Trump to Nominate SEC’s Crypto Chief as CFTC Chair

President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing to nominate Michael Selig, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s crypto task force chief counsel, as the next chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. This strategic move signals a major shift in the administration’s approach to digital asset oversight and represents a significant political victory for cryptocurrency advocates, particularly Gemini founders Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss. The nomination follows the White House’s withdrawal of Brian Quintenz’s earlier nomination after intensive lobbying efforts by industry stakeholders.

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Trump Taps SEC Crypto Chief for CFTC, Backed by Winklevoss

President Donald Trump has nominated Michael Selig, the SEC’s Crypto Task Force Chief Counsel, to lead the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, signaling unprecedented coordination between financial regulators on pro-crypto policies. The selection represents a major political victory for crypto billionaires Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, who successfully lobbied against the previous nominee. Selig’s appointment comes at a critical juncture for the severely understaffed CFTC as it faces massive new responsibilities in regulating both cryptocurrency and emerging prediction markets.

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X Launches $1M Handle Marketplace for Premium Users

X is launching a handle marketplace allowing Premium subscribers to buy or rent inactive usernames for up to $1 million, creating a new revenue stream by treating desirable handles as digital real estate amid declining advertising income. The platform’s two-tier system offers both subscription-dependent rentals and permanent acquisitions, formalizing what was previously an underground market while raising questions about digital ownership and transparency.

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Crypto Giants Attend Trump White House Fundraising Dinner

Major cryptocurrency industry leaders attended a high-profile fundraising dinner at the White House hosted by President Donald Trump, signaling the digital asset sector’s growing political engagement. The event aimed to secure donations for a proposed $250 million ballroom expansion project that would add approximately 90,000 square feet to the presidential residence, with representatives from Gemini, Coinbase, and Ripple among the notable attendees.

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Winklevoss-Backed Crypto Firm Expands Bitcoin Holdings in Brazil

Brazilian cryptocurrency firm OranjeBTC is embarking on an ambitious expansion strategy after going public on Brazil’s stock exchange, positioning itself as a significant player in the country’s growing digital asset ecosystem. Backed by high-profile investors including Bitcoin pioneer Adam Back and billionaire twins Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, the company plans to significantly grow its Bitcoin reserves while launching comprehensive educational initiatives to drive cryptocurrency adoption across Latin America’s largest economy.

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White House Withdraws Brian Quintenz CFTC Chair Nomination

The White House has withdrawn Brian Quintenz’s nomination to chair the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, creating a leadership vacuum at a critical financial regulator. The unexpected move follows reported pressure from prominent cryptocurrency figures and comes amid ongoing government instability, leaving the CFTC without permanent leadership during a period of significant market uncertainty.

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Winklevoss Twins Predict $1M Bitcoin as Gemini Goes Public

During Gemini’s Nasdaq debut, the Winklevoss twins expressed strong bullish sentiment toward Bitcoin, predicting it will reach $1 million per coin as it disrupts gold’s market. Tyler Winklevoss emphasized that Bitcoin remains ‘really early’ in its adoption curve, comparing the current stage to ‘the bottom of the first inning.’ Gemini’s IPO priced at $28 per share and opened at $37.01, giving the exchange a $4.4 billion valuation. The twins also clarified their view that Bitcoin will primarily function as a store of value rather than a transactional currency, contrasting with other prominent figures in the space. Their prediction joins other recent bullish forecasts from industry leaders including Tom Lee and Arthur Hayes.

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Gemini IPO: $3B Crypto Exchange Goes Public Friday

Gemini, the cryptocurrency exchange founded by Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, is launching its IPO on Friday with 16.67 million shares priced between $24-26, potentially raising approximately $433 million. Despite increasing its price range from an initial $17-19, the offering is reportedly oversubscribed by 20 times, reflecting strong investor interest. The IPO comes amid a wave of successful crypto public offerings, including Circle, Bullish, and Figure, which have seen significant first-day pops. Gemini generated $142.2 million in revenue last year but reported a net loss of $158.5 million, with losses widening to $282.5 million in the first half of 2024. The company plans to use IPO proceeds to expand its product suite, grow internationally, and enhance derivative offerings while competing with established players like Coinbase and Binance.

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CFTC Nominee Reveals Texts with Winklevoss Twins

Brian Quintenz, nominated by former President Trump to chair the CFTC, has published text exchanges with Gemini co-founders Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss from July. The messages show the Winklevoss brothers seeking assurances about enforcement actions and criticizing the CFTC’s handling of their $5 million settlement case. Quintenz stated he released the texts over concerns that Trump ‘might have been misled’ about his nomination qualifications. The exchange reveals tensions between crypto executives and regulators, with Tyler Winklevoss accusing the CFTC of abusing ‘deliberative process privilege’ and preventing fair defense in court. This development highlights the ongoing scrutiny of regulatory practices in the cryptocurrency space.

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Gemini Raises IPO Price Range to $26, Targets $3.2B Valuation

Gemini has raised its IPO price target from $17-19 to $24-26 per share, increasing its potential valuation to approximately $3.2 billion and maximum raise to $435 million. The exchange secured a $50 million investment from Nasdaq, representing significant institutional backing ahead of its public debut under ticker GEMI. The IPO occurs amid renewed investor appetite for digital asset companies but faces regulatory complications following allegations that Tyler Winklevoss attempted to influence CFTC chair nominee Brian Quintenz regarding an ongoing dispute with the regulator. Text messages released by Quintenz show Winklevoss expressing frustration over what he called ‘selective enforcement’ by the CFTC, creating additional scrutiny just days before the market debut.

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