Crypto News Round-Up — September 2025

The crypto industry saw major policy and market developments this week, as regulators and firms alike announced moves that could shape the near-term future of digital assets. Renewed U.S. regulatory agendas and evolving market infrastructure stood alongside ongoing volatility, underscoring both opportunity and risk in crypto. Below, we summarize the top stories and what they mean for investors and the industry.

• U.S. SEC Unveils Crypto Rulemaking Agenda
• SEC Expedites Crypto ETF Listings
• BitGo Lists in U.S. with Surge in Revenue
• Crypto Exchange Exploit Sparks Security Concerns
• Mastercard Expands Crypto Service for Banks

U.S. SEC Unveils Crypto Rulemaking Agenda

In Washington, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced a comprehensive rulemaking agenda for digital assets, signaling a deliberate shift in regulatory stance. The SEC plans to clarify how cryptocurrencies can be offered under securities laws and is exploring exemptions and safe harbors for crypto issuance. Notably, the agenda lays out steps toward allowing certain tokens to trade on national exchanges, and aims to align disclosure and compliance requirements with the digital asset market’s realities. The new agenda, emphasized by SEC Chair Paul Atkins, highlights support for “innovation and capital formation” in crypto, contrasting with earlier enforcement-focused approaches (www.reuters.com).

• By setting clearer rules for token offerings and exchange trading, regulators hope to spur responsible growth in crypto markets (Reuters).
• The policy pivot reflects the current administration’s pro-crypto stance and is expected to ease burdens on startups and investors (Reuters).
• Centralizing crypto policy will also reduce legal ambiguity, likely inviting more institutional participation in the sector.

SEC Expedites Crypto ETF Listings

The SEC also approved new listing rules for spot cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds, a change that could quickly broaden the range of digital assets available to investors. Under the updated standards, exchanges like the NYSE, Nasdaq and Cboe can apply generic listing criteria to crypto ETFs, reducing approval times from up to 240 days down to roughly 75 days. The reforms were approved on Sept. 18, effectively making it easier for funds tied to tokens such as Solana or XRP – not just Bitcoin and Ethereum – to list in the U.S. market. Industry groups hailed the move as a major milestone that reflects the SEC’s evolving approach under the Trump administration (www.reuters.com).

• The streamlined process should lead to more crypto ETF products entering markets, potentially by October 2025, as package approvals replace the previous case-by-case review (www.reuters.com).
• Broader ETF availability could draw fresh capital into altcoins and digital assets, further legitimizing crypto investing (Reuters).
• Despite the rule change, exchanges and funds must still meet custody, surveillance, and trading requirements before new ETFs can launch.

BitGo Lists in U.S. with Surge in Revenue

Seattle-based BitGo, a crypto custody platform, filed for a U.S. initial public offering (IPO) this week, disclosing a dramatic increase in revenue. The filing showed first-half 2025 revenue of $4.19 billion, almost four times the $1.12 billion from the same period a year ago, though net income fell to $12.6 million from $30.9 million. BitGo, valued at $1.75 billion in 2023, is positioning itself for a September U.S. listing under the ticker “BTGO.” The surge in BitGo’s top line highlights growing demand from institutional clients for secure crypto storage and reflects broader bullish trends in the market, with IPOs by firms like Circle and others gaining traction (www.reuters.com).

• BitGo’s strong growth and big banks leading its IPO (Goldman Sachs and Citi) signal that Wall Street is again embracing crypto infrastructure (Reuters).
• The IPO filing underscores that regulatory clarity and investor interest are fueling a new wave of crypto-related stock listings and financing (Reuters).
• As one of the largest digital asset custodians, BitGo’s performance is viewed as a bellwether for institutional adoption of crypto.

Crypto Exchange Exploit Sparks Security Concerns

Security fears resurfaced as reports emerged of a recent exploit affecting a cryptocurrency exchange’s hot wallet. According to industry sources (CoinDesk), attackers were able to drain a sophisticated amount of funds from an exchange platform on Sept. 19, exploiting a vulnerability in the asset transfer process. The exchange confirmed the breach internally, and details on the total loss and the exact exploit vector are still under investigation. The hack comes amid a wave of high-profile crypto thefts and highlights ongoing technical risks: even as funds flow into digital assets, threats from hackers remain pervasive.

• This exploit reminds investors that crypto platforms and smart contracts can be targets, prompting calls for improved security audits and insurance (CoinDesk).
• Such breaches can roil crypto markets by undermining confidence sharply in the short term (CoinDesk).
• Authorities and industry forensics teams are now racing to trace the stolen assets and raise the alarm on this vulnerability.

Mastercard Expands Crypto Service for Banks

In industry news, Mastercard announced an expanded service to let banks offer crypto products to their customers using familiar card networks. The payment giant said new partnerships would allow U.S. banks to enable crypto buying and storing via Mastercard’s infrastructure (Bloomberg). Under the program, partner banks can issue debit cards directly tied to crypto exchange accounts, making it easier to spend and convert digital coins for everyday payments. Analysts view this as part of a broader push by payment firms to integrate crypto into traditional finance.

• Mastercard’s move follows similar efforts by Visa and suggests growing mainstream acceptance of crypto services (Reuters).
• The rollout is expected to increase access to crypto for consumers, potentially boosting adoption by lowering friction (Bloomberg).
• However, critics note that risks still exist, and banks must manage regulatory compliance as they bridge into crypto offerings.

Note: Cryptocurrency markets remain highly volatile. Prices can swing rapidly both up and down, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. Always do your own research and consider your risk tolerance before investing in digital assets.

Bottom Line

This week’s developments reflect a maturing crypto landscape. Regulators are opening doors for broader participation through rule reforms and clearer guidelines, and traditional finance firms are expanding crypto services. At the same time, security incidents remind us of persistent risks. Taken together, these stories underscore that while crypto continues to gain mainstream access, investors should stay cautious and informed in this fast-evolving market.