This week in crypto, regulatory clarity took centre stage in Australia, while GameStop surprised markets with a bold Bitcoin treasury strategy. Meanwhile, stablecoin leader Tether moved toward greater transparency, and Uniswap unveiled a compliance-focused solution aimed at balancing regulation and decentralisation.

On home soil, the Australian government made headlines with the release of a comprehensive plan to regulate cryptocurrency exchanges and tackle debanking issues. The Treasury’s proposal includes a tiered licensing framework for digital asset platforms and seeks to address the widespread practice of banks refusing services to crypto businesses without clear justification. By committing to crack down on debanking and strengthen regulatory oversight, Australia is positioning itself as one of the more proactive jurisdictions in the global crypto landscape. Industry participants have broadly welcomed the move, noting that clearer guidelines could encourage responsible growth, attract institutional investors, and reduce uncertainty for Australian crypto businesses.

In institutional news, GameStop officially joined the growing list of public companies adding Bitcoin to their balance sheets. The company’s board unanimously approved an update to its investment policy to include Bitcoin as a treasury reserve asset. Alongside this decision, GameStop announced plans to raise $1.3 billion through a convertible senior notes offering, with proceeds intended for Bitcoin purchases and general corporate purposes. The announcement initially sparked excitement, but investor sentiment quickly shifted, triggering a sharp sell-off that saw GameStop’s stock fall by 22%, wiping out approximately $3 billion in market value. Market observers attributed the sell-off to concerns over the company’s decision to take on additional debt to fund Bitcoin acquisitions, as well as broader questions about the risks associated with corporate Bitcoin strategies. Nevertheless, GameStop’s move reinforces the growing trend of companies viewing Bitcoin as a strategic asset, potentially paving the way for similar actions by other firms.

On the regulatory front, stablecoin issuer Tether took a significant step toward transparency by initiating its first full financial audit. The company is engaging one of the Big Four accounting firms to conduct an independent review of its reserves. Tether has long faced criticism and regulatory scrutiny over its reserve backing, despite providing regular attestations. A comprehensive audit would mark a milestone for the stablecoin sector, offering greater assurance to investors and regulators alike that USDT is fully backed by tangible assets.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) also made regulatory headlines, announcing plans to hold four additional crypto roundtables throughout the year. These sessions will focus on crucial areas including trading platforms, custody solutions, tokenisation, and decentralised finance (DeFi). The initiative is part of the SEC’s broader effort to engage industry stakeholders and provide clearer guidance on how existing securities laws apply to crypto markets.

In the Web3 space, decentralised exchange Uniswap introduced a compliance-oriented feature designed to address regulatory concerns without undermining user privacy. PureFi, a blockchain compliance platform, deployed an integration allowing Uniswap users to undergo Know Your Customer (KYC) verification where necessary. The integration uses zero-knowledge proofs to verify compliance without disclosing sensitive information to third parties. While some DeFi purists expressed reservations, others viewed the development as a practical step toward bridging the gap between decentralised finance and regulatory requirements.

Looking ahead, Australia’s regulatory progress, combined with corporate treasury adoption and transparency initiatives, signals the continued maturation of the crypto sector. As governments and institutions alike engage more deeply with digital assets, the crypto industry is poised to evolve further, balancing innovation with compliance in the next phase of growth.

More news stories circulating the block: 

• Mt. Gox transfers another $1B in Bitcoin

• Cboe seeks approval for Fidelity’s Solana ETF

• Microstrategy now holds more than 500,000 BTC

• Polymarket XRP ETF approval odds hit 85%

• World Liberty Financial launches USD1 stablecoin

• Coinbase in talks to buy derivatives exchange Deribit

• Kraken exploring $1B raise ahead of IPO

• Crypto influencer Ben ‘BitBoy’ Armstrong arrested