Trump opens retirement accounts to crypto and promises end to debanking for digital businesses

Trump opens retirement accounts to crypto and promises end to debanking for digital businesses

Donald Trump has signed a landmark executive order allowing U.S. retirement accounts such as 401(k)s to invest in cryptocurrencies, gold, and other alternative financial instruments. This decision marks a turning point for the U.S. digital economy, opening the door to a massive market worth nearly $9 trillion.

The implications are significant: workers could now see their retirement contributions exposed to the performance of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other digital assets—a first in the history of institutional retirement plans. Innovation advocates hail the move as a step toward broader financial inclusion.

On the same day, Trump issued another executive order aimed at banning debanking practices targeting companies in the crypto sector. Financial institutions and public agencies are now prohibited from cutting off banking services to crypto platforms or startups solely because of their activities, unless legally compelled to do so.

This regulatory breakthrough is part of a clear strategy to boost the value of the digital sector. It also addresses ongoing tensions between crypto players and traditional banks, securing access to essential services for companies in the field.

Some voices warn of risks: digital asset volatility, reliance on emerging technologies, and vulnerability to financial crises. Others, however, see these orders as a chance to legitimize and attract capital to a sector long marginalized.

By combining the opening of retirement accounts to crypto with protection against debanking, Trump is sending a double political signal: he intends to make the United States a fertile ecosystem for innovation, where crypto assets integrate into traditional financial mechanisms without institutional barriers.

Chainlink creates strategic LINK token reserve

Chainlink has officially launched a strategic LINK token reserve, funded by revenues generated both on- and off-chain. The goal is clear: strengthen the security, growth, and long-term sustainability of the Chainlink network by converting these revenues into LINK tokens that will be stored in this reserve.

This mechanism is built on the new “Payment Abstraction” infrastructure, which allows users and businesses to pay in various currencies (stablecoins, ETH, gas tokens, etc.), automatically converted into LINK via Chainlink’s services and decentralized exchange platforms.

From the outset, the reserve has accumulated over $1 million in LINK tokens, with no withdrawals planned in the coming years. This voluntary lock-up creates downward pressure on circulating supply, which could support the token’s long-term valuation.

The model is also attracting large whales: they have increased their LINK holdings, while the amount of tokens available on exchanges has dropped significantly—a sign of growing confidence in the project.

Chainlink is positioning itself here like a strategic treasurer, similar to what some companies do with Bitcoin, to reinforce its ecosystem. This strategy follows a logic of sustainable value creation and economic resilience.

In the long run, this reserve could become a key pillar to fund network incentives, support oracle services, or expand into new use cases such as real-world asset tokenization.

End of legal battle between Ripple and the SEC

After nearly five years of legal battles, Ripple and the SEC have officially dropped their appeals, ending the dispute over XRP’s regulatory status. This decision closes one of the crypto sector’s most high-profile cases, sparking a sharp rally of over 10% in XRP’s market price.

Originally, the SEC accused Ripple of selling XRP as an unregistered security to institutional investors, while sales on public exchanges were deemed compliant. In 2023, a federal judge imposed a $125 million fine, with an injunction in case of repeat violations.

Despite a more favorable regulatory climate recently—fueled by pro-crypto policies—an agreement to reduce the fine to $50 million was rejected for procedural reasons. However, both parties agreed to end all legal proceedings.

This resolution marks a major legal stabilization: the 2023 court decision remains in effect, the fine is upheld, but the uncertainty hanging over XRP is lifted. Ripple can now fully return to development and expansion activities.

This outcome represents a turning point for the entire crypto industry. It provides critical clarity for investors, strengthens institutional trust, and lays the groundwork for more balanced regulation. For XRP, it’s an open door to greater adoption in financial services and traditional markets.

Satoshi Nakamoto statue recovered from Lake Lugano

The Bitcoin community was shaken by an unexpected act of vandalism: the Satoshi Nakamoto statue, installed in Lugano in October 2024, was ripped from its base and thrown into the lake. Created by sculptor Valentina Picozzi, the piece featured a play of lines that revealed or concealed the silhouette of Bitcoin’s inventor depending on the viewing angle, amplifying the mystery surrounding his identity.

Following its disappearance, the Satoshigallery team launched a call for witnesses and offered a reward for any information leading to its recovery. A few days later, municipal workers retrieved the statue from the lake’s edge, partially damaged, suggesting deliberate destruction rather than simple theft.

This incident sparked outrage among crypto enthusiasts and Lugano residents, many seeing it as a symbolic attack on the ideology of decentralization. Some noted the coincidence with Switzerland’s National Day, which may have drawn attention to the piece.

Despite the damage, Satoshigallery confirmed the statue will be restored and returned to its original site. The organization also announced plans to continue its project of installing other Satoshi statues in 21 cities worldwide to spread Bitcoin’s message and values.

For its supporters, the attack only strengthened the artwork’s symbolic power: even damaged, it will continue to embody the vision of a decentralized future that nothing can erase.