Weekly Crypto Regulation News Roundup: SEC Sets Roundtable, Russia Eyes Stablecoins, and Canada Approves Solana ETFs

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Tanzeel Akhtar

Journalist

Tanzeel Akhtar

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Tanzeel Akhtar has been covering the cryptocurrency and blockchain sector since 2015. She has written for the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, CoinDesk, Bitcoin Magazine and Bitcoin.com.

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Last updated: 

April 17, 2025

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Global momentum toward clearer crypto regulation continued to build this week as multiple jurisdictions revealed plans to tighten, reshape, or expand their digital asset policies.

Regulators in the United States, Russia, and Canada shared updates that could influence their approach to cryptocurrency oversight.

SEC Roundtable to Explore Custody and Crypto Regulation

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) unveiled the full agenda and panel lineup for its upcoming crypto roundtable, scheduled for April 25.

The event signals a deepening institutional focus on crypto regulation, particularly around asset custody standards and investor protections.

The roundtable will be split into two key sessions: “Custody Through Broker-Dealers and Beyond” and “Investment Adviser and Investment Company Custody.”

These topics address how custodians of crypto assets should be regulated under U.S. securities laws.

Zach Zweihorn, a partner at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, will moderate the discussions.

The roundtable will begin with opening remarks from Richard Gabbert, Chief of Staff for the SEC’s Crypto Task Force, along with senior SEC figures including Acting Chairman Mark Uyeda, Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw, and Commissioner Hester Peirce.

The discussions are expected to influence future SEC guidance on custody rules, especially as crypto continues to blend with traditional finance through broker-dealer models and investment advisers.

Russia Urged to Build Homegrown Stablecoins

A senior Russian finance official called for the development of domestic stablecoins following a clampdown on USDT wallets linked to the country.

The statement follows U.S.-based stablecoin issuer Tether freezing several wallets associated with Russian users, causing disruptions in cross-border digital payments.

Osman Kabaloev, deputy head of the Financial Policy Department at Russia’s Finance Ministry, said the incident showed the risks of relying on foreign-issued tokens.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Kabaloev emphasized the need for Russia to build its own stablecoin infrastructure to maintain financial sovereignty and reduce external dependencies.

The comments reflect Russia’s broader efforts to circumvent Western sanctions through alternative financial channels, with stablecoins and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) playing an essential role in that strategy

This pivot toward sovereign digital tools could reshape the country’s approach to crypto regulation in the years ahead.

Senate Proposal Adds Environmental Layer to Crypto Regulation

Meanwhile, environmental concerns surrounding cryptocurrency mining have prompted new legislative action in the U.S. Senate.

Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and John Fetterman introduced the “Clean Cloud Act of 2025” last week, a bill aimed at reducing emissions from crypto mining and data center operations.

The proposed law would fine mining facilities that continue to use non-renewable energy sources beyond 2035.

Additionally, it requires facilities consuming more than 100 kilowatts of power to report energy usage, electricity sources, and emissions data annually.

“There is a lack of transparency regarding the energy sources used to power domestic crypto mining and many data center operations,” the draft legislation states.

If passed, the bill would alter the cost structures and operational models of crypto mining firms in the United States, pushing them toward cleaner energy sources or out of the country altogether.

Canada Leads with Solana ETFs

North of the border, Canada approved North America’s first spot Solana exchange‑traded funds (ETFs) that incorporate staking.

These ETFs will include staking capabilities, a feature that allows investors to earn rewards by locking up their tokens to support blockchain operations.

The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) approved four issuers—Purpose Investments, Evolve ETFs, CI Financial, and 3iQ—to list Solana ETFs, with trading set to begin on April 16.

The funds will hold physical Solana (SOL) and offer staking, making them a rare blend of passive investment and yield-generating blockchain participation.

The decision may encourage additional crypto‑based investment products in traditional markets and reinforces Canada’s proactive stance on crypto oversight.

Crypto Regulation Tightens as Global Oversight Expands

The idea that crypto exists outside the system has become harder to defend. Canada’s ETF approvals reflect financial normalization.

The SEC’s custody talks show traditional regulators are no longer avoiding digital assets. And in Russia, token infrastructure is being treated as a matter of national security.

Crypto’s next chapter won’t be defined by innovation alone—it will depend on who sets the rules, how they’re enforced, and how global approaches to crypto regulation evolve from here.