in Japan.
The company is offering 555 million shares through stock acquisition rights, using a novel moving-strike pricing model that adjusts with market value — a first in the Japanese market.
This 555 Million Plan follows an earlier US$600 million raise and is part of Metaplanet’s goal to hold over 210,000 BTC by 2027, approximately 1 percent of total Bitcoin supply.
The vast majority of the proceeds — around 96 percent — will go toward direct Bitcoin purchases, while a small fraction will support debt management and derivative strategies like selling puts.
Lending platform Maple Finance announced on Thursday that it has expanded user access by deploying its syrupUSD yield-bearing stablecoin to Solana-based platforms Kamino and Orca.
Previously, it had only been available on the Ethereum blockchain.
According to the announcement, Solana integration is launching with US$30 million in liquidity, which will establish “a deep and stable foundation for lending, trading, and collateral provisioning.’
This new system was made possible by using Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP), which started operating on the Solana main network on May 19. CCIP lets different blockchain systems, specifically those using Ethereum Virtual Machine and Solana Virtual Machine technology, share information.
The ability to transfer data between these distinct blockchain environments is expected to significantly boost efficient and affordable growth within the digital ecosystem.
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.