Policy Regula2026-09-29 02:51:33Senate Democrats widen Trump crypto conflict probe to Tether and BinanceDemocratic investigators on the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations said in a report released on Sept. 29 that USDT has become a major financial channel for Iran’s shadow banking system, and called on the Treasury Department and the Department of Justice to examine whether Tether violated sanctions and banking laws. The report also pointed to Tether’s links to figures connected to the Trump administration, including business ties between Tether and Cantor Fitzgerald, which is controlled by the family of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and the appointment of former White House crypto council head Bo Hines to lead Tether’s U.S. business. The filing extends a broader Democratic push that has, since 2025, examined Trump family crypto ventures including TRUMP, World Liberty Financial, USD1, Binance-related transactions, and reported overseas funding. Tether said it continues to cooperate with law enforcement and has helped freeze about $550 million in Iran-linked USDT in 2026.280
Trump2026-09-28 16:49:06Trump says sanctions relief for Iran is possible if nuclear talks make concrete progressU.S. President Donald Trump is willing to consider easing sanctions on Iran and releasing frozen funds if negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program produce what he described as "concrete progress," according to Al Jazeera, as cited by BlockBeats on Sept. 29. A U.S. official said Washington and Tehran are holding "positive and constructive" discussions through intermediaries, but no deal will be reached if the nuclear issue remains unresolved. The same official said Iran has shown some flexibility on the nuclear file, though the two sides have not agreed on when any commitments would be carried out. Trump had earlier rejected Iran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, calling it "unacceptable," and said more talks with Iran are expected this week. On the U.S. side, the negotiations are being led by Middle East envoy Witkoff, Jared Kushner, Vice President Vance and Secretary of State Rubio. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said Trump remains skeptical of Tehran’s proposal, arguing that Iran wants all conditions granted up front before further negotiations.360
Trump2026-09-28 10:43:35Reuters: Trump family crypto ties could face congressional scrutiny if Democrats win the midtermsReuters reported that if Democrats take control of either the U.S. House of Representatives or the Senate after the November midterm elections, business dealings tied to the Trump family could become a priority for congressional investigators. The reported scope includes crypto businesses linked to Trump as well as 1789 Capital, the venture capital firm associated with Donald Trump Jr. Reuters said control of either chamber would give Democrats broader subpoena power and more resources for investigations. Under that scenario, any related inquiry could begin as early as February next year. Democratic lawmakers told Reuters that no final target list has been set. The White House pushed back on the prospect of such probes, calling the plans an "unfounded targeting" of Trump’s agenda. The report was cited by Techub News.300
CZ2026-09-28 08:30:59CZ revisits FTX, prison, pardon and Hyperliquid rivalry in wide-ranging podcast interviewBinance founder Changpeng Zhao, better known as CZ, used a long-form podcast interview released on Sept. 25, 2026 to revisit several of the most disputed episodes of his career: Binance’s early rise, the tweet tied to FTX’s collapse, his four-month prison sentence, the 2025 presidential pardon he received, the Oct. 10, 2025 market crash, and the competitive debate around Hyperliquid and decentralized exchanges. CZ rejected the claim that a single Binance tweet brought down FTX, saying the exchange failed because it misused customer funds and had likely already become insolvent before his post, citing a CoinDesk report published days earlier. He also said Binance had received about $2.1 billion in cash, BUSD and FTT when it exited its FTX equity position. On regulation and enforcement, CZ said he had never met or spoken with Donald Trump and described his pardon process as one handled through lawyers, with a petition filed in April 2025. He also defended Binance’s response to the Oct. 10 selloff, saying the exchange was not the cause of the broader collapse and that Binance paid about $800 million to compensate affected users despite having no obligation to do so. On competition, CZ said crypto remains far from saturated, arguing that penetration is still below 1% when measured against net assets. He said he welcomes Hyperliquid and other DEXs if they help expand the market.260
California2026-09-28 06:21:52California bars public officials from issuing memecoins as Newsom targets TrumpCalifornia Governor Gavin Newsom has signed AB 2409, a new law that bars the state’s public officials from issuing memecoins. The measure was enacted as part of an 11-bill package focused on corruption, consumer protection and cryptocurrency-related crime. Newsom’s office framed the signing in explicitly political terms, using the phrase “THE OPPOSITE OF TRUMP” and tying the law to criticism of President Donald Trump and the $TRUMP token. In a press release, Newsom said public officials should not profit from their office and said California was tightening protections to prevent that from happening in the state. The report also notes that it remains unclear whether the ban applies to memecoins already in circulation, including $TRUMP. CoinDesk said Trump’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The article also revisits the trading history of $TRUMP, including its rapid rise, steep collapse, holder losses tracked by Nansen, Trump’s disclosed royalty income, and the share of token supply held by Trump Organization affiliates.280
Trump2026-09-26 21:23:47Trump administration said to be weighing overseas stablecoin planThe Trump administration is considering an overseas stablecoin initiative that could be structured as a joint venture with private companies, according to ChainCatcher, citing a person familiar with the matter. The report said the U.S. Treasury, the State Department, and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, or DFC, could all be involved. The stated aim would be to expand the use of the U.S. dollar and support demand for U.S. Treasuries. The report also referenced Tether’s latest reserves disclosure. As of June 30, Tether directly held $114.96 billion in U.S. Treasuries, with total reserve assets of $187.75 billion and assets exceeding liabilities by $4.11 billion. Even so, the reported government plan has not established any cooperation with Tether and has not become a formal operating project.280
Trump2026-09-26 00:36:43WSJ: Trump rejects Iran’s seven-day ceasefire proposalThe Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. President Donald Trump has rejected a seven-day ceasefire proposal put forward by Iran and is considering resuming bombing operations against the country after the November midterm elections. According to the report, Trump is skeptical that Iran will meet his demands and has told aides that another round of bombing could take place. The report also said Washington and Tehran are still negotiating through mediators, while Trump has no intention of lifting the maritime blockade. The development points to continued tensions even as indirect talks remain active.250
U.S. midterms2026-09-25 13:57:27U.S. midterm vote on Nov. 3 will decide control of CongressThe 2026 U.S. midterm elections are scheduled for Nov. 3, with all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 Senate seats up for election. Republicans currently control both chambers of Congress, though their edge in the House is described as narrow. According to the latest assessment from Cook Political Report, 21 House races are rated as toss-ups, while seven Senate contests fall into the same category. Those competitive seats could prove decisive in determining which party controls Congress after the vote. The campaign is unfolding around several major issues, including the economy, cost of living, the Iran war and oil prices. A recent CNN/SSRS poll found that only 27% of respondents approve of Trump’s handling of the economy, while Democratic candidates lead Republicans by 8 percentage points in the national congressional generic ballot. Separately, a September Reuters/Ipsos poll showed Trump’s overall approval rating at 32%, the lowest level of his political career. The poll said inflation and the ongoing Iran war were among the main reasons respondents were dissatisfied with his performance. If Democrats win enough seats to take the House or Senate, the partisan balance in Congress would shift and could affect the Trump administration’s legislative agenda and policy push.310