Crypto markets saw the largest short squeeze since October as short positions 
were liquidated and Bitcoin outperformed the US dollar amid geopolitical 
uncertainty.

Short squeeze hits top 500 cryptos as traders unwind bearish bets

General-purpose blockchains can’t solve industry disputes over construction 
changes or equipment usage. Specialized layer 1s are optimized for stateless 
audit trails and regulatory compliance.

Universal blockchains buckle under real-world demands

Russia is preparing a landmark legal transformation that would expand who are 
qualified to buy and own cryptocurrencies in the country. Reports have 
disclosed that lawmakers in the State Duma are in the final phase of text 
meant to lower barriers for ordinary Russians, even as they keep safeguards 
and restrictions in place. Related Reading: Bitcoin’s New Power Buyers: 
Companies Bought 3 Times What Miners Produced The draft bill has drawn 
attention because it marks a shift from years of strict limits. According to 
TASS, the proposal would take cryptocurrencies out of a special financial 
regulation regime so they become a more common part of financial life for 
people across Russia. Lawmakers say this could make buying and holding crypto 
something regular citizens do, instead of a privilege for a few. “A bill has 
already been prepared that removes cryptocurrencies from special financial 
regulation, which means, they will be a common occurrence in our lives,&#8221; 
Anatoly Aksakov, chair of the State Duma’s Financial Market Committee, said. 
Expanded Access With Caps Under the current text, people who are not 
considered “qualified investors” would be able to buy digital coins up to a 
certain limit. The figure mentioned is 300,000 rubles per year, which is 
roughly $3,800. This cap aims to let more Russians participate in crypto while 
trying to prevent big losses if prices swing wildly. Ordinary buyers would 
still face conditions. Reports say they will have to meet some basic criteria 
or checks before gaining access, such as passing a short risk‑awareness step 
and trading only through licensed brokers or exchanges. This is meant to keep 
unregulated peer‑to‑peer trading from dominating. Professional or qualified 
market players would face fewer limits. They could trade and hold a wider 
range of cryptocurrencies with no annual restrictions, though they may still 
have to demonstrate understanding of risks. Legislative Push And Timing 
Lawmakers have said the draft is ready and will be discussed during Russia’s 
spring parliamentary session. If the State Duma passes the bill, 
implementation could start later in 2026. Aksakov told state media that this 
move could make crypto “a normal part of life” for many Russians. At the same 
time, Russian regulators continue to work on other crypto rules. The Bank of 
Russia has said it plans to set out penalties for illegal crypto 
intermediaries starting in 2027 and is pushing for a wider regulatory 
framework that covers both qualified and ordinary investors. Related Reading: 
Ethereum Could Surge To $7,500 And Leave Bitcoin Behind, Banking Giant Says 
Balancing Risk And Use Russia still bans using cryptocurrencies to pay for 
goods and services within the country, a rule in place since 2021. Officials 
say the new bill would not change that. Instead, the focus is on investment 
and holding, not daily spending. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from 
TradingView

Russia Drafts Bill That Could Change Who Can Buy Crypto

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Wyoming launches a fully reserved, state-managed dollar stablecoin on Solana, 
using Franklin Templeton as asset manager and LayerZero bridges to bring the 
token to major EVM chains. Wyoming has issued its first state-backed 
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