Launchy Regulatory Roundup #48 - Trump Expands Crypto Access and Ends ‘Unfair Banking’

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Welcome to our 48th edition of the regulatory roundup. If you know anybody who would benefit from this content, please help us spread the word!

In Today's Edition:

• Headline: Trump Expands Crypto Access and Ends ‘Unfair Banking’ 👀 

• Global Legal Roundup

• Case Study: Ripple Case Ends, XRP ETF Outlook 🔎 

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HEADLINE

Trump Expands Crypto Access and Ends ‘Unfair Banking’

State of play: On August 7, 2025, President Trump signed two major executive orders that could reshape the relationship between crypto and traditional finance.

The first directs the Labor Department, SEC, and Treasury to enable cryptocurrency, private equity, and other alternative assets to be included in 401(k) retirement plans.

• This could lead to broader investor participation in digital assets, provided plan sponsors adopt prudent exposure and risk management.

The second order removes “reputational risk” as a factor in banking oversight, a move aimed at ending what critics call “Operation Choke Point 2.0,” where regulators allegedly pressured banks to cut off services to crypto firms.

What’s Next: Agencies will draft new rules to allow crypto in 401(k) plans and remove reputational risk from banking oversight. Banks may become more open to serving crypto firms, and retirement providers could start exploring digital asset offerings.

Why it Matters: Together, these actions open the door for crypto to become a standard part of retirement portfolios while strengthening protections for lawful digital asset businesses to maintain access to essential banking services.

Our Take: This signals a push to bring crypto into the financial mainstream. If implemented well, it could boost long-term demand and ease banking access, though political and regulatory pushback remains a risk.

GLOBAL LEGAL ROUNDUP

America:

• 🇺🇲 Roman Storm found guilty on money transmitting charge.

• 🇺🇲 CFTC explores allowing spot crypto trading on futures exchanges.

• 🇺🇲 SEC updates staff guidance on accounting rules for USD stablecoins.

• 🇺🇲 Trump picks crypto-friendly economist Stephen Miran for Fed board seat.

• 🇺🇲 White House crypto council head to step down, return to private sector.

• 🇺🇲 Paxos settles with NY regulator for $48.5M over Binance BUSD partnership.

• 🇺🇲 Changpeng Zhao seeks dismissal of FTX estate's $1.76B clawback lawsuit.

Europe:

• 🇺🇦 Ukraine to weigh bill regulating crypto market in late August.

• 🇪🇺 EU banking regulator finalizes draft rules for banks holding Bitcoin, Ether.

• 🇬🇧 Coinbase turns lobbying efforts to UK in scathing op-ed.

• 🇬🇧 UK allows retail access to crypto ETNs, signals push to become crypto hub.

Middle East & Africa:

• 🇦🇪 Dubai and UAE move to align crypto frameworks under new partnership.

APAC:

• 🇵🇭 Philippines SEC cracks down on unregistered crypto exchanges.

• 🇨🇳 Beijing moves to curb stablecoin hype even as Hong Kong advances.

• 🇨🇳 China warns Worldcoin-style data collection poses national security threat.

CASE STUDY

Ripple Case Ends, XRP ETF Outlook

Credits to Cointelegraph & Sarah Wynn for the original article

State of play: Ripple’s long-running battle with the SEC has officially ended after both sides agreed to drop their appeals, closing a case that began in 2020 over whether XRP sales were unregistered securities.

• The resolution sparked speculation about a potential BlackRock-backed XRP ETF, but the world’s largest asset manager says it has no plans for an XRP or Solana product.

• Analysts are split, some believe the lawsuit’s end could encourage filings, while others argue BlackRock’s absence signals little change in the immediate ETF landscape.

• Competitors like ProShares, 21Shares, Canary, and Bitwise have already submitted XRP ETF proposals.

• Bloomberg analysts place the odds of approval for XRP, Dogecoin, and Cardano ETFs at 90% by year-end.

• Still, market experts note XRP’s smaller market cap compared to Ethereum and suggest Solana or other altcoins could see ETF approval first.

Our Take: Ending the SEC case clears a hurdle for XRP, but BlackRock’s disinterest shows major players are still focused on Bitcoin and Ethereum. Smaller firms may push ahead, yet altcoin ETFs face an uphill battle to prove lasting demand and scale.

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NOTEWORTHY READS & MEME

• Nic Carter’s read on stablecoins and free banking.

• Jake Chervinsky’s take on Roman Storm’s conviction.

• Project Glitch’s read on ‘regulation by prosecution’ under Trump regime.

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Disclaimer: All the information presented in this publication and its affiliates is strictly for educational purposes only. It should not be construed or taken as financial, legal, investment, or any other form of advice.