**U. S. Crypto Companies Launch New Initiatives** By Robert A. Musiala Jr. A major cryptocurrency exchange has introduced trading tailored for "institutional and advanced traders" in the U. S. , expanding its offerings beyond retail services previously available. Similarly, Circle, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, has acquired Hashnote, the issuer of the USYC tokenized treasury fund. This integration aims to unify USYC with USDC, streamlining access to tokenized Treasury fund collateral. Additionally, asset tokenization platform Securitize has rolled out features for its BUIDL tokenized Treasury fund. These include “daily dividends, ” where BUIDL holders receive daily payouts, and “intra-day redemptions, ” allowing investors to redeem holdings multiple times throughout the day based on market conditions. For further details, please see links regarding the U. S. launch of Crypto. com, eToro's IPO filing, Circle's acquisition of Hashnote, and Securitize's new features. **New SEC Chair Launches Crypto Task Force** By John Robertson The U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), under acting Chairman Mark T. Uyeda, has initiated a new "crypto task force" led by Commissioner Hester Peirce. This group aims to create a regulatory framework for crypto assets, moving away from enforcement actions to clearer guidelines and paths for registration. In response to this task force, a digital assets venture capital fund has proposed six changes for the SEC to enhance market benefits, including guidance on "airdrops, " modifying crowdfunding rules, and reforms for exchange-traded product standards. Lastly, a U. S. crypto exchange has envisioned a global financial system centered on tokenization, advocating policies to support this initiative and promote open, permissionless networks. For more information, you can refer to the links regarding the SEC's new task force and Coinbase's vision for permissionless architecture. **SEC Announces Crypto Enforcement Actions** By Robert A.

Musiala Jr. On January 16 and 17, the SEC revealed several enforcement actions in the crypto sector. Nova Labs Inc. faces charges for allegedly conducting unregistered securities offerings and defrauding investors. Another case involves Digital Currency Group Inc. (DCG) and its former CEO Michael Moro, who agreed to pay $38. 5 million in penalties for misleading statements about Genesis Global Capital's financial status following significant losses. Separately, New York blockchain engineer Eric Zhu has been charged with fraud related to a token called “Game Coin, ” where he is accused of misappropriating $553, 000 in crypto assets. For more information, refer to links about the SEC's actions against Nova Labs, DCG, and Zhu. **DOJ Targets Crypto Market Maker** By Robert A. Musiala Jr. The U. S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that CLS Global FZC LLC, a market-making firm, will resolve charges of fraudulent manipulation of trading volumes related to the NexFundAI token. The firm admitted to engaging in "wash trading" to mislead investors and attract buyers. CLS Global operated out of the UAE while providing services to U. S. investors. For further information, please check the DOJ's release on the matter.