Deep Dive Into Crypto Biggest News
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Big regulatory wins this week:
The SEC officially ends the 2-year Ondo probe.
“Innovation Exemption” rolls out in January 2026.
Headlines:
SEC ends Ondo probe.
Crypto “Innovation Exemption.”
Bybit & Circle’s USDC adoption.
Dubai Customs partners with Binance.
CFTC approves spot trading.
Deep Dive
⚖️ SEC Ends Ondo Finance 2-Year Probe with No Charges
Breaking: The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) finally closed the two-year investigation on Ondo Finance without filing any charges.
The Details
An Ondo Finance official report revealed that the financial platform received a formal notice from the SEC that ended the probe initiated during the Biden era of rigorous surveillance of digital asset firms. No charges were filed against the firm.
Ondo Finance emphasized the decision as “A Major Step Forward for Tokenized Securities in the United States.”
Why was Ondo Finance investigated?
The investigation started in 2024 during the Biden administration. At that time, Ondo had emerged as one of the largest RWA tokenization platforms for the U.S. treasuries. The probe was primarily initiated to examine whether:
Ondo’s tokenization of real-world assets (RWA) complied with the securities law.
The ONDO token was considered a security.
Big green light for RWA tokenization
The decision came at a time when the SEC, under the guidance of its active Chair Paul Atkins, had taken proactive steps to revolutionize the tokenization of traditional assets, including U.S. securities. Ondo’s big win marks a notable shift from the Biden-era conservative rules that slowed down the growth of blockchain-based securities. It accelerates the U.S. market adoption and offers a clearer regulatory roadmap for tokenized securities.
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Regulation Watch
📜 SEC Pushes “Innovation Exemption” for Crypto Firms
🔔Update: January 2026 hints at regulatory relief for crypto firms as the SEC plans to launch the “Innovation Exemption” in the United States.
📝 What you need to know
During a CNBC interview on December 2, SEC Chair Paul Atkins revealed that the agency plans to roll out the “innovation exemption” rules by January 2026.
Atkins clarified that the agency initially planned to launch the innovation exemption rules by December this year. However, the U.S. Federal government shutdown from October to November sidetracked the plan.
A crypto reform?
Earlier on July 31, 2025, Atkins launched “Project Crypto,” which he described as “the SEC’s north star in aiding President Trump in his historic efforts to make America the 'crypto capital of the world.”
With the innovation exemption, Atkins said to CNBC’s Squawk Box, “We'll be able to embrace this new area of innovation that for too long…the United States basically has just pushed back against.”
Atkins emphasized that the current regulatory rules are somewhat outdated and rigid, and do not justify America’s vision of building a pro-crypto nation.
Why does it matter?
The crypto innovation exemption will enable crypto companies to launch on-chain products, services, and tokens more quickly without waiting for full-scale SEC registration and upfront approval.
What this means:
Bypassing lengthy registrations for crypto projects and enabling faster entry into the market.
Establishing flexible, modern, and clear regulatory clarity.
Boost innovation and experiment with cutting-edge technologies through a secure sandbox environment.
However, the SEC has drawn some clear boundaries. Crypto firms and blockchain projects must meet specific criteria to qualify for these exemptions.
Big picture: Atkin’s “innovation exemption” is a turning point that could narrow the gap between DeFi and traditional finance. It is a big leap for the SEC to establish crypto-inclusive policies and position America as a frontrunner and innovator in the global crypto space. However, general scepticism remains. Many crypto experts warn that bypassing SEC rules and broad exemptions could open doors to scams and undermine investor trust and confidence, if not implemented properly.
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Exclusive
🌍 Bybit Joins Circle to Expand Global USDC Adoption
Bybit, the world’s second-largest crypto exchange by trading volume, and stablecoin giant Circle (NYSE: CRCL) are entering a strategic partnership to expand USDC liquidity growth across Bybit’s ecosystem.
A strategic partnership
The two companies will lead campaigns to expand:
Liquidity across the spot and derivatives markets. Also, create a healthy trading environment for everyday and institutional investors.
Fiat on- and off-ramp services that enable seamless deposits and withdrawals. Foster speedy and smoother conversion between local currencies and digital assets.
USDC integration through Bybit Earn (savings), Bybit Card (cash rewards), and Bybit Pay (everyday transactions).
Bybit has broadened its regulatory compliance by obtaining the Virtual Asset Platform Operator License from the UAE’s Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA). It has expanded its regulatory compliance across the European Economic Area (EEA), Turkey, and more regions.
These steps strengthen Bybit’s regulatory oversight in the global arena and reinforce its position as a fully compliant and customer-friendly platform.
Takeaway: The strategic venture will stimulate USDC adoption for global trading and payment solutions, benefiting everyday use across the Bybit ecosystem.
💡Good To Know
What is Crypto Property Law?
December 2 marks a historic day as the UK Parliament passes the Property (Digital Assets etc) Act 2025, which formally recognizes digital assets like crypto, NFTs, digital tokens, and stablecoins as personal property. The new bill received royal assent from King Charles III.
Previously, under English Law, property was divided into two categories: a thing in possession (tangible or physical things) and a thing in action (property rights for intangible things like patents, contract rights, etc.). The new Act has introduced a third category that grants property rights to specific digital assets. The Property (Digital Assets etc) Act extends across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Read the official press release.
🎲 Play the Quiz
In Bitcoin, what does Replace-by-Fee (RBF) mean?
Last week’s quiz result: Automatically execute a predefined agreement. Smart contracts are self-executing agreements stored on a blockchain network. Once deployed, they automatically perform actions like transferring assets, releasing funds, or enforcing rules when the predetermined conditions are met, without any third-party intervention.
📌 At A Glance
Dubai Customs🤝Binance
Dubai Customs has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Binance during Binance Blockchain Week 2025 in Dubai. Director General of Dubai Customs, Dr. Abdulla Busenad, and Stephanie Emile, General Manager of Binance FZE, signed the MoU in the presence of other officials. The joint venture will integrate crypto through Binance Pay into commercial payments and logistics operations. Read more on the Dubai Customs official press release.
CFTC Approves Spot Trading
Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chairman Caroline D. Pham greenlights listed U.S. Spot crypto products to trade on CFTC-registered exchanges. Bringing spot crypto trading under the CFTC supervision marks a major milestone for U.S. crypto regulation and supports President Trump’s broader vision of building a pro-crypto nation. Read more on the official CFTC press release.
🌐Market Map
Based on CoinMarketCap Data, December 10, 1:37 AM ET.
🤡 This Week’s Meme Drop
Source: Reddit
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