📰 BitcoinsNews Daily

Thursday, April 23, 2026

Market Snapshot

PACE Act of 2026: Bipartisan Bill Seeks Direct Federal Reserve Access for Ripple and Circle

A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced the PACE Act, legislation that would grant major stablecoin issuers like Ripple and Circle direct access to Federal Reserve payment systems. The bill represents a significant shift in how Washington views crypto-native companies — not as outsider threats, but as infrastructure participants worthy of central bank integration.

If passed, the PACE Act would allow regulated stablecoin issuers to hold reserve accounts at the Fed, dramatically reducing counterparty risk and settlement times for dollar-backed digital assets. It also signals that stablecoin regulation is moving from theoretical debate to concrete legislative action.

Why it matters: Direct Fed access would put US-regulated stablecoins on equal footing with traditional banks for settlement, potentially accelerating institutional adoption and setting a global standard for how central banks integrate with digital assets. The bipartisan support also suggests stablecoin legislation may be one of the few crypto issues with real legislative momentum in 2026.

Read the full story →

Quick Hits

MiCA Deadline Triggers EU Exchange Exodus
With the July 1 MiCA compliance cliff approaching, a wave of smaller crypto exchanges are exiting European markets rather than meeting new licensing requirements — consolidation that favors larger, compliant players.

SEC-CFTC Joint Ruling Classifies Aptos as Digital Commodity
A landmark joint ruling by the SEC and CFTC classified APT as a digital commodity rather than a security, establishing a precedent that could reshape how altcoins are regulated in the US.

Bitcoin Hashrate Enters the Zettahash Era
Bitcoin's network hashrate surpassed 1.5 ZH/s for the first time as miners diversify revenue streams, increasingly redirecting computing infrastructure toward AI workloads.

FATF: Only 29% of Nations Meet Crypto Compliance Standards
The Financial Action Task Force warned that just 29% of jurisdictions globally meet recommended crypto regulatory standards, highlighting a vast enforcement gap as digital asset adoption grows.

NFTs Get Safe-Harbor Under New SEC-CFTC Token Taxonomy
US regulators unveiled a five-part token taxonomy framework that grants safe-harbor status to NFTs, providing long-awaited clarity for creators and platforms operating in the space.

DePIN Sector Up 45% YTD on AI Agent Integration
Decentralized physical infrastructure networks have surged 45% year-to-date, driven by AI agent deployments and new DeFi infrastructure tools transforming how physical assets are tokenized and managed.

By the Numbers

📊 1.5 ZH/s — Bitcoin's all-time high hashrate, reflecting unprecedented network security

📊 29% — Share of nations meeting FATF crypto compliance standards, per the 2026 global review

📊 45% — YTD gain in the DePIN sector, making it the best-performing crypto sub-sector of 2026

What to Watch Tomorrow

• MiCA compliance developments as the July 1 deadline draws closer and more exchanges announce exit plans

• Market reaction to the PACE Act — watch for stablecoin pair volumes and USDC/USDT flows

• BTC price action around the $77,000 support level after today's pullback in a Fear environment

BitcoinsNews.com — Your daily crypto briefing.

This newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always do your own research before making investment decisions.

BitcoinsNews · [email protected]

Subscribe to the BitcoinsNews newsletter