Coinbase

Three separate moves landed in the same news cycle this week, and together they tell one story: the US crypto regulatory map is being redrawn in real time, and no single agency is driving the pen. The SEC canceled a key crypto regulatory meeting, the CFTC signaled it will join the SEC in exploring crypto rules without waiting for the CLARITY Act, and a crypto coalition threw its weight behind Custodia Bank in a Supreme Court fight over Federal Reserve master-account access. For US investors, the combined message is that jurisdiction, banking access, and tax reporting are all on the table at once. ...

On August 13, the City of Baltimore sued prediction-market platforms Kalshi and Polymarket, opening what legal observers are calling the first case in which a US city government has taken prediction markets to court. The lawsuit pulls three of the biggest names in American retail investing into the fight, because Kalshi runs event-contract offerings through Coinbase, Robinhood, and Webull. For US crypto investors, the case matters far beyond one city: it will help decide whether sports-style event contracts belong under federal CFTC oversight or under a patchwork of state gaming laws. ...

The SEC has just dropped the agenda for its most anticipated meeting of the year: August 14, 2026 — a closed-door session where Commissioners will vote on a proposed framework tentatively titled “Regulation Crypto.” If adopted, it would create a bespoke token offering registration pathway, distinct from the existing securities registration regime that has been a square-peg-in-round-hole nightmare for crypto projects since 2017. For US crypto investors, the stakes could not be higher. This single meeting could determine which tokens remain listed on US exchanges, how your staking rewards are taxed, and whether the next wave of crypto innovation happens in New York or Singapore. ...

Ethereum staking is no longer a niche DeFi experiment — it’s a multi-billion-dollar institutional industry. In August 2026, the landscape shifted again: Grayscale announced it would stake 161,000 idle ETH from its Ethereum Mini Trust ETF, unlocking quarterly cash yields for US shareholders. Simultaneously, a new Ethereum Improvement Proposal threatens to cut staking rewards by 13%, the SEC continues to tighten its grip on staking-as-a-service, and the IRS keeps treating every staking reward as a taxable event the moment it hits your wallet. ...

After three years of hearings, draft bills, and more industry lobbying than any financial legislation since Dodd-Frank, the US Crypto Clarity Act of 2026 has finally landed. Passed by the Senate in July and signed into law last week, it represents the most significant rewrite of US digital asset regulation in history. For the first time, there is a statutory line between what the SEC regulates and what falls under the CFTC. No more regulation-by-enforcement. No more guessing whether your favorite token is a security. And — critically — no more pretending the IRS doesn’t know about your crypto gains. ...

Ten years ago, buying Bitcoin meant navigating clunky exchanges, wiring money to sketchy overseas platforms, and crossing your fingers. In 2026, buying your first cryptocurrency is about as hard as opening a checking account — if you know which platform to use and what steps to follow. Whether you’re looking to invest $50 or $5,000, this guide walks you through the entire process, from picking the right exchange for your state to making your first purchase. We’ll cover the US-specific details that matter: which platforms work in New York, how ACH deposits work, what the IRS expects from day one, and how to avoid the mistakes that trip up most beginners. ...

Pick the wrong crypto exchange and you’ll overpay on fees, get stuck with limited coin selection, or — in the worst case — lose access to your funds entirely. Pick the right one and buying, selling, and storing crypto becomes almost boringly routine, the way it should be. In 2026, US investors have more exchange options than ever — but they’re not all equal. Some are optimized for beginners, others for active traders. Some work in all 50 states, others are blocked in the largest markets like New York and Texas. This guide compares the top US exchanges across the metrics that actually matter: fees, security, regulatory standing, coin selection, and state availability. ...

You’re staring at a Bitcoin price chart and thinking: “I should buy some.” You have a US bank account, a few thousand dollars ready to deploy, and absolutely no interest in getting scammed or surprise-frozen by a sketchy platform. The good news? Buying crypto in the United States in 2026 is smoother than it’s ever been — instant ACH funding, competitive fees, regulated custody, and multiple FDIC-adjacent protections. The catch? Not all exchanges are created equal for US residents, and the wrong choice can cost you hundreds in hidden fees, restricted coins, or IRS reporting headaches. ...