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? The Dinarian on Locals brings you the latest in news, interviews, in-depth conversations, and stories from across the blockchain and global communities—within and beyond cryptocurrency ?. Experts delve into how blockchain technology is reshaping industries, enhancing business networks ?, transforming transaction workflows, and advancing distributed ledger systems ??. We also explore intriguing topics that may venture into the realm of conspiracies—and so much more!
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September 02, 2022
šŸ’„Gensler Says Crypto Treated Just Like The Market; 200 SEC Lawsuits Say Otherwise.šŸ’„

By law, regulatory agencies should only regulate that which they have authority to regulate. Deference is allowed to some degree, should the agency’s justification be reasonable and ideally evidenced. Notably Congress promulgated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) in 1946 to guide agency process to publish notice of rulemaking in the Federal Register and provide opportunity for public comment. This standard process seems to have never have happened for crypto assets at the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC). The SEC website does not include an entry for regulation for crypto, either completed or proposed.

In May 2022, the SEC beefed up its Cyber Unit to the Crypto Assets and Cyber Unit, budgeted for 50 dedicated officers and more than doubling the department’s headcount. The unit counts some 200 lawsuits since its founding in 2017, with fraud being the subject in at least 80 investigations. The agency also reports restoration of $2 billion in monetary relief.

No one denies that crypto assets, like any asset or technology, can be used fraudulently. The very features that make crypto assets desirable can also be exploited, including but not limited to ease of startup and use, anonymization, and lack of intermediaries. Plus, some users can undoubtedly be greedy and gullible. It does not help that some have disguised crypto scams as legitimate services.

It’s true, as well, that at least $1 billion had been lost to crypto fraud in 2021. However, this pales in comparison to more than $15 billion lost overnight by investors when the SEC brought a $1.3 billion non-fraud lawsuit against enterprise blockchain company Ripple Labs. When the news dropped, exchanges stopped trading XRP currency.

The SEC’s broad-brush approach which a priori singles out all crypto offerings, exchanges, lending, decentralized financed, non-fungible tokens, and stablecoins looks like guilty until proven innocent. So many lawsuits suggests that the SEC prefers ā€œregulation by enforcementā€ (a lawsuit against a financial actor meant to extract a settlement) rather than ā€œregulation by rulesā€ (express guidelines for the trade of currencies, securities, and other assets). If the SEC can devote 50 amongst 4000 employees to detect crypto fraud, a handful could work on rulemaking to help legitimate crypto actors.

The SEC has not responded to my request for comment.

The Chairman’s View
In a recent op-ed titled ā€œThe SEC Treats Crypto Like the Rest of the Capital Markets. Securities laws that protect investors continue to apply even when new technologies come along,ā€ SEC Chairman Gary Gensler made a seemingly reasonable pitch for investor protection against fraud and claimed that SEC rules protect against this. Indeed he claimed that crypto lending is already subject to SEC regulation and that ā€œthe rules have been around for decades.ā€ However a cursory search on SEC.gov on the term ā€œcrypto lendingā€ only yields results related to the SEC’s BlockFi enforcement, no ā€œrulesā€ as such. Instead the Chairman advises, ā€œI encourage platforms offering crypto lending to come in and talk to SEC staff.ā€ What is www.SEC.gov for if not to read rules?

On various occasions Gensler observed that every digital asset is probably a security and that every firm should know that. However this not what the SEC said in the past (see the 2018 William Hinman speech). There is principled, ongoing debate in legal and academic communities that crypto assets could be either currency (medium of exchange) or security (investment in an asset with an expectation of return) or both. This important distinction is not explicit on SEC.gov and the SEC acknowledges both categories exist.

This question of currency or security is at the heart of SEC v. Ripple Labs and the status of the digital currency XRP. Apparently SEC leaders themselves debated the question internally for some time, but never conducted an inquiry or rulemaking. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn has repeatedly ordered the internal documents on the 2018 speech be produced to Ripple in discovery, but the SEC refuses to comply. Her July Opinion & Order blasted the agency for ā€œhypocrisyā€ and behavior which ā€œsuggests that the SEC is adopting its litigation positions to further its desired goal, and not out of a faithful allegiance to the law.ā€ The SEC further charges that Ripple should have known XRP was security from the ledger’s debut in 2013, even though the SEC itself didn’t know until it filed the suit in 2020.

A similar argument underpins SEC v. LBRY, though it involves a different technology and objective. Gensler observed at a speech at the 2021 Aspen Security Forum, ā€œMake no mistake: It doesn’t matter whether it’s a stock token, a stable value token backed by securities, or any other virtual product that provides synthetic exposure to underlying securities. These products are subject to the securities laws and must work within our securities regime.ā€

Complying with the SEC’s securities regime is a tall order for any enterprise, whether a major bank or a lone developer. That fellow SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce posted a proposal for a token safe harbor to ā€œfacilitate participation in and the development of a functional or decentralized network, exempted from the registration provisions of the federal securities laws for three yearsā€ suggests that the SEC’s rules are less than clear.

At the Aspen event, Gensler also claimed that the Supreme Court’s Howey benchmark is a ā€œthree partā€ test, when it is in fact four. The critical fourth prong is the ā€œinvestment contractā€ defined as an investment of money in a common enterprise with the expectation of profit to be derived from the efforts of others. It appears that Gensler eliminated this because it contradicts the reasoning in the Ripple and LBRY cases, which posits that the tokens per se are securities regardless of how they are packaged and sold.

What the SEC should do
The SEC was founded in 1934 in reaction to the 1929 stock market crash and with the purpose to protect markets from manipulation. However the SEC’s own actions to ā€œregulate by enforcementā€ are a kind of manipulation through arbitrary and capricious decisions and lack of process and rules.

Indeed, some 90 percent of SEC cases are settled, rather than concluded in court. Such a high degree of enforcement and settlement suggests that SEC rules are not clear and possibly non-existent.

There are hundreds of SEC lawyer tasked with prosecuting companies for failure to follow rules that Gensler says exist but which cannot be found on SEC.gov. Gensler can protect investors through transparency. Crypto actors have begged Congress and the SEC for clear rules for years, but it hasn’t happened. Gensler has been on the job for a year a half. It’s time to get this done.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/roslynlayton/2022/08/28/gensler-says-crypto-treated-just-like-the-market-200-sec-lawsuits-say-otherwise

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šŸš€ Bitcoin Hits New All-Time High – What’s Next?

Bitcoin reached a new peak of $118,254 on July 11, 2025, driven by institutional demand, favorable macro conditions, and supportive crypto regulations. With a 100%+ year-over-year surge, what's next for BTC?

šŸ”® Bitcoin Outlook

šŸ“† Short Term (6–12 Months)

  • Expect volatility post-ATH
  • Spot BTC ETFs attract significant capital
  • Potential range: $95K–$135K

šŸ•° Medium Term (1–3 Years)

  • 2024 halving impact continues
  • More institutions may adopt BTC as reserve/collateral
  • Global regulatory clarity boosts confidence
  • Potential range: $120K–$200K+

🌐 Long Term (5–10+ Years)

  • BTC may solidify as digital gold
  • Used in cross-border settlements and emerging markets
  • Scarcity (21M cap) drives value
  • Bullish case: $250K–$1M+
  • Bearish case: $20K–$50K (if tech/regulatory risks rise)

šŸ“Œ Key Drivers

  • Institutional adoption
  • Spot ETF flows
  • Crypto regulations
  • Fed interest rate policy
  • Lightning Network & Layer 2 scaling
  • Geopolitical uncertainty

šŸ’¬ TL;DR:
Bitcoin’s $118K breakout ...

00:00:07
Ripple CEO on partnership with BNY to serve as custodian of stablecoin
00:01:12
Brad Garlinghouse In Washington šŸš€

It’s time for a fair and open level playing field.

Under Gary Gensler it was quite the opposite.

  • Brad Garlinghouse
    July 9, 2025
00:01:56
šŸ‘‰ Coinbase just launched an AI agent for Crypto Trading

Custom AI assistants that print money in your sleep? šŸ”œ

The future of Crypto x AI is about to go crazy.

šŸ‘‰ Here’s what you need to know:

šŸ’  'Based Agent' enables creation of custom AI agents
šŸ’  Users set up personalized agents in < 3 minutes
šŸ’  Equipped w/ crypto wallet and on-chain functions
šŸ’  Capable of completing trades, swaps, and staking
šŸ’  Integrates with Coinbase’s SDK, OpenAI, & Replit

šŸ‘‰ What this means for the future of Crypto:

1. Open Access: Democratized access to advanced trading
2. Automated Txns: Complex trades + streamlined on-chain activity
3. AI Dominance: Est ~80% of crypto šŸ‘‰txns done by AI agents by 2025

🚨 I personally wouldn't bet against Brian Armstrong and Jesse Pollak.

šŸ‘‰ Coinbase just launched an AI agent for Crypto Trading
🚨 BREAKING NEWS: Ripple National Trust Bank! šŸ¦ šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø

Ripple has officially filed an application to become a national trust bank, aiming to launch what would be called Ripple National Trust Bank.

This move is designed to bring Ripple’s crypto and stablecoin operations under direct federal regulation and marks a major step toward mainstream integration with the U.S. financial system.

šŸ¤” What This Means:

šŸ”¹ If approved by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Ripple would be able to operate nationwide under federal oversight, expanding its crypto services and allowing it to settle payments faster and more efficiently—without relying on intermediary banks.

šŸ”¹ Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin would be regulated at both the state and federal level, setting a new benchmark for transparency and compliance in the stablecoin market.

šŸ”¹ Ripple has also applied for a Federal Reserve master account, which would let it hold reserves directly at the Fed and issue or redeem stablecoins outside normal banking hours, further strengthening ...

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PERSISTENCE Q2 SUMMARY & WHATS TO COME IN Q3 šŸ‘€

Q2’25 was a significant one as we laid the groundwork for multiple initiatives on our orange-themed road to BTCFi šŸ›£ļøšŸ§”

From being one of the first DEXs to deploy on Babylon, to going live with the beta-mainnet & onboarding new Persisters.

Read more šŸ‘‰ https://blog.persistence.one/2025/07/10/persistence-one-a-look-back-on-q2-2025-and-an-overview-of-whats-to-come-in-q3/

BTC Interop beta mainnet is back 🧔
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Musk Turns On Starlink to Save Iranians from Regime’s Internet Crackdown

Elon Musk, the world’s richest man and a visionary behind SpaceX, has flipped the switch on Starlink, delivering internet to Iranians amid a brutal regime crackdown.

This move comes on the heels of Israeli strikes targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities, as the Islamic Republic cuts off online access.

The former Department of Government Efficiency chief activated Starlink satellite internet service for Iranians on Saturday following the Islamic Republic's decision to impose nationwide internet restrictions.

As the Jerusalem PostĀ reports, that the Islamic Republic’s Communications Ministry announced the move, stating, "In view of the special conditions of the country, temporary restrictions have been imposed on the country’s internet."

This action followed a series of Israeli attacks on Iranian targets.

Starlink, a SpaceX-developed satellite constellation, provides high-speed internet to regions with limited connectivity, such as remote areas or conflict zones.

Elizabeth MacDonald, a Fox News contributor, highlighted its impact, noting, "Elon Musk turning on Starlink for Iran in 2022 was a game changer. Starlink connects directly to SpaceX satellites, bypassing Iran’s ground infrastructure. That means even during government-imposed shutdowns or censorship, users can still get online, and reportedly more than 100,000 inside Iran are doing that."

During the 2022 "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests, Starlink enabled Iranians to communicate and share footage globally despite network blackouts," she added.

MacDonald also mentioned ongoing tests of "direct-to-cell" capabilities, which could allow smartphone connections without a dish, potentially expanding access and supporting free expression and protest coordination.

Musk confirmed the activation, noting on Saturday, "The beams are on."

This follows the regime’s internet shutdowns, which were triggered by Israeli military actions.

Adding to the tension, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the Iranian people on Friday, urging resistance against the regime.

"Israel's fight is not against the Iranian people. Our fight is against the murderous Islamic regime that oppresses and impoverishes you,ā€ he said.

Meanwhile, Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last monarch,Ā called onĀ military and security forces to abandon the regime, accusing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a Persian-language social mediaĀ postĀ of forcing Iranians into an unwanted war.

Starlink has been a beacon in other crises. Beyond Iran, Musk has leveraged Starlink to assist people during natural disasters and conflicts.

In the wake of hurricanes and earthquakes, Starlink has provided critical internet access to affected communities, enabling emergency communications and coordination.

Similarly, during the Ukraine-Russia conflict, Musk activated Starlink to support Ukrainian forces and civilians, ensuring they could maintain contact and access vital information under dire circumstances.

The genius entrepreneur, is throwing a lifeline to the oppressed in Iran, and the libs can’t stand it.

Conservative talk show host Mark Levin praised Musk’s action,Ā repostingĀ a message stating that Starlink would "reconnect the Iranian people with the internet and put the final nail in the coffin of the Iranian regime."

"God bless you, Elon. The Starlink beams are on in Iran!" LevinĀ wrote.

Musk, who recently stepped down from leading the DOGE in the Trump administration, has apologized to President Trump for past criticisms, including his stance on the One Big Beautiful Bill.

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šŸ’³ PayPal:Ā 
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šŸ”— Crypto – Support via Coinbase Wallet to: [email protected]

Or Buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/thedinarian

Your generosity keeps this mission alive, for all! NamastĆ© šŸ™ Crypto Michael ⚔ Ā The Dinarian

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GENIUS Act lets State banks conduct some business nationwide. Regulators object

The Senate passed the GENIUS Act for stablecoins last week, but significant work remains before it becomes law. The House has a different bill, the STABLE Act, with notable differences that must be reconciled. State banking regulators have raised strong objections to a provision in the GENIUS Act that would allow state banks to operate nationwide without authorization from host states or a federal regulator.

The controversial clause permits a state bank with a regulated stablecoin subsidiary to provide money transmitter and custodial services in any other state. While host states can impose consumer protection laws, they cannot require the usual authorization and oversight typically needed for out-of-state banking operations.

The Conference of State Bank Supervisors welcomed some changes in the GENIUS Act but remains adamantly opposed to this particular provision. In a statement, CSBS said:

ā€œCritical changes must be made during House consideration of the legislation to prevent unintended consequences and further mitigate financial stability risks. CSBS remains concerned with the dramatic and unsupported expansion of the authority of uninsured banks to conduct money transmission or custody activities nationwide without the approval or oversight of host state supervisors (Sec. 16(d)).ā€

The National Conference of State Legislatures expressed similar concerns in early June, stating:

ā€œWe urge you to oppose Section 16(d) and support state authority to regulate financial services in a manner that reflects local conditions, priorities and risk tolerances. Preserving the dual banking system and respecting state autonomy is essential to the safety, soundness and diversity of our nation’s financial sector.ā€

Evolution of nationwide authorization

Section 16 addresses several issues beyond stablecoins, including preventing a recurrence of the SEC’s SAB 121, which forced crypto assets held in custody onto balance sheets. However, the nationwide authorization subsection was added after the legislation cleared the Senate Banking Committee, with two significant modifications since then.

Originally, the provision applied only to special bank charters like Wyoming’s Special Purpose Depository Institutions or Connecticut’s Innovation Banks. Examples include crypto-focused Custodia Bank and crypto exchange Kraken in Wyoming, plus traditional finance player Fnality US in Connecticut. Recently the scope was expanded to cover most state chartered banks with stablecoin subsidiaries, possibly due to concerns about competitive advantages.

Simultaneously, the clause was substantially tightened. The initial version allowed state chartered banks to provide money transmission and custody services nationwide for any type of asset, which would include cryptocurrencies. Now these activities can only be conducted by the stablecoin subsidiary, and while Section 16(d) doesn’t explicitly limit services to stablecoins, the GENIUS Act currently restricts issuers to stablecoin related activities.

However, the House STABLE Act takes a more permissive approach, allowing regulators to decide which non-stablecoin activities are permitted. If the House version prevails in reconciliation, it could result in a significant expansion of allowed nationwide banking activities beyond stablecoins.

Is it that bad?

As originally drafted, the clause seemed overly permissive.

The amended clause makes sense for stablecoin issuers. They want to have a single regulator and be able to provide the stablecoin services throughout the United States. But it also leans into the perception outside of crypto that this is just another form of regulatory arbitrage.

The controversy over Section 16(d) reflects concerns about creating a regulatory gap that allows banks to operate interstate without the oversight typically required from either federal or state authorities. As the two Congressional chambers work toward reconciliation, lawmakers must decide whether stablecoin legislation should include provisions that effectively reduce traditional banking oversight requirements.

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šŸ™ Donations Accepted šŸ™

If you find value in my content, consider showing your support via:

šŸ’³ PayPal:Ā 
1) Simply scan the QR code below šŸ“²
2) or visit https://www.paypal.me/thedinarian

šŸ”— Crypto – Support via Coinbase Wallet to: [email protected]

Or Buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/thedinarian

Your generosity keeps this mission alive, for all! NamastĆ© šŸ™ Crypto Michael ⚔ Ā The Dinarian

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Dubai regulator VARA classifies RWA issuance as licensed activity
Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) leads global regulatory framework - makes RWA issuance licensed activity in Dubai.

Real-world assets (RWAs) issuance is now licensed activity in Dubai.

~ Actual law.
~ Not a legal gray zone.
~ Not a whitepaper fantasy.

RWA issuance and listing on secondary markets is defined under binding crypto regulation.

It’s execution by Dubai.

Irina HeaverĀ explained:

ā€œRWA issuance is no longer theoretical. It’s now a regulatory reality.ā€

VARA defined:

- RWAs are classified as Asset-Referenced Virtual Assets (ARVAs)

- Secondary market trading is permitted under VARA license

- Issuers need capital, audits, and legal disclosures

- Regulated broker-dealers and exchanges can now onboard and trade them

This closes the gap that killed STOs in 2018.

No more tokenization without venues.
No more assets without liquidity.

UAE is doing what Switzerland, Singapore, and Europe still haven’t:

Creating enforceable frameworks for RWA tokenization that actually work.

Matthew White, CEO of VARA, said it perfectly:

ā€œTokenization will redefine global finance in 2025.ā€

He’s not exaggerating.

$500B+ market predicted next year.

And the UAE just gave it legal rails.

~Real estate.
~Private credit.
~Shariah-compliant products.

Everything is in play.

This is how you turn hype into infrastructure.

What Dubai is doing now is 3 years ahead of everyone else.

Founders, investors, ecosystem builders:

You want to build real-world assets onchain.

Don’t waste another year waiting for clarity.

Come to Dubai.

It’s already here.

Ā 

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šŸ™ Donations Accepted šŸ™

If you find value in my content, consider showing your support via:

šŸ’³ PayPal:Ā 
1) Simply scan the QR code below šŸ“²
2) or visit https://www.paypal.me/thedinarian

šŸ”— Crypto – Support via Coinbase Wallet to: [email protected]

Or Buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/thedinarian

Your generosity keeps this mission alive, for all! NamastĆ© šŸ™ Crypto Michael ⚔ Ā The Dinarian

Ā 

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