Crypto markets welcomed a major policy breakthrough this week as the U.S. Senate passed the GENIUS Act, a bill designed to regulate stablecoins across the country.
The legislative win sent shares of Circle and Coinbase soaring, signaling renewed investor confidence in the regulatory path ahead for digital asset firms.
With strong bipartisan backing, the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act cleared the Senate with a 68-30 vote. The bill lays out a comprehensive framework for stablecoin issuers, mandating full asset reserves, monthly disclosure reports, and annual audits for companies with over $50 billion in market cap.
Following the vote, Circle, the issuer of USDC, saw its stock jump by 33.82%, ending the day at $199. The company only recently debuted on public markets earlier this month at $31 per share. Meanwhile, Coinbase stock rose 16.32% to close at $295.29, buoyed by optimism that greater regulatory clarity will benefit leading U.S.-based crypto platforms.
Senator Cynthia Lummis, a vocal advocate for digital assets, hailed the bill’s passage as a pivotal moment. “Today brings us one step closer to becoming a welcoming home for digital asset companies,” she said, urging lawmakers to continue the momentum by passing broader market structure reforms.
Though the GENIUS Act has cleared the Senate hurdle, it still needs approval from the House of Representatives before it can be signed into law by President Donald Trump. If passed, the bill would mark the most significant federal legislation for stablecoins to date—potentially shaping the future of the $150+ billion industry.
Coinbase has taken a major step toward expanding its decentralized finance (DeFi) presence by bringing onboard the leadership team behind Opyn Markets, a prominent name in the DeFi derivatives space.
Grayscale Investments has called on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to allow the launch of its multi-crypto ETF—the Grayscale Digital Large Cap Fund—arguing that further delays violate statutory deadlines and harm investors.
Robinhood has officially introduced Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL) staking services for its U.S. customers, offering a new way for users to earn rewards on their crypto holdings.
Binance CEO Richard Teng shared an optimistic outlook on the future of cryptocurrencies during an appearance on Mornings with Maria, highlighting growing global acceptance, regulatory progress, and strategic reserve integration.