ChainCatcher message, according to the perspective of blockchain regulatory advisors, the pressure for the de-banking of cryptocurrencies may continue until January 2026, when Trump will have the authority to appoint new Federal Reserve governors. Caitlin Long, founder and CEO of Custodia Bank, pointed out that the Federal Reserve is still controlled by the Democrats and is currently reviewing two pro-crypto banks, with a large number of examiners having entered these banks, putting pressure on their operations.Furthermore, although the U.S. OCC and FDIC may overturn previous anti-crypto policies, the Federal Reserve's stance remains unchanged, and the crypto industry may still face regulatory resistance in the future.

ChainCatcher news, Hong Kong digital asset company IDA announced a strategic partnership with Japan's banking group Progmat, blockchain company Datachain, and cross-chain infrastructure provider TOKI FZCO to jointly develop a proof of concept (PoC) for cross-border application scenarios based on stablecoins between Hong Kong and Japan. It is reported that the relevant stablecoins will be used under the compliance requirements of Hong Kong's regulatory framework, priced in Japanese yen and Hong Kong dollars. IDA has previously collaborated with East Asia Bank to explore the feasibility of widely adopting digital finance with a 1:1 Hong Kong dollar-pegged stablecoin.

ChainCatcher news, the Australian government plans to release a draft of cryptocurrency regulatory regulations in 2025 and has committed to working with the four major banks to address the issue of de-banking. The new framework will impose compliance requirements of existing financial services laws on cryptocurrency exchanges, custodial services, and more, including customer asset protection, financial services licenses, and minimum capital requirements.In addition, the government will review central bank digital currencies and launch an enhanced regulatory sandbox in 2025 to support businesses in testing new financial products without a license. The Albanese government also stated that it will focus on the intersection of cryptocurrency and de-banking issues to ensure Australia maintains its competitive edge globally.

ChainCatcher news, according to Decrypt, the government led by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has proposed a new regulatory framework for digital assets, aimed at enhancing industry certainty, strengthening consumer protection, and ensuring market integrity. The reforms require major crypto platforms to apply for an Australian financial services license, while small non-financial service businesses may be exempt.The policy document released by the Australian Treasury, titled "Developing an Innovative Australian Digital Asset Industry," states that the new regulations will cover exchanges, custodians, specific brokerage platforms, and stablecoin issuers, enhancing consistency with international standards and boosting the global competitiveness of the industry. Companies involved in the development of digital assets for non-financial purposes, software development, and infrastructure maintenance are not within the regulatory scope.The government is also paying attention to the trend of "de-banking" among financial institutions, stating that the new licensing mechanism is expected to improve risk management and transparency, reduce banks' service restrictions on the crypto industry, and is in communication with major banks regarding response measures.

ChainCatcher news, according to The Block, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has announced that it has stopped conducting reputation risk reviews for national banks and financial institutions. Previously, the cryptocurrency industry had strongly criticized being excluded from the financial system. OCC Acting Comptroller Rodney E. Hood stated that institutional reviews should focus on "appropriate risk management processes" rather than subjective judgments. The OCC will also remove reputation risk content from its manuals and guidelines, but emphasized that this does not affect its fundamental requirements for bank risk management.Previous news, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency stated that banks have the right to engage in certain cryptocurrency activities.

ChainCatcher news, EOS Network announced its transformation towards Web3 banking, and the brand will be renamed Vaulta. On one hand, it will provide blockchain-based services customized for banks; on the other hand, it will offer a broader financial ecosystem, including exSat's Bitcoin banking solutions, blockchain insurance, tokenized real-world assets, and more.This transformation includes a token swap, tentatively scheduled for the end of May. In addition, Vaulta will establish a Banking Advisory Committee, composed of experts from the finance and blockchain industries, dedicated to bridging the gap between traditional banking and Web3. Members will include executives from Systemic Trust, Tetra, and ATB Financial.Vaulta plans to retain the EOS network's technological infrastructure, including smart contract architecture, decentralized databases, and cross-chain connectivity, as part of its Web3 banking initiative. The platform will integrate with exSat, which focuses on Bitcoin digital banking solutions.Furthermore, Vaulta also plans to collaborate with partners including Ceffu, Spirit Blockchain, and Blockchain Insurance, with strategic partnerships expected to be announced in the coming months.

ChainCatcher news, FOX Business reporter Eleanor Terrett posted on social media that the U.S. Senate Banking Committee is set to hold its first review of the stablecoin regulatory framework bill submitted by Republican Senator Bill Hagerty.

ChainCatcher News, U.S. Senate Banking Committee Digital Assets Subcommittee Chair, U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis stated that the Senate Banking Committee will conduct a final review (markup) today on the GENIUS Act proposed by Senator Hagerty. The main contents of the bill include: clearly defining payment stablecoins, establishing clear procedures for institutions seeking to issue stablecoins, and promoting responsible innovation while protecting consumer rights.

ChainCatcher news, sources reveal that Trump plans to sign an executive order as early as this week to overturn the Biden administration's policies limiting banking services for cryptocurrency companies, particularly "Operation Chokepoint 2.0." Sources indicate that the order may involve the Federal Reserve's "master account" policy, easing access for crypto banks. However, the Federal Reserve, as an independent agency, typically operates without direct influence from the White House.Additionally, the executive order may cover stablecoin regulation, clarifying that stablecoins should not be considered securities. Senior White House officials plan to meet on Thursday to assess potential legal obstacles to the executive order before submitting it for President Trump's signature.

ChainCatcher news, according to The Wall Street Journal, U.S. Senate Banking Committee leader and South Carolina Republican Senator Tim Scott has proposed a new bill aimed at prohibiting regulators from considering so-called "reputational risk" factors when assessing banking practices, in order to end the phenomenon of "de-banking" against cryptocurrency companies and conservatives.Scott stated that regulators' concerns about potential reputational damage to banks from customers are fueling the "de-banking" phenomenon, where banks intentionally avoid certain specific businesses. This issue has gained attention due to advocacy from cryptocurrency companies and recent comments from President Trump, who criticized U.S. banks and JPMorgan for closing the bank accounts of conservatives.

ChainCatcher news, according to Jinshi reports, options traders expect the S&P 500 index to fluctuate by 1.3% this Friday, which will be the largest fluctuation on a non-farm payroll data release day since the regional bank crisis in March 2023. Citigroup data shows that the S&P 500 index is expected to have a two-way fluctuation of 1.4% on Wednesday, marking the highest implied volatility since the day after the U.S. presidential election on November 6, 2023.The increase in market volatility is mainly influenced by two factors: the uncertainty of the Trump administration's tariff policy and the upcoming non-farm payroll report. Trump recently warned of potential future economic fluctuations and defended his plan to significantly raise tariffs, but U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo indicated that Trump is considering some tariff relief measures, which has slightly eased market sentiment.The Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index (VIX) is currently at its highest level since December of last year, breaking through the 20-point mark. Economists expect that U.S. employment will increase by 160,000 in February, the unemployment rate will remain at 4%, and average hourly earnings will rise by 4.1% year-on-year. UBS equity derivatives strategist Grinkov stated, "Macroeconomic factors are becoming more important; this is a higher volatility environment."

ChainCatcher news, according to CoinDesk, Bitcoin mining company Core Scientific, Inc. (CORZ) announced the appointment of investment banking veteran Jim Nygaard as the new Chief Financial Officer, who will officially take office on March 17.Nygaard has nearly 30 years of financial experience, having worked at XMS Capital Partners and Morgan Stanley, specializing in mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and capital markets operations.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, Custodia Bank CEO Caitlin Long stated that the U.S. government has still not addressed the issue of cryptocurrency de-banking since Trump's return to the White House.Caitlin Long mentioned at ETHDenver that while "people think regulation has loosened, no federal banking agency has actually overturned any anti-cryptocurrency guidelines." "Even for very small amounts, banks' engagement with digital assets is still considered unsafe and unsound."

ChainCatcher news, according to Fox Business reporter Eleanor Terrett, based on information from three Senate aides familiar with the matter, Republican members of the Senate Banking Committee are considering reviewing and amending the stablecoin bill (GENIUS Act) proposed by Senator Hagerty during the week of March 10.Previous news, the U.S. Senate Digital Assets Subcommittee's first hearing focused on stablecoin regulation.

ChainCatcher news, reported by The block, Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Michael Barr responded to the controversy over the de-banking of the cryptocurrency industry. Barr stated that the Federal Reserve will maintain a neutral stance and will not prevent banks from collaborating with the crypto industry.He emphasized that the Federal Reserve has provided clear guidance and a regulatory framework that allows banks to engage in crypto business within compliance, while not mandating or discouraging banks from participating in related activities.

ChainCatcher News: The U.S. Senate Banking Committee on Digital Assets will hold its first hearing on February 26, local time, to discuss the topic of "Exploring a Bipartisan Legislative Framework for Digital Assets."

ChainCatcher news, FOX Business reporter Eleanor Terrett disclosed that outgoing Federal Reserve official Michael Barr spoke this afternoon at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York about bank decentralization and crypto regulation. He stated that the Federal Reserve is trying to take a neutral stance on these issues. The Fed's expectation is that they operate in a safe and sound manner and comply with consumer laws, anti-money laundering laws, and anti-terrorism financing laws. If they do so, we have no objections.Barr stated, "The Federal Reserve has a novel regulatory plan aimed at overseeing institutions in this space to ensure we have the right expertise to execute in this area. Some institutions are doing this, while others are getting it wrong and running into trouble, either due to anti-money laundering or Bank Secrecy Act issues, or because they cannot meet their customers' liquidity needs, and then they go bankrupt. So, at least for me, this is just straightforward mid-level risk management and banking. If you do it right, you can do it. If you do it wrong, then you shouldn't be doing it."Barr also mentioned that he has never seen evidence of customers being canceled from their bank accounts due to political views.

ChainCatcher news, according to The Wall Street Journal, Trump administration officials are discussing plans to consolidate banking regulatory agencies, potentially attempting to merge the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) into the Treasury Department without congressional approval, and combine its regulatory functions with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).The plan aims to reduce the power of banking regulatory agencies and increase the government's direct control over the financial industry. Previously, the Trump administration had taken action against the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in an attempt to limit its influence.