The cryptocurrency market continues to evolve and adapt to new challenges. Against the backdrop of easing regulations in the U.S. and growing institutional interest, key players are making important strategic decisions. This week’s highlights include Sweden’s rejection of Bitcoin for national reserves, Circle’s decision to drop its U.S. banking license ambitions, a filing for the first NEAR ETF, and a major MetaMask update.
Sweden Rejects Bitcoin as a Reserve Asset
Sweden’s central bank (Riksbank) officially announced that it does not plan to include Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies in its foreign exchange reserves. According to representatives of the regulator, cryptocurrencies currently do not meet the stability, liquidity, and safety criteria required for central bank reserve assets.
This approach reflects the cautious stance of many European countries toward digital assets. While some nations — such as El Salvador or the Central African Republic — have integrated BTC into their national financial strategy, Scandinavian economies prefer a more conservative route.
Circle Abandons U.S. Banking License Pursuit
Circle, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, has announced that it will no longer seek a U.S. banking license. The decision is driven by the high level of regulatory uncertainty in the country.
Circle had originally applied for a federal banking charter in 2021. However, the company has now decided to focus on expanding its infrastructure through partnerships with existing banks and custodians. Representatives emphasized that the main goal remains to ensure the stability and transparency of USDC, rather than competing with traditional banks.
Bitwise Files for NEAR ETF
Investment firm Bitwise has filed for a cryptocurrency-based exchange-traded fund (ETF) focused on the NEAR token in the state of Delaware. If approved, this would be the world’s first ETF based on the NEAR Protocol token, potentially driving significant institutional interest in the project.
NEAR is a scalable layer-1 blockchain aimed at building decentralized applications using sharding technology. Recently, NEAR has been pushing initiatives in AI integration, making it particularly attractive for investors seeking advanced technological solutions.
MetaMask Adds Token Selection for Gas Fees
Developers of the popular crypto wallet MetaMask have introduced a new feature in version v12.16 that allows users to choose the token used to pay transaction fees (gas).
Now, users on the Ethereum mainnet can pay for gas not only in ETH but also in the following tokens:
– USDT, USDC, DAI, ETH, wETH, wBTC, wstETH, wSOL
This update significantly improves the user experience when interacting with decentralized applications and DeFi protocols, especially for users who may not have ETH on hand but hold other liquid assets.
This feature has long been discussed in the crypto community, and its implementation marks a significant step toward greater flexibility and convenience. MetaMask continues to expand its product’s capabilities, maintaining its leadership in the Web3 wallet space.
The latest developments clearly show that the digital asset market is not stagnant but rather undergoing a deep phase of adaptation. Some — like Circle — are choosing a strategy of cautious partnerships. Others — like Bitwise — are betting on next-generation tech projects. Some — like MetaMask — are enhancing infrastructure based on real user needs. And some — like Sweden — are still hesitating.
The crypto market remains a space for bold decisions, and the future belongs to those who move quickly and adapt efficiently.
