This Week in Crypto News (July 21st-27th, 2025): GENIUS Passed, Bitcoin Soars, But Will the Momentum Hold?
As the dust settles from “Crypto Week” (July 14–18), the crypto world is catching its breath and parsing what comes next. The GENIUS Act, U.S. federal stablecoin legislation, was signed into law by President Trump on July 18, alongside the House’s passage of the CLARITY Act and the Anti‑CBDC Surveillance State Act. But now the real work begins.
1. GENIUS Act kicks off but full impact years away
- The GENIUS Act requires stablecoins to be fully backed 1:1 by U.S. dollars or Treasuries, with strict monthly disclosures—officially taking effect 120 days after regulators finalize rules or 18 months after enactment, whichever comes first
- Market reaction was immediate: Bitcoin surged to all‑time highs near $123,200, Ether vaulted past $3,500, and overall crypto market cap hit over $4 trillion.
- But analysts caution it’s only phase one. Treasury has up to a year to draft rules, and non‑compliant stablecoins face prohibition in roughly three years.
2. CLARITY & Anti‑CBDC Acts now in Senate pipeline
The CLARITY Act, defining what tokens are securities versus commodities and assigning SEC vs. CFTC oversight, still needs Senate approval. If momentum holds, passage could occur by September.
3. Market snapshot: Altseason tailwind continues
- Bitcoin retraced slightly but remains above $119,000, following brief ATHs near $123K.
- Ether, XRP, Solana, and Dogecoin are solidly up (3–9%), riding broader optimism.
- NFT floor prices spiked ~16–21% on renewed risk appetite and DeFi sentiment.
- Institutional interest is back, with record fund inflows and talk of tokenized assets emerging.
What happens next? Speculations abound
- Policy roadmap – The White House working group is expected to release its policy recommendations this week (July 22), possibly outlining a Bitcoin strategic reserve or broader guidance.
- Stablecoin shifts – Analysts speculate that regulated stablecoins might feed demand into T‑bills (~$3.7 trillion demand), while non‑yield‑bearing rules could push DeFi growth on Ethereum.
- Regulatory jockeying – Senate negotiations over CLARITY and Anti‑CBDC Acts could reshape crypto’s oversight structure—potential game‑changers for exchanges, token projects, and DeFi protocols.
- Infrastructure buildup – Industry voices emphasize the need for more reliable blockchains, custody solutions, and accessible on‑ramps for mainstream users.
- Geopolitical crypto race – Delays equate to missed innovation chances; states like UAE and Hong Kong may capture more blockchain capital during U.S. regulatory lag.
Summary
Crypto Week delivered seismic regulatory victories—but real execution lies ahead. The GENIUS Act provides legal groundwork for stablecoins; follow‑on legislation must cross the Senate, and implementation policies will be drafted in the months ahead. Markets have cheered, but wilderness remains: the industry waits for bridges from legislation to full-fledged adoption.
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