At this time in crypto, digital belongings will now be acknowledged as reserve belongings for sure residence loans in america. Ethena Labs and Germany’s BaFin have finalized a 42-day redemption plan for USDe, resolving a months-long regulatory dispute, and Polymarket is reportedly closing in on a $200 million funding spherical at a $1 billion valuation.
US residence mortgage regulator to acknowledge crypto belongings in danger assessments
US residence mortgage purchasers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will depend cryptocurrencies as belongings of their danger assessments for single-family residence loans, marking a big step towards the mainstream acceptance of digital belongings underneath US President Donald Trump’s administration.
The directive was issued Wednesday by William J. Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Company (FHFA), which regulates each government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs).
The choice means cryptocurrencies shall be thought of a reserve asset for home-loan debtors with out having to transform these belongings into US {dollars}, as was beforehand the case. The FHFA has overseen Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac since 2008, when each establishments had been positioned underneath authorities conservatorship within the aftermath of the monetary disaster.
Pulte mentioned the choice to incorporate cryptocurrencies as a part of the mortgage danger evaluation got here “after important finding out” and aligns with Trump’s aim to make america the worldwide crypto capital.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have performed a vital position within the US housing market because the subprime mortgage disaster, offering liquidity and stability by buying mortgages from lenders, which allows lenders to concern extra loans.
German regulator closes case in opposition to Ethena GmbH over USDe issuance
Ethena Labs introduced on Wednesday that the German Federal Monetary Supervisory Authority, BaFin, and Ethena GmbH, the corporate’s German arm, have agreed on a redemption plan for USDe stablecoin holders.
The regulator mentioned it had initiated a 42-day redemption course of for stablecoin holders. BaFin mentioned USDe holders may have till Aug. 6 to declare redemption claims straight in opposition to Ethena GmbH. The method shall be supervised by a particular consultant appointed by BaFin.
After the deadline, Ethena GmbH shall be deemed formally wound up inside Germany, the European Union and the European Financial Space (EEA). Which means that any claims from Aug. 7 onward needs to be made via the corporate’s offshore affiliate, Ethena (BVI) Ltd.
Ethena Labs mentioned that after the redemption plan is totally carried out, Ethena GmbH may have no “excellent points associated to Ethena GmbH’s USDe-related operations.” Nevertheless, the corporate didn’t point out whether or not it had plans to re-enter the EU and EEA markets.
The information comes after a four-month battle between Ethena and the German monetary regulator. On March 21, BaFin barred Ethena GmbH from publicly providing its USDe stablecoin, citing violations of the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Belongings Regulation (MiCA).
Polymarket to lift $200 million at $1 billion valuation
Blockchain prediction market platform Polymarket is finalizing a $200 million increase that may worth the corporate at roughly $1 billion, in response to stories by Reuters and Bloomberg, citing folks conversant in the matter.
Billionaire entrepreneur Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund is about to steer Polymarket’s funding spherical, which might give the corporate “unicorn” standing regardless of its ban within the US. The platform had reportedly beforehand raised over $100 million, together with an undisclosed $50 million funding earlier in 2025.
Polymarket noticed explosive progress in the course of the US elections final yr, with its buying and selling volumes topping $2.5 billion in November as bettors wagered on the end result of the presidential and Congressional elections.
The platform permits bets on a variety of subjects, together with election outcomes and sports activities outcomes, in addition to uncommon situations like “Will the US verify that aliens exist in 2025?” and “Will Jesus Christ return in 2025?”
