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The interplay between the global geopolitical situation and the cryptocurrency market is complex and increasingly significant. Here's a breakdown of key points:   1. Geopolitical Instability and Market Volatility: Increased Uncertainty: Geopolitical events, such as wars, political tensions, and economic sanctions, create uncertainty in global financial markets. This uncertainty directly translates to increased volatility in the cryptocurrency market, which is already known for its price swings. For example, conflicts can cause investors to seek safe-haven assets, and while some view crypto as such, its volatility can also cause panic selling.   Impact on Investor Sentiment: News of geopolitical unrest can trigger fear and anxiety among investors, leading to sell-offs in both traditional and cryptocurrency markets. This "risk-off" sentiment can particularly affect crypto, as it is often considered a higher-risk asset class. 2. Cryptocurrency as a Tool in Geopolitics: Sanctions Evasion: Cryptocurrencies' decentralized nature makes them attractive for countries and individuals seeking to bypass economic sanctions.   This raises concerns among governments about the potential for illicit financial flows and the undermining of international sanctions regimes.   Alternative Financial Systems: Some nations are exploring cryptocurrencies and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) as alternatives to the traditional dollar-dominated financial system. This trend could reshape global financial power dynamics. Funding Conflicts: It is seen that crypto currency can be used to fund conflicts, and other illicit activities. This is a large concern for many governing bodies.   3. Regulatory Responses: Increased Scrutiny: Geopolitical concerns are driving governments to increase their regulatory scrutiny of the cryptocurrency market.   This includes efforts to combat money laundering, terrorist financing, and sanctions evasion. CBDC Development: Many central banks are accelerating their development of CBDCs in response to the rise of cryptocurrencies and the need to maintain control over their monetary systems. This is creating a new dynamic where state backed digital currencies are competing with decentralized crypto currencies. 4. Crypto's Role as a Safe Haven: Debate on Safe-Haven Status: Whether cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin can act as a true safe-haven asset during geopolitical crises is a subject of ongoing debate. While some investors see them as a hedge against inflation and economic instability, their high volatility can also deter others. Currency Devaluation: In regions experiencing currency devaluation due to political instability, cryptocurrencies can offer an alternative store of value.   In summary: The connection between geopolitics and the crypto market is becoming increasingly intertwined. Geopolitical events can significantly impact crypto prices, while cryptocurrencies themselves are being used as tools in geopolitical strategies. This dynamic is leading to increased regulatory scrutiny and a reshaping of the global financial landscape.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has officially clarified that proof-of-work cryptocurrency mining does not fall under federal securities laws. In a staff statement released on Thursday, the SEC confirmed that mining operators are not required to register their activities with the regulator, a move that provides much-needed clarity for the digital asset industry. According to the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance, individuals and entities participating in mining activities, specifically proof-of-work mining, do not need to file transactions under the Securities Act. The agency made it clear that a miner’s role in the process doesn’t create an expectation of profit derived from the efforts of others. Instead, miners contribute their computing power to secure the network and earn rewards based on the network’s software protocol. Related: Trump’s Crypto Agenda: Bitcoin Mining and SEC Overhaul Plans The SEC’s statement also covered mining pools, which combine resources to increase processing power and share the earned rewards. The agency clarified that, similar to individual miners, those involved in mining pools do not expect profits based on the entrepreneurial efforts of others. The SEC’s clarification is important for the crypto industry, particularly for those involved in mining digital currencies like Bitcoin, Dogecoin, Litecoin, and Dash, all of which operate on proof-of-work blockchains. Cody Carbone, president of The Digital Chamber , hailed the staff statement as a breakthrough moment for Bitcoin miners and a positive step forward for the industry as a whole. He explained that this clarification provides essential legal certainty, allowing the mining sector to grow and expand within the United States. The SEC’s shift to a more supportive stance towards digital assets is evident ever since President Donald Trump’s took office. The SEC has been diligently reversing its stricter crypto regulations previously put in place by former Chair Gary Gensler. Related: Russia Legalizes Crypto Mining, Shakes Up Bitcoin Scene The SEC has also begun to re-evaluate its stance on other crypto-related matters, such as memecoins. In February, the agency released a statement clarifying that the majority of memecoins do not fall under its regulatory purview. Disclaimer: The information presented in this article is for informational and educational purposes only. The article does not constitute financial advice or advice of any kind. Coin Edition is not responsible for any losses incurred as a result of the utilization of content, products, or services mentioned. Readers are advised to exercise caution before taking any action related to the company.

The European Union is experiencing a discreet yet tenacious revolution. A recent report from Oobit, a platform specialized in crypto payments, reveals that 70% of crypto transactions on its network are absorbed by retail, food, and beverages. A figure that shatters the clichés about the marginal use of cryptocurrencies. But how can we explain this silent infiltration into the daily lives of Europeans? Between regulatory adoption and economic pragmatism, the landscape is reshaping. Crypotcurrencies are no longer the privilege of traders or technology enthusiasts. According to Oobit, an average of $8.36 is spent per transaction in local shops, cafes, or supermarkets. A detail that says a lot: crypto is becoming common currency for mundane purchases, far from high-risk speculation. But behind these figures lies a paradox: while 92% of payments are made in USDT, a stablecoin pegged to the dollar, the EU’s MiCA regulation, effective by the end of 2024, imposes strict safeguards against non-European stablecoins. A tension between popular use and legal framework, where consumers seem to prefer practicality over technocratic debates. In parallel, tourism is benefiting. 26% of transactions pertain to accommodation, travel, or aviation. A sector in search of borderless solutions, where crypto addresses a concrete need: to avoid exchange fees and banking delays. Evidence that adoption does not always stem from ideological enthusiasm, but often from a purely utilitarian logic. The rise of cryptos in the EU is not just a trend. It is a response to tangible economic realities. Micropayments, once stifled by prohibitive fees, are being reborn thanks to innovations such as Bitcoin’s Lightning Network. An advancement that enabled Nubank to equip 100 million Latin American customers by 2024 and foreshadows a global trend. Crypto debit cards also play a key role. By offering “crypto-back” discounts, they transform the act of spending into an opportunity to save. A clever strategy to attract a skeptical audience, linking immediate consumption with future gain. But the real engine remains stablecoins. Their market capitalization skyrocketed by 266% between 2021 and 2025, according to DefiLlama. Pegged to stable currencies, they are becoming a lifeline in countries with volatile local currencies. A phenomenon that the EU observes with ambivalence: while cryptos facilitate exchanges, they also challenge the hegemony of the euro. Europe is navigating between innovation and caution. Oobit’s figures reveal organic adoption driven by concrete needs, far more than by decentralizing utopias. Governments know this: ignoring this tide would be naïve. This is a turning point in 2025, with the arrival of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) .

The long-standing litigation war between Ripple and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is yet to come to an end, with the regulatory agency recently dropping several high-profile crypto cases. The lengthy litigation has been subject to much speculation with some analysts pointing to the possible intention of Ripple to slow down settlement talks for a better deal. Lawyer James Murphy, who is also MetaLawMan on social media site X, has proposed that Ripple is in negotiations with the SEC to have major decisions in the case overturned. His thesis is based on Judge Analisa Torres’ ruling, which, although helpful in some ways, also convicted Ripple of breaking securities laws. The verdict was accompanied by some injunctions that may hamper Ripple’s future ability to make securities offerings or an IPO, as well as the increasing chances of an XRP ETF approval in 2025, as reported earlier. Murphy surmises that Ripple is using the ongoing process to negotiate for changes in the court’s conclusions prior to settling for a final settlement. “It’s highly possible that Ripple may be dragging out the lawsuit to try and buy more time to negotiate a better deal with the SEC,” he said. He feels the SEC would be amenable to a solution where both sides withdraw their appeals, and Ripple pays its $125 million fine. From his viewpoint, though, the party delaying is not the regulatory commission but Ripple. Conversely, attorney Fred Rispoli has a different opinion. He argues that the delay is on the part of the SEC and not Ripple. In earlier remarks, Rispoli intimated that the commission’s reluctance to seal the settlement could be due to internal issues regarding amending the financial penalty imposed on Ripple. Rispoli quoted SEC commissioners Mark Uyeda and Hester Peirce as not wanting to own the job of amending Ripple’s $125 million penalty. “My best guess is that, given the $125M judgment, that is real money that Uyeda and Pierce do not want to have responsibility for modifying,” he stated in an X post published on February 25. He went on to suggest that the delay might be the result of no desire to take an unpopular decision, which he characterized as an act of “cowardice.” Regardless of the disagreement on who is responsible for the delay, both legal analysts appear to concur on one point: the case is drawing to a close, as highlighted in our previous story. Murphy puts the possibility of the issue being resolved prior to April 16, the deadline for Ripple’s last appeal brief, while Rispoli anticipates a dismissal within the next few months.

An analyst has explained how this Bitcoin correction phase may be different from the 2024 one, based on the data of this on-chain metric. Stablecoin Supply Is Displaying A Different Pattern In This Bitcoin Downturn In a CryptoQuant Quicktake post, an analyst has shared about how the latest trend in the stablecoin circulating supply has been looking. “Stablecoins” are cryptocurrencies that track the price of a fiat currency, with USD being by far the most popular choice. These tokens run on multiple networks, but in the context of the current topic, only the Ethereum-based ones are of interest. Stablecoins are, by nature, relatively ‘stable’ in value, so the investors generally buy into these coins whenever they want to avoid the volatility associated with assets like Bitcoin. Holders who invest into stables, though, usually plan to eventually go back into the volatile side of the sector. For if they didn’t, they would have exited into fiat instead. Once these traders feel the time is right, they use their stablecoins to swap into Bitcoin or whatever desired coin. This shift naturally applies a buying pressure to the price of the asset. Due to the potential of the stablecoins to act as dry powder for the volatile cryptocurrencies, these assets are often looked at as the ‘available’ buy supply of the sector. As such, an increase in its value may be considered as a bullish sign. Now, here is the chart shared by the quant, which shows the trend in the supply of the ERC-20 stablecoins over the last year and a half: As displayed in the above graph, the stablecoin supply has been on the rise during the last few months, which suggests capital has been flowing into these fiat-tied tokens. This rise in the metric has come as Bitcoin has been going through a phase of bearish momentum. In the chart, the analyst has also highlighted the trend that the indicator followed during BTC’s bearish period from last year. It would seem that the stablecoin supply was moving sideways back then. This would imply that as BTC corrected in 2024, a net amount of capital flowed out of the sector as if the capital was rotating into the stablecoins instead, their supply would have registered an increase. This time around, however, a rotation of capital has indeed been occurring, with these stablecoin buyers potentially waiting on the sidelines for a profitable entry point. Of course, this current setup isn’t the most bullish one, either; that would have been the case if both the Bitcoin market cap and the stablecoin supply rose simultaneously. Nonetheless, the fact that the stablecoins haven’t been shrinking during this market downturn could still be taken as an optimistic sign for Bitcoin. BTC Price Bitcoin has seen yet another failed recovery rally as its price has dropped back to $84,000, after having broken above $87,000 just earlier. $BTC