Mark Uyeda Takes Over SEC Leadership, Signaling a Crypto-Friendly Shift

Commissioner Mark Uyeda has assumed the role of acting chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as the agency awaits Senate confirmation of Paul Atkins, President Donald Trump’s nominee for the permanent position. Uyeda, known for his crypto-friendly stance, has been a vocal critic of the SEC’s restrictive measures on the digital assets industry. He has particularly opposed policies like Staff Accounting Bulletin 121, which hindered banks from serving digital asset clients, and has expressed interest in repealing it.

Uyeda’s crypto-positive perspective aligns with Republican Commissioner Hester Peirce, and both have advocated for a more lenient regulatory approach toward the industry. His temporary leadership marks a significant shift from former Chair Gary Gensler, who was viewed as an adversary of the crypto sector due to his enforcement actions, strict policies, and resistance to approving spot crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Uyeda’s tenure could signal a more favorable regulatory environment for the crypto industry, leveraging his authority to implement changes aligned with his views.

Trump’s World Liberty Financial Celebrates Inauguration With Major Crypto Investments and Public Offering Surge

World Liberty Financial (WLFI), the Trump family’s ambitious crypto project, has made substantial investments to commemorate Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th U.S. president. On-chain data reveals the purchase of $47 million worth of Bitcoin (BTC) and $47 million of Ethereum (ETH).

In addition, WLFI has been actively acquiring other digital assets. Over the past 15 minutes, the project purchased 220,000 LINK in multiple transactions, worth $5.63 million, and 13,000 AAVE, valued at $4.41 million. It also acquired 37.267 million TRX, worth $8.86 million. The spree signals an aggressive strategy to strengthen its crypto portfolio.

TRON founder Justin Sun announced a $45 million additional investment in WLFI, bringing his total backing to $75 million. WLFI, which completed its public offering today, saw its unit price temporarily surge by 5%, rising from the original $0.015 to $0.05, reflecting strong market interest in the project.

Ethereum Foundation Considers Staking ETH Amid Regulatory and Hard Fork Concerns

Vitalik Buterin revealed that the Ethereum Foundation is exploring the possibility of staking ETH themselves, despite historical reluctance due to regulatory and hard fork issues. While regulatory concerns have eased, the foundation remains cautious about taking sides in potential contentious forks. The move is being considered as a response to increasing community pressure and declining staking rewards in a bearish market, though no definitive actions have been taken yet.