Washington | Crypto

Bitcoin rose 290% in the five months after the end of the last major US government shutdown. That 2019 move, from roughly $3,500 in late January to nearly $14,000 by June, now circulates as a template for what comes next. The Senate advanced a deal to end the current 40-day shutdown, the longest on record, […] The post The $413k Bitcoin question: What happens to BTC when Washington reopens? appeared first on CryptoSlate.

In an interview with Cointelegraph, economist Peter Schiff warns that Bitcoin’s gains are built on political and Wall Street support that may not last. In an exclusive interview with Cointelegraph, veteran economist and gold advocate Peter Schiff issued one of his starkest warnings yet about Bitcoin’s future, and the powerful forces he believes have inflated it. Schiff argues that the latest Bitcoin (BTC) bull market isn’t organic, but rather propped up by political influence in Washington, DC and Wall Street’s self-interest. Despite being proven wrong multiple times in the past, Schiff is doubling down on his statement that Bitcoin is a “bubble” and will eventually “go to zero.” The economist challenges the mainstream narrative that Bitcoin protects investors from inflation or dollar weakness, warning instead that the same institutions Bitcoin was meant to disrupt are now the ones keeping it alive. Read more

Following a presidential pardon that sparked debate over influence and access, crypto companies and PACs are ramping up political spending as the sector matures into a Washington power player. Crypto’s relationship with Washington is rapidly evolving as the industry takes a more assertive role in US politics, signaling a shift from outsider status to growing influence across the federal landscape. This week on Byte-Sized Insight, we examine how lobbying, political spending and access are reshaping crypto’s presence in the Capitol and what that may mean for decentralization, market competition and future policy. The recent presidential pardon of Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao catalyzed the conversation, prompting scrutiny into whether crypto’s expanding political footprint is driving outcomes. While some industry figures framed the case as government overreach, critics pointed to lobbying pressure and high-level connections as evidence of swelling influence. Against that backdrop, crypto advocacy in Washing...

For the first time, a sitting U.S. Treasury Secretary has described Bitcoin as more than just a speculative frenzy. Scott Bessent’s post didn’t just set Crypto Twitter on fire; it marked a monumental shift in how policymakers view the number-one crypto. It’s a far cry from the days when Bitcoin lurked in the margins, constantly […] The post Washington does a 180 as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent dubs Bitcoin ‘more resilient than ever’ appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Anonymous donors said they pooled funds to recognize Binance founder Changpeng "CZ" Zhao in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday with a 14-foot-tall statue.

CZ’s pardon by Trump followed a lobbying push that included $450,000 to Trump-linked lobbyists and $290,000 to former SEC chair contender Teresa Goody Guillén. Former Binance CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao’s pardon by US President Donald Trump came after an extensive and expensive lobbying campaign in Washington. Zhao, who served a four-month prison sentence last year for violating US Anti-Money Laundering (AML) laws, benefited from a months-long effort by Binance and its legal team to win over key figures in Trump’s orbit, according to a Sunday report by Politico. In late September, Binance hired Ches McDowell, a close associate of Donald Trump Jr., and his North Carolina-based firm Checkmate Government Relations to lobby the White House and Treasury Department on “executive relief,” the report claimed. Read more

As the US Senate advances the GENIUS Act and lawmakers reintroduce the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act, Washington is finally stepping up to the plate on crypto. In this week’s episode of Byte-Sized Insight, on Decentralize with Cointelegraph, we break down a pivotal moment for US crypto legislation.  In a 66–32 procedural vote on May 19, the US Senate advanced the GENIUS Act, a landmark bill aimed at establishing a comprehensive regulatory framework for stablecoins. Meanwhile, across the Capitol, Representative Tom Emmer reintroduced the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act, backed by bipartisan support. The GENIUS Act — short for “Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act” — seeks to answer foundational questions around stablecoin issuance and oversight. Read more