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3 May 2026, 06:30

This Week in Crypto Law (Apr. 26, 2026)

Law and Ledger is a news segment focusing on crypto legal news, brought to you by Kelman Law – A law firm focused on digital asset commerce. This Week in Crypto Law The opinion editorial below was written by Alex Forehand and Michael Handelsman for Kelman.Law. The final week of April highlighted a pivotal shift

3 May 2026, 05:47

Bitcoin Swings After Iran’s Latest Proposal to the US – What’s Next?

Bitcoin’s price sluggishness that began on Friday was interrupted by a quick but unsustainable surge to just over $79,000 on Sunday morning after the latest developments on the Iran-US front. This time, reports claimed that Iran had sent its latest peace proposal to the US, which was the reason behind the quick uptick. However, US President Donald Trump was not too hopeful. “I will soon be reviewing the plan that Iran has just sent to us, but can’t imagine that it would be acceptable in that they have not yet paid a big enough price for what they have done to Humanity, and the World, over the last 47 years,” he said on his social media platform, Truth Social. Perhaps his pessimism was the reason why BTC’s breakout attempt was halted in its tracks, and the asset quickly returned to its starting point at $78,000. The previous development on the matter, the Friday proposition from Iran, pushed it north from under $77,000 to over $78,000, where it calmed on Saturday and remained there on Saturday. Some analysts, though, remain cautious or even worried about BTC’s future price moves. Ali Martinez, for example, outlined that a key technical indicator which previous called the rebound from the February low has now flashed a major sell signal that could drive the cryptocurrency to under $60,000 if the $67,500 support cracks. The post Bitcoin Swings After Iran’s Latest Proposal to the US – What’s Next? appeared first on CryptoPotato .

3 May 2026, 05:47

BlackRock challenges OCC’s 20% reserve cap for stablecoin issuers under GENIUS Act

BlackRock formally opposed the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s draft rules for the GENIUS Act, arguing that proposed limits on reserve assets are unnecessary. On Friday, the asset management company submitted a 17-page comment letter addressing the OCC’s 20% cap on tokenized assets. It argues that the proposal would choke its BUIDL fund and similar innovations. The firm’s letter also sought formal clarification on which Treasury-based instruments would be considered eligible reserves. Instead of rigid limits, BlackRock is advocating a principles-based diversification framework. This proposal allows issuers to manage reserves based on risk characteristics rather than arbitrary thresholds. What does BlackRock need the OCC to implement? In its letter to the OCC, BlackRock largely focused on rules for permitted payment stablecoin issuers (PPSIs), the very group of federal stablecoin issuers. One of BlackRock’s biggest requests to the agency was to scrap the proposed 20% limit on tokenized reserves. It characterized the restriction as completely unrelated to the OCC’s goals, and also explained that the true risks of a reserve asset aren’t necessarily about it being “tokenized” but about its liquidity, duration, and creditworthiness. BlackRock is a dominant force in tokenized Treasuries; its $2.6 billion BUIDL fund currently backs 90% of the shares of both Jupiter’s JupUSD and Ethena’s USDtb. If this 20% cap goes through, it would materially inhibit BUIDL’s ability to scale as a primary backing of federal stablecoins. A key part of the letter also asks the OCC to formally confirm if Treasury ETFs are qualifying assets under the GENIUS Act. The firm warned that, without clearer guidelines, issuers won’t risk holding ETFs and thus requested that these funds receive the same treatment as government money market funds. Additionally, BlackRock supported the agency’s Option A strategy for diversifying reserves but noted that Option B would impose strict daily concentration and maturity limits. Option B would primarily impose daily compliance with a 40% single-entity exposure cap and a 20-day weighted maturity restriction across all issuers. The company also recommended updating Option A to exempt self-managed money market shares from the 40% threshold and permit same-day settlement funds to aid liquidity mandates. It also proposed adding Treasury floating-rate notes with shorter maturities, which reflect steady pricing and regular coupon resets, to the reserve list, alongside a more structured and transparent asset approval process. BlackRock is not the first company to provide commentary on the OCC’s proposal. The Brookings Institution submitted its own feedback, pushing the OCC to set higher capital requirements for reserve holdings held in uninsured demand deposit accounts. The FDIC also proposed a framework for stablecoin issuers Aside from the OCC, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation also proposed rules in April to establish a regulatory framework for stablecoin issuers in line with the GENIUS Act. Chantal Hernandez, counsel at the FDIC, even noted at the time that the rules would “clarify deposit insurance coverage of deposits that serve as reserve assets.” The US Treasury, FinCEN, and OFAC also proposed a rule to counter the financing of terrorism (CFT) and to implement anti-money laundering (AML) measures. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had noted, “This proposal will protect the US financial system from national security threats without hindering American companies’ ability to forge ahead in the payment stablecoin ecosystem.” After the GENIUS Act was signed into law in July, some companies had to revamp their funds and systems, including BlackRock. BlackRock redesigned its BlackRock Select Treasury-Based Liquidity Fund (BSTBL) to align with the legislation and safely house stablecoin reserves. The revamped fund now operates with a 5 p.m. ET deadline and maintains a conservative, Treasury-centric investment mix. Though with all the new proposals, if approved, crypto-related companies will have to consider more redesign. The smartest crypto minds already read our newsletter. Want in? Join them .

3 May 2026, 00:30

OCC Stablecoin Yield Ban Could Hit Distribution Partners, Consensys Says

Stablecoins could face disrupted distribution under proposed OCC rules that broaden yield restrictions beyond issuers. Consensys warned the framework may impact related third parties, DeFi access, and multi-brand issuance under the GENIUS Act. Key Takeaways: Stablecoins face disruption as OCC rules may expand yield limits to third-party partners. Consensys argues proposal misclassifies DeFi activity and

2 May 2026, 21:00

Tesla first to bring Chinese-built cars under new Canada tariff deal

Tesla started selling its cheapest Model 3 ever in Canada this week. Chinese smartphone giant Xiaomi is also getting ready to bring its electric cars to Europe next year. Tesla’s new Model 3 Premium RWD went on sale in Canada for $39,490 Canadian dollars. That’s about $29,000 in American money, the lowest price the electric sedan has sold for in Canada. The cars come from Tesla’s Shanghai factory, not its California plant. This marks the first time since 2024 that Tesla has shipped Chinese-made vehicles to Canada. Back then, Canada slapped a 100% tax on electric cars from China. Tesla switched to American-made models. Those got too expensive when Canada added a 25% tax on US vehicles in early 2025. One Model 3 version hit nearly $80,000 Canadian. Everything changed in January. Prime Minister Mark Carney worked out a deal with Beijing. The tax on Chinese electric vehicles dropped from 100% to 6.1%. But there’s a cap; imports can’t go over 49,000 cars per year. Tesla first to bring Chinese-built cars under new Canada tariff deal The base Model 3 Premium RWD goes 463 kilometers on a charge. Hits 100 kph in 4.2 seconds. Tesla also cut the price on its performance model by 17%. Now $74,990, down from $89,990. That version does 478 kilometers, reaches 100 kph in 3.1 seconds, and tops out at 262 kph. The price gap between the two models is $35,500, almost double the base version. Most people will probably go for the cheaper one. Nearly the same range, decent speed. In the US, the same base model costs $42,490. That’s 31% more than what Canadian customers pay. The difference comes down to where the cars are built and what taxes apply. One catch for Canadian buyers, these Shanghai-built cars don’t qualify for Canada’s $5,000 electric vehicle rebate. The government only gives that money for cars made in countries Canada has trade deals with. China’s not on that list. Still, $39,490 without any rebate is the lowest price Canadians have seen for this car. First deliveries start in May or June Chinese phone maker Xiaomi is making moves toward Europe The company only started building cars in 2024. At the Auto China show in Beijing last month, crowds packed Xiaomi’s booth to see founder Lei Jun show off new models. Xiaomi’s SU7 model got attention in April. Lei Jun drove one from Beijing to Shanghai, about 1,300 kilometers. Stopped once to charge. The whole trip was broadcast online. The company opened a research center in Munich last year, getting ready for Europe . Rudolf Dittrich runs it, a former BMW manager. Working to adjust Xiaomi’s cars to meet European rules and buyer preferences. Germany will likely be the first European country to get Xiaomi vehicles in 2027 . At Xiaomi’s Beijing factory, a new car comes off the line every 76 seconds. The plant uses over 700 robots. More than 90% automation in some areas. Xiaomi’s cars range from 27,000 euros to 38,000 euros. The company sold more sedans in its price range than anyone else in China last year. Wants to deliver 550,000 vehicles across all models this year. Europe’s electric car market grew to 17.4% of new car sales in 2025. Up from 13.6% the year before. The European Union put extra taxes on Chinese electric vehicles, though. They investigated whether China unfairly helps its carmakers. BYD plans to open 20 stores across Canada within a year, starting in Toronto. The import limit grows from 49,000 cars per year now to 70,000 by 2030. The smartest crypto minds already read our newsletter. Want in? Join them .

2 May 2026, 20:02

XRP Army Reacts As Ex-Ripple CTO Discusses CLARITY Act

Good Evening Crypto co-host Johnny Krypto used the social media platform X to highlight a conference appearance by David Schwartz, pointing followers to his comments on the proposed Clarity Act and its potential impact on the crypto industry. The post featured a video from the XRPLV2026 Conference, where Schwartz discussed regulatory developments, internal decision-making at Ripple, and the direction of the digital asset sector. In the video, Schwartz described how Ripple executives evaluated their position after Donald Trump’s reelection. He explained that leadership considered two approaches. One side supported acting quickly by expanding operations, pursuing a public listing, and increasing customer growth. The other side preferred caution due to uncertainty about future regulatory leadership. Schwartz stated that Ripple leaned toward acting decisively while avoiding moves that could create major long-term risk. Must See TV Listen to @JoelKatz talk about the clarity act and what it could mean for the @crypto industry @XRPLV2026 Conference! #ripple pic.twitter.com/KqdT14VBK9 — Johnny Krypto (Good Evening Crypto Co-Host) (@johnnykrypto00) May 1, 2026 Pursuing Progress While Managing Uncertainty Schwartz made it clear that he supports securing regulatory gains when possible. He said the industry should move forward with the Clarity Act if it delivers meaningful improvements, even if it does not address every concern. He also acknowledged the role of companies and advocates who challenge parts of proposed legislation to push for better terms. According to Schwartz, this tension between acceptance and resistance may be necessary to reach a stronger outcome. He suggested that many participants in the industry likely share the same goal of achieving the best possible legislation, even if their methods differ. He added that taking available progress now and continuing to advocate for improvements later may be the most effective approach. Ripple’s Focus on Enterprise Before Retail Expansion Schwartz explained that Ripple continues to focus on enterprise adoption as a foundation for future retail growth. He noted that institutional use cases, such as payments and financial services, are essential for building systems that can later support everyday users. He also pointed out that decentralized finance has not yet delivered widespread value for the average person, which limits its growth. He emphasized that regulatory clarity for digital assets remains a key priority. While some policy outcomes may not immediately benefit Ripple, he said, securing legal certainty is critical for long-term development. He also stated that Ripple does not seek to restrict competitors, adding that innovation across the industry benefits all participants. Concerns Over Barriers to New Projects During the discussion, Schwartz addressed concerns raised by Charles Hoskinson regarding the possibility that new rules could make it harder for future crypto projects to enter the market. He described this as a difficult balance, where gains for existing assets must be weighed against the need to support continued innovation. Schwartz stated that even an imperfect version of the Clarity Act could encourage institutional involvement and increase liquidity. He also expressed confidence that regulatory improvements under the current administration are unlikely to be reversed in the near term. Community Responses Show Positive Sentiment Reactions to Johnny Krypto’s post reflected optimism among XRP supporters. A user identified as Crypto_Agent_00 said that discussions like this strengthen long-term confidence in XRP. Another commenter, Nicola, described the interview as insightful and expressed hope that regulatory clarity will arrive soon. These responses show that members of the XRP community view Schwartz’s remarks as supportive of long-term growth, particularly if clearer regulations are established. Disclaimer : This content is meant to inform and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed in this article may include the author’s personal opinions and do not represent Times Tabloid’s opinion. Readers are advised to conduct thorough research before making any investment decisions. Any action taken by the reader is strictly at their own risk. Times Tabloid is not responsible for any financial losses. Follow us on X , Facebook , Telegram , and Google News The post XRP Army Reacts As Ex-Ripple CTO Discusses CLARITY Act appeared first on Times Tabloid .