Solana Takes DeFi Fight to the SEC!

Solana Policy Institute urged the US SEC to provide clear protections for DeFi software developers.

Author

Danielle du Toit
January 14, 2026

Here's what we've got for you today:

  • Solana Policy Institute Presses SEC on DeFi Rules as SOL Eyes $162

  • Elizabeth Warren Urges Delay of World Liberty Crypto Bank Bid

  • VanEck Predicts Risk-On Q1 While Bitcoin Defies Past Cycles

  • Franklin Templeton Retrofits Money Market Funds for the Tokenized Finance Era

The Solana Policy Institute called on the SEC to clarify DeFi rules.

  • Solana Policy Institute urged the US Securities and Exchange Commission to provide clear protections for DeFi software developers, arguing that exchange-style rules are designed for centralized platforms, not open DeFi tools.

  • The institute said the key regulatory distinction should be custody and control, as non-custodial, open-source developers do not function as brokers or exchanges because users retain their own keys and approve transactions themselves.

  • It warned that applying exchange or ATS frameworks to DeFi could slow US innovation, since many protocols lack an operator that controls access or order execution.

Elizabeth Warren called on US banking regulators to pause a crypto-linked bank charter tied to Donald Trumpā€™s family.

  • Elizabeth Warren urged the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to delay reviewing a bank charter application linked to Donald Trump and his family, due to concerns over conflicts of interest.

  • Warren argued that existing safeguards, including those under the GENIUS Act, fail to adequately address ethical risks when regulatory agencies oversee businesses connected to a sitting president, leaving Congress with a responsibility to intervene.

  • The request centers on WLTC Holdings, a subsidiary of World Liberty Financial, which has applied for a national trust bank charter that would allow it to issue, custody, and convert its USD1 stablecoin under federal supervision.

šŸ”® VanEck Predicts Risk-On Q1 While Bitcoin Defies Past Cycles

VanEck said clearer macro conditions are supporting risk-on markets in 2026.

  • VanEck said markets are entering a clearer, more stable macro environment in early 2026 as fiscal and monetary signals improve.

  • The firm believes that this environment is generally constructive for equities, AI-related stocks, and cryptocurrencies, but took a more cautious stance on Bitcoin after concluding that its traditional four-year cycle appears to have broken in 2025.

  • VanEckā€™s analysts argued that while short-term signals remain mixed over the next three to six months, excess leverage has been cleared and improving regulation, fiscal support, and geopolitical pressures could benefit Bitcoin and crypto markets over the medium term.

šŸ¦ Franklin Templeton Retrofits Money Market Funds for the Tokenized Finance Era

Franklin Templeton upgraded two Western Asset money market funds to support tokenized finance and GENIUS Actā€“compliant stablecoin reserves.

  • Franklin Templeton updated two Western Asset institutional money market funds to better integrate with blockchain-based finance, positioning them to support tokenized financial products and on-chain distribution.

  • The Western Asset Institutional Treasury Obligations Fund and Treasury Reserves Fund were retrofitted to meet two use cases: reserve management for stablecoin issuers regulated under the GENIUS Act and 24/7 blockchain-enabled transfer and settlement for institutional platforms.

  • Franklin Templeton said the updates allow institutions to adopt tokenized infrastructure responsibly, using familiar, regulated products while preparing for growing demand tied to stablecoin reserves.

šŸ‘€ QUICK NEWS

MEME OF THE DAY

How did you like today's newsletter?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Thatā€™s it for today. Donā€™t forget to share Coinpaper Digest with your friends!