Bitcoin crossed $100,000 for the first time, driven by Trump’s pro-crypto SEC pick Paul Atkins and Putin’s supportive comments on digital assets. The market cap nears $2 trillion, fueled by ETF inflows of $32 billion this year. Trump’s administration plans favorable crypto policies, including a strategic Bitcoin reserve.
Robinhood plans to expand into Asia in 2025 with a Singapore headquarters, following its UK entry this year. This move aims to capture growth beyond the US amidst declining trading activity, competing with rivals like Tiger Brokers and Futu Holdings. Robinhood shares have tripled this year.
The Startup Policy Forum (SPF) launched as a platform to address startup challenges and advocate for emerging companies, with 30 members including Swiggy, CRED, and Dream11. SPF focuses on collaboration with policymakers, tackling data governance, AI ethics, and evolving regulations.
SEBI’s “skin-in-the-game” policy, requiring mutual fund executives to invest 20% of their salaries in the schemes they manage, faced backlash for its broad application. A set-off provision introduced after the three-year lock-in ended in October 2024 allows employees to offset the value of previous investments against new requirements, reducing fresh investment obligations.
This relief benefits executives, especially as it lowers tax liabilities and reduces financial strain. However, new scheme launches still require fresh investments, though significantly lower due to the set-off clause. Industry leaders call the provision “helpful” but continue to lobby for further rule relaxation.
