The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) updated its Broker-Dealer Financial Responsibility FAQ this week to allow broker-dealers to recognize stablecoins in regulatory capital with a 2% haircut, according to the new guidance. Stablecoins, including USDC issued by Circle and USDT issued by Tether, may now be valued at 98% of book value for capital purposes. The market previously applied a 100% haircut to stablecoins, effectively excluding them from capital calculations.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission updated its "Broker Dealer Financial Responsibilities" FAQ this week, allowing SEC-regulated broker-dealers to count 98% of stablecoin holdings as regulatory capital with a 2% haircut, the agency said. The new Question No. 5 covers dollar-linked tokens such as Circle's USDC and Tether's USDT, replacing the previously understood 100% haircut. SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce said the change will enable broker-dealers to engage in a broader range of activities relating to tokenized securities and other crypto assets, and added that existing SEC rules could be amended to account for payment stablecoins. Tonya Evans wrote on X that the shift means stablecoins are now treated like money market funds on a firm's balance sheet, noting some broker-dealers had been zeroing out stablecoin holdings in capital tallies before this week.

West Virginia is advancing Bill SB1030 to grant legal recognition to Decentralized Autonomous Organizations by classifying them as Decentralized Unincorporated Nonprofit Associations. The proposal would permit these entities to be governed through smart contracts and define related digital assets. The bill has been referred to the state Senate Judiciary Committee.

President Trump announced a 10% tariff on all countries, describing it as a global policy. He said the measures will remain in place despite a Supreme Court ruling.

President Trump announced a 10% global tariff to be applied on top of existing tariffs. All national security tariffs will remain fully in place, with the additional levy described as over and above normal tariffs.

President Trump said he would impose a 10% global tariff in addition to standard tariff levels, following a U.S. Supreme Court decision on tariffs. All existing national security-related tariffs will remain in full effect, he added.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled today that tariffs imposed under the Trump administration are illegal. The latest episode of "This Week in Crypto" reviewed how cryptocurrency market metrics have shifted following the decision.

South Korean lawmakers are investigating regulatory oversight following Bithumb's accidental disbursement of $43 billion in Bitcoin. The probe focuses on the role of financial regulators in monitoring the exchange. The incident has raised concerns about regulatory supervision in South Korea's cryptocurrency sector.

The White House signaled support for limited stablecoin rewards during Thursday talks on the Senate's Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, urging agreement before March 1, White House officials said. Banks had sought a ban but considered incentives for specific transactions only. A compromise draft will be shared for bank review; no final deal was reached.