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CFTC Launches Digital Asset Pilot Program for Derivatives Market

According to ChainCatcher, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Acting Chair Caroline Pham has announced the launch of a 'Digital Asset Pilot Program.' This initiative will allow specific cryptocurrencies to be used as collateral in the derivatives market. Initially, the pilot program will be limited to Bitcoin, Ethereum, and the stablecoin USDC. Pham emphasized that embracing responsible innovation ensures that U.S. markets remain global leaders and helps unlock economic growth in the country. Futures commission merchants participating in the crypto collateral project are required to report the total amount of digital assets held in customer accounts weekly. This includes futures and cleared swaps, as well as any significant operational or system issues affecting digital asset collateral.
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Ripple's Strategic Shift: Learning from Solana to Enhance XRPL

According to Odaily, Ripple's Global Head of Cooperation, Luke Judges, has emphasized the need for XRP Ledger (XRPL) to adopt strategies from Solana to maintain its competitive edge in the evolving Layer 1 landscape. Judges highlighted that Solana's appeal lies in its practical engineering and rapid implementation rather than its protocol design. Having operated validator nodes within the Solana ecosystem worth over $30 million, Judges believes that the success of Layer 1 networks is driven by pragmatism and speed rather than theoretical technical superiority. He noted that while XRPL has made progress in advancing smart contracts and enhancing programmability, these technical iterations must be accompanied by a clear go-to-market strategy to truly convert into competitive advantages. Ripple's Chief Technology Officer, David Schwartz, offered a contrasting perspective, asserting that XRPL's core strengths are reliability, stability, and institutional-grade performance, which surpass chains that prioritize high throughput at the expense of stability. Schwartz argued that XRPL's consistency and high availability are more suitable for real-world financial applications than merely chasing speed. Judges also stressed the importance of developer tools, documentation, and onboarding processes, pointing out that validator incentives and decentralization risks are crucial for the sustained development of Layer 1 networks. He noted that the current decline in the number of Solana validators serves as a cautionary tale for XRPL. Overall, Judges believes that XRPL's future strategy should focus on enhancing developer experience, accelerating technology implementation, and borrowing execution efficiency from competing chains while maintaining reliability. He emphasized that this approach is not a critique of XRPL but a necessary adjustment to address future competitive cycles.
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Do Kwon Faces Sentencing Amid International Legal Challenges

According to Cointelegraph, Do Kwon, co-founder of Terraform Labs, is set to be sentenced on Thursday after pleading guilty to two felony counts in the United States. A U.S. federal judge is inquiring about Kwon's legal issues in South Korea and Montenegro, where he has faced separate charges. In a recent filing with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Judge Paul Engelmayer sought information from Kwon's legal team and U.S. prosecutors regarding the potential sentences Kwon could face in South Korea. Kwon is expected to be extradited to South Korea after serving any prison time in the U.S. He pleaded guilty to wire fraud and conspiracy to defraud in August, with sentencing scheduled for Thursday. Judge Engelmayer also questioned whether Kwon's time in custody in Montenegro, where he served a four-month sentence for using falsified travel documents, would count towards any U.S. sentence. Kwon had resisted extradition to the U.S. for over a year. The judge's inquiries suggest concerns about the possibility of Kwon being released early if extradited to South Korea to serve the remainder of his sentence. Kwon was a significant figure in the crypto industry in 2022 before the Terra ecosystem's collapse, which contributed to a market downturn and substantial investor losses. Defense attorneys have requested a maximum five-year sentence in the U.S., while prosecutors are advocating for at least 12 years. The U.S. government's sentencing recommendation highlighted the extensive losses caused by Kwon, surpassing those attributed to other notable figures in the crypto industry. Kwon's legal team indicated that even if sentenced to time served by Judge Engelmayer, Kwon would likely face pretrial detention in South Korea, where he could be sentenced to up to 40 years. Thursday's hearing may signal the conclusion of Kwon's involvement in the 2022 Terraform collapse. His location during the crypto market downturn remained unknown until his arrest in Montenegro, where he awaited extradition to the U.S. South Korean authorities issued an arrest warrant for Kwon in 2022 but have not detained him since the Terra ecosystem's collapse. They have sought his extradition from Montenegro alongside the U.S., pursuing related cases against other individuals connected to Terraform.
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UK Financial Regulator Seeks Crypto Industry Input on Investment Proposals

According to Cointelegraph, the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has unveiled new proposals aimed at enhancing the country's investment culture, seeking input from the cryptocurrency sector. The FCA released discussion and consultation papers on Monday, inviting crypto firms to provide feedback on initiatives designed to broaden consumer access to investments and revise rules concerning client categorization and conflicts of interest. The discussion paper highlighted that a significant portion of underperformance in high digital engagement practices apps could be linked to trading in cryptoassets and contracts for difference. The proposal underscored potential risks for consumers using cryptoasset proxies without investment limits, warnings, or appropriateness tests. In its consultation paper, the FCA suggested that a personal investment history primarily in speculative high-risk or leveraged products or crypto assets does not typically indicate professional capability unless there is substantial evidence that the client meets the professional client threshold through other relevant factors, including the client's ability to bear potential losses. The proposed changes aim to streamline the FCA's existing guidelines, forming part of a strategy to potentially eliminate some arbitrary tests and grant firms more responsibility to ensure compliance. Companies advising clients on or selling digital assets are encouraged to respond to the recommendations by February and March. The UK has emerged as a pivotal hub for crypto companies operating outside the United States. This development comes amid a shift in regulatory and enforcement approaches under U.S. President Donald Trump, which many industry leaders previously viewed as an uncertain regulatory environment. In December, the UK government enacted legislation recognizing digital assets as property, thereby enhancing clarity on cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC) in scenarios such as the recovery of stolen goods or insolvency. As the market continues to grow in the UK, the government is reportedly contemplating a ban on crypto donations to political parties.
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