SEC Chair Paul Atkins said on Jan. 29 it is time to allow crypto assets in 401(k) retirement accounts, according to a CNBC interview summary. The remarks have drawn market attention to digital assets potentially gaining a larger role in mainstream retirement and financial planning.

The SEC said on Jan. 29 that tokenized securities, including tokenized stocks, remain subject to federal registration, disclosure, reporting and anti-fraud requirements regardless of whether issuance or record-keeping occurs on-chain or off-chain, BlockBeats reports. The agency emphasized substance over form and distinguished tokens directly issued and backed by original issuers from those issued by third parties, adding that even third-party tokens without equity, voting or information rights must comply if they involve securities. BlockBeats noted that some tokenized U.S. stocks have launched outside the U.S., including Robinhood's rollout of over 2,000 such assets in Europe under MiCA, and that industry voices say broader U.S. adoption depends on legislation such as the Clarity Act, which has been delayed.

The UK government said on Jan. 29 that banks and financial institutions should not deny basic services to crypto firms meeting regulatory requirements, BlockBeats reports. It called for case-by-case reviews over blanket bans, while AML and CTF duties remain in force.

Six U.S. senators questioned Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche over his April 2025 shutdown of the DOJ's National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (NCET), citing his crypto holdings valued at $158,000–$470,000. In a January 28 letter, the senators said the decision may violate 18 U.S.C. § 208(a) and noted Blanche is named in a DOJ Inspector General complaint, BlockBeats reports.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has issued guidance detailing how federal securities laws apply to tokenized securities, according to a report by The Block. The guidance describes how existing regulations extend to tokenized representations of real-world assets on blockchains and distinguishes between issuer-sponsored tokenization models and those operated by third parties.

The Federal Reserve held the benchmark interest rate at 3.50%-3.75% on Jan. 29 in its first 2026 decision, pausing after three consecutive cuts since last September and matching market expectations, BlockBeats reports. In a subsequent briefing, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said the unemployment rate had shown signs of stabilizing, inflation remained slightly above target, and the labor market that had gradually softened might be steadying; he added that if this year's tariff inflation peaks and then declines, it would indicate room to ease policy, and noted rate hikes were not anyone's base case, with no one expecting an increase at the next meeting. Asked whether the Fed had responded to Justice Department subpoenas, Powell declined to elaborate, and he likewise offered no comment on the selection of the next Fed chair, emphasizing a stance of staying away from election politics. Goldman Sachs analyst Jan Hatzius said strong economic data and signs of labor-market stability suggest policy will remain on hold for now and projected cuts would resume later this year with two normalization moves to bring rates back to a level FOMC members consider neutral, while after the decision spot gold briefly approached $5,600 with a weekly gain of nearly $600 and spot silver topped $119 per ounce, up 1.91% intraday, BlockBeats reports.

The White House will meet banking and crypto executives on Monday to advance the CLARITY Act, Reuters reported. Led by its crypto committee, the meeting will focus on how the bill handles interest and other yields on USD-pegged stablecoins held for customers.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said on Jan. 29 he will not outline specific criteria for another rate cut, and that risks to both sides of the dual mandate have slightly eased, BlockBeats reports. He expects tariffs' impact on goods to peak this year then decline; if that occurs, it would signal scope to ease policy. Short-term inflation expectations have fully retreated, while longer-term expectations reflect confidence in inflation returning to 2%.

The Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged on Jan. 29, with rate futures pricing a 28% chance of a cut in April—the final meeting of Jerome Powell's current term as Fed chair—and a 64% probability of a June reduction, Jin10 reports. Futures market data also suggest a strong likelihood of a second rate cut later this year.