News Roundup — Trump Orders Crypto Working Group to Draft New Regulations, Explore National Stockpile

Major news stories this week;

1. Trump Orders Crypto Working Group to Draft New Regulations, Explore National Stockpile
2. ‍Bank of America CEO Foresees Crypto Payment Boom With Clear Rules
3. MicroStrategy Added 11K Bitcoin for $1.1B, Pushing Holdings to 461K BTC
4. SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce to Lead New Crypto Task Force
5. TON Becomes the Exclusive Blockchain for Telegram’s Mini-Apps

Story Summaries;

1. On January 23, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order creating a cryptocurrency working group to propose new regulations, safeguard banking services for crypto companies, and explore a national digital asset stockpile. The order also bans U.S. central bank digital currencies, marking a sharp contrast to the previous administration’s regulatory approach. Led by crypto czar David Sacks, the working group aims to shape clearer rules for digital assets and could push cryptocurrencies further into the mainstream.
2. Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan predicts a crypto payment boom once clear regulations unlock their full potential. Speaking at the World Economic Forum, he emphasized that banks will adopt digital currencies for retail payments if regulatory clarity is achieved. With President Trump's pro-crypto stance, the industry anticipates regulatory changes that could drive wider crypto adoption, a shift Bank of America is prepared for with its blockchain patents.
3. MicroStrategy added 11,000 Bitcoin for $1.1 billion, increasing its holdings to 461,000 BTC for the 11th consecutive week. Led by Michael Saylor, the company’s latest purchase brings its average Bitcoin purchase price to $63,610. Despite recent volatility, MicroStrategy continues to expand its crypto holdings, with the latest purchase priced at $101,191 per Bitcoin.
4. SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce, known as "Crypto Mom," will lead a new crypto task force to set a clearer regulatory path for the industry. The task force aims to address criticisms of the SEC’s "regulation by enforcement" approach and create clear rules for crypto firms. Peirce, along with acting chair Mark Uyeda, is pushing for more sensible guidance, including a proposed three-year "safe harbor" period for crypto projects. The group will focus on realistic registration processes, disclosures, and judicious enforcement.
5. The TON blockchain is now the exclusive platform for Telegram’s mini-apps, marking a major expansion of their partnership. As of January 21, 2025, Telegram’s mini-apps must transition to TON by February 21, 2025, with technical and marketing support available for the migration. The move aims to boost TON adoption among Telegram’s 950 million monthly users, with popular games like Hamster Kombat already on the network. This collaboration is expected to drive TON’s growth and introduce new features, such as tokenized gifts and NFTs.
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And that’s all for last week’s news! Wishing you a great week ahead!