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State Regulators Warn Crypto Bill May Hinder Prosecution

by admin October 4, 2025

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Multiple state authorities shared concerns about the upcoming crypto market structure legislation and its impact on their ability to prosecute fraudsters in crimes related to digital assets.

State Regulators Sound The Alarm Over Crypto Bill

Regulators from Alabama to Montana sounded the alarms over the highly anticipated crypto market structure bill, warning that it may “diminish their ability to pursue wrongdoers,” Bloomberg reported on Thursday.

Amanda Senn, director of the Alabama Securities Commission, told the news media outlet that the Senate’s draft of the legislation, the Responsible Financial Innovation Act, does not give state-level regulatory agencies implicit authority to supervise digital asset companies.

This oversight could mean that these authorities may not be able to prosecute offenders for fraud. Meanwhile, Federal enforcement against crypto companies has significantly decreased since the Trump administration took office in January.

Multiple federal regulatory agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), have shut down or reduced their digital asset-related enforcement units, dismissing most cases and investigations against crypto firms.

According to Cornerstone Research data cited by Bloomberg, the SEC had initiated nine crypto-related enforcement actions by the end of August, a significant drop from the 47and 33 actions taken in 2023 and 2024, respectively. At this pace, 2025 could see the lowest crypto-related enforcement actions since 2017.

“The dam is going to break,” Senn argued. “If you don’t have the states paying attention and prosecuting fraud, nobody is looking out.”

Montana State Auditor James Brown warned that the bill’s changes to the definition of an investment contract could “let criminals wiggle out of being prosecuted.” “What we are hearing from people, with all the national talk about the benefits of digital currencies and the theory that you are going to get rich quick, you’ve got two factors that lead to easy fraud,” Brown added.

State Anti-Fraud Protections In Danger?

State regulators have proposed changes to the market structure bill, which is expected to go into markup after late October. Some state officials explained that the Senate’s current draft language would not require crypto businesses to register with states or respond to their inquiries.

Additionally, the legislation would change the federal definition of an investment contract, adding new conditions and elements. In September, the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) sent a letter to multiple Senators, warning them that Congress must preserve state anti-fraud enforcement authorities in the upcoming crypto bill.

The association argued that “it is critical that the resulting framework preserve state anti-fraud protections,” as they protect investors and are “essential in the ongoing fight against online scams.” To achieve this, NASAA offered two recommendations to the lawmakers.

First, they suggested that lawmakers reject provisions that redefine the investment contract test, explaining that “upending decades of securities law as contemplated in Section 105 will have devastating effects on anti-fraud efforts by adding so many elements and conditions to the investment contract analysis that form, not substance, will determine whether regulators can take action.”

Second, they recommended that Congress enact the Support Anti-Fraud Enforcement (SAFE) Act to ensure states have the anti-fraud authority necessary to respond to residents’ complaints involving digital assets.

Despite the concerns, some industry players disagree that the market structure bill will hinder state authorities’ ability to prosecute bad actors. Some suggest that regulators will be able to pursue criminals “in the name of consumer protection.”

“I do understand why a state would be worried about it, in particular if the federal system doesn’t engage in any enforcement,” Mauro Wolfe, leading partner of Duane Morris’s Digital Assets and Blockchain Group, told Bloomberg. “I do think this will be an area where defense lawyers will say the states can’t do it, and it will be litigated,” he concluded.

Bitcoin (BTC) trades at $120,863 in the one-week chart. Source: BTCUSDT on TradingView

Featured Image from Unsplash.com, Chart from TradingView.com

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October 4, 2025 0 comments

Esports

Tarleton State coach Billy Gillispie on leave amid inquiry

by admin October 3, 2025

Tarleton State coach Billy Gillispie has been placed on temporary administrative leave as the university investigates an anonymous complaint, the school announced Friday.

No details of the nature of the complaint were immediately available, and there is no timeline on how long the investigation may take. Associate head coach Glynn Cyprien has taken over as acting head coach.

The school said it would not comment further.

Gillispie faced allegations of player mistreatment while he was the coach at Texas Tech in 2011 and 2012. He resigned as the Red Raiders coach — citing health concerns — in September 2012. The resignation came about a month after the school said it was investigating the claims, which stemmed from Texas Tech players expressing concerns about the way they were being treated by Gillispie.

Questions about Gillispie’s coaching style also were made during his time at Kentucky, including the treatment of players and staff in the athletic department. He was fired in 2009, with Kentucky athletic director saying Gillispie “wasn’t the right fit for the program.” A $3 million settlement over his firing was reached later that year.

Gillispie, 65, is in his sixth season at Tarleton State, the longest of his five Division I head coaching stints, which also include time at UTEP and Texas A&M.

He is 78-74 at Tarleton State, including a 25-10 record in 2023-24 and a CIT appearance. He has gone 226-182 in 13 seasons as a head coach with four NCAA tournament appearances.

Cyprien is a longtime college assistant with stops that include UNLV, Oklahoma State, Arkansas, Kentucky, Memphis and Texas Tech.

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October 3, 2025 0 comments

Brian Quintenz (Senate Agriculture Committee, screen capture)

GameFi Guides

U.S. SEC Takes Preliminary Step to Expand Universe of Crypto Custody to State Trusts

by admin October 1, 2025

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has cracked the door to welcome crypto custody at a wide range of firms who’ve earned state charters as trust companies — a list that would include the trust affiliates of Coinbase, Kraken and other high-profile names in crypto.

The SEC’s Division of Investment Management issued a so-called no-action letter on Tuesday, a document that assures that the regulator doesn’t intend to pursue any enforcement actions by those engaging in the specific activity — in this case, that SEC-registered advisers and funds can park digital assets in state trusts.

Such qualified-custodian questions had represented a policy battleground during the tenure of former SEC chairs Gary Gensler and Jay Clayton, the former having led the agency to introduce a later-abandoned proposal that would have constrained what kinds of companies could handle the crypto of regulated investment advisers. Gensler made it clear he specifically meant to muscle out exchanges such as Coinbase.

But the SEC’s new management — most notably Chairman Paul Atkins — is pursuing a crypto-forward campaign, with Atkins saying earlier this week that establishing industry policies is the agency’s top priority (as assigned by pro-crypto President Donald Trump).

While Tuesday’s no-action letter isn’t a formal agency rule, it carries enough weight to free firms from short-term compliance worries. Specifically, the document said the SEC “would not recommend enforcement action to the commission under the custody provisions against a registered adviser or regulated fund for treating a state trust company as a ‘bank’ with respect to the placement and maintenance of crypto assets.”

The earlier argument from Gensler was that crypto firms weren’t safe and sufficiently regulated to qualify as risk-free enough for registered investment advisers to keep their customers’ assets.

“Even though it was never adopted, the proposal has created problems for investment advisers through its assertion that most crypto assets are likely to be funds or crypto asset securities covered by the current rule, and thus must be maintained with a qualified custodian,” Commissioner Hester Peirce said in a speech in Singapore on Tuesday.

She argued that the agency “should consider updating the rules governing permissible custodians for registered investment advisers and investment companies,” adding that maybe technologically adept companies should be permitted to custody assets themselves.

But Democratic Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw, who was allied with Gensler on this point two years ago, issued a statement opposing the no-action treatment, saying the SEC is effectively treating crypto as something apart from the rest of the financial sector. And it’s ignoring the efforts of firms pursuing federal chartering from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

“Rather than create a level playing field, we leave investors and the markets to gamble in an unnecessary game of 50-state regulatory roulette – just to accommodate crypto,” she said. “Executing a shift of this magnitude via no-action relief without public comment and without any economic analysis is ill-advised for many reasons, not least of which because it likely violates the Administrative Procedure Act, though this has become commonplace by this commission.”

The SEC has been pursuing a number of crypto policies under Atkin’s recent Project Crypto, and the chairman has set an agenda to issue formal crypto rules in the coming months. Meanwhile, Congress has made extensive progress on legislation to more completely regulate the U.S. digital assets markets.

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October 1, 2025 0 comments

Crypto Trends

Kentucky State Senator Sued Over Bitcoin Mining Business

by admin September 30, 2025

In brief

Kentucky Senator Brandon Smith faces two lawsuits over his Bitcoin mining repair company Mohawk Energy, including claims of misrepresentation and breach of contract.
Smith, who authored Kentucky’s 2021 crypto mining tax incentive bill, denies all allegations and has filed counterclaims against both plaintiffs.
The legal troubles highlight growing pains in the U.S. crypto mining sector, which expanded 23% between 2022 and 2024.

Kentucky Sen. Brandon Smith (R-Hazard) is facing two separate legal cases related to a Bitcoin mining repair business he founded in Letcher County, Kentucky.

Smith is the CEO and co-founder of Mohawk Energy, which in 2022 pivoted from coal cleanup operations to ASIC repair and other Bitcoin mining services.

Local outlet, Lexington Herald Leader, reports that Ricky Dale Cole sued Smith in Letcher Circuit Court in January, accusing the lawmaker of misrepresenting the value of Mohawk Energy.

Cole claims that he sold a warehouse to Mohawk, agreeing with Smith to sell the premises below market price in return for a 20% stake in the business.

Yet Cole’s suit alleges that the company has refused to share info about its finances and that he has not profited from the deal. He also alleged that Smith made false promises and representations.

This suit comes in addition to a case filed in November 2023 by Huobi-subsidiary HBTPower, which alleges breach of contract and misrepresentation, following an agreement with Mohawk Energy in June 2022.

According to HBT’s allegations, Smith had made a deal to work with HBTPower employees to train his own workers and acquire the in-house ability to repair Bitcoin mining machines.

However, Smith and other Mohawk representatives eventually asked HBTPower personnel to leave Mohawk’s premises, with HBTPower claiming that Smith did not own the warehouse at the time he entered into a contract with the Chinese company.

Smith has denied the allegations against him, and has filed counterclaims against both plaintiffs.

Despite the legal difficulties surrounding Mohawk’s pivot to crypto, Smith remains optimistic about the industry’s future in the US and in Kentucky.

Smith had been instrumental in securing the passage of several crypto-related bills in Kentucky, including a 2021 bill—which he authored—that provides tax incentives for investments in cryptocurrency mining.

Speaking to Decrypt in his capacity as Mohawk Energy CEO, Smith said that the company is “excited” to return to its mission of “job creation and training” once the litigation is over.

“While it is unfortunate that Huobi and its shell subsidiary HBTPower breached their eight year contract and refused to start operating at the Mohawk plant, that does not impact Mohawk’s long term plans to bring more jobs and technology training to the region,” he said. “Our counter suits to the complaints explain our position.”

Mohawk’s difficult pivot came during a period when the U.S. cryptocurrency mining sector witnessed rapid expansion, with Bitcoin mining sites in the U.S. increasing in number by 23% between 2022 and 2024, to 48.

According to Shanon Squires, the Chief Mining Officer at Compass Mining, such growth has continued this year, as evidenced by Bitcoin’s hashrate reaching new all-time highs recently.

“In the U.S., that momentum is especially visible in states like Texas and Wyoming,” she told Decrypt. “The expansion seems to be mostly coming from existing companies, rather than from new players entering the market.”

While affirming that the American cryptomining industry has become increasingly professionalized in recent years, there is still some degree of variability, with some endeavors “popping up and fading” quicker than others.

She added, “While Bitcoin mining is no longer the ‘wild west’ it once was, companies still need to do their homework and work with established partners that have proven themselves through multiple cycles.”

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September 30, 2025 0 comments

Crypto Trends

Nick Szabo: $44M in Bitcoin on the Move Amid Fears of State Seizure

by admin September 29, 2025

Salomon Brothers seizing coins?
Good security practice

Earlier today, a Bitcoin address that had remained untouched for roughly 12 years suddenly moved 400 BTC, according to Whale Alert. The coins were worth roughly $44 million when the transfer occurred.

Salomon Brothers seizing coins?

As usual, such transfers tend to spark plenty of speculation within the community.

Some have speculated that this could be a “Salomon Brothers” notice.

Salamon Brothers was the name of a major investment bank that merged in the 90s

In August, an entity operating under the name “Salomon Brothers” started a controversial campaign targeting long-dormant Bitcoin wallets.

The OP_RETURN function was used for inserting legal notices that claimed ownership over the assets. Holders were given 90 days to prove ownership of the coins.

Good security practice

Szabo has stressed that moving coins regularly is generally considered to be a good security practice.

“For security as well as such legal reasons, it’s a good idea to move your Bitcoin every few years,” he said.

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September 29, 2025 0 comments

Esports

Oregon’s Lanning touts Moore as best QB after beating Penn State

by admin September 28, 2025

Max OlsonSep 28, 2025, 02:24 AM ET
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- Covers the Big 12
- Joined ESPN in 2012
- Graduate of the University of Nebraska

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — For the first time all night, Dante Moore was overwhelmed. The Oregon quarterback paused his victory lap and bent over, staring down at the Beaver Stadium grass while trying his best to collect himself and hold back the tears.

In the moments immediately after his Oregon squad pulled off a 30-24 double-overtime triumph over No. 3 Penn State, Moore was emotionally spent. Ducks coach Dan Lanning, however, was practically vibrating after the stunning finish, brimming with pride that his No. 6 Ducks had what it took to win what he considers the best game he has ever been a part of in his career.

What it took was unbelievable poise from every player in his program, especially from Moore, his sophomore quarterback making just his fifth career road start.

The Ducks had the luxury of elite experience at the quarterback position over Lanning’s first three seasons in Eugene between Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel. On Saturday night, they showed everyone what they have in Moore.

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“I think we’ve got the best quarterback in college football,” Lanning said.

Moore threw for 248 yards and three touchdowns, rushed for 35 yards, avoided turnovers and sacks and stayed in control in front of an announced crowd of 111,015, the second largest in Penn State history. Lanning and his coaches put all their trust in Moore in a game loaded with high-pressure moments, including 18 third downs and seven fourth downs in which the Ducks went for it, converting five of them.

“It’s things you pray and dream about as a kid,” Moore said.

Lanning told his players all week that the mindset necessary to defeat the Nittany Lions was death by a thousand cuts. No one play was going to knock out their foe. Every play and every cut mattered. That’s precisely how their battle played out.

Early in the fourth quarter, the Ducks went for the kill on a fourth-and-1, and running back Jordon Davison sliced through the Nittany Lion defense for an 8-yard touchdown that, with a 17-3 lead, looked likely to put away the game for good. But it would take many more cuts to eventually take down Penn State.

The Nittany Lions’ offense came to life with 142 yards and two touchdown drives in the fourth quarter to force overtime. Then Penn State needed just three plays to punch in the first touchdown in overtime.

Oregon’s Dante Moore was 29-of-39 for 248 yards and three touchdowns and no interceptions in Saturday’s 30-24 double-overtime win over Penn State. AP Photo/Barry Reeger

Moore answered with a seven-play march that required him to pick up a fourth-and-1 with the game on the line by himself with a counter run. He picked up 3 yards to convert, then hit tight end Jamari Johnson on a shovel pass on the following play to tie the score.

On the first play of the next drive, Moore evaded unblocked Penn State pass rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton and fired a sidearm throw to Gary Bryant Jr. for a quick 25-yard score. The Ducks’ 2-point attempt failed, but all it took was one more cut. Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman intercepted Penn State’s Drew Allar on his first pass of the second overtime.

“Every cut matters and eventually you hit the jugular,” Lanning said. “That was it right there.”

For Moore, it was a breakthrough moment that has been hard-earned. The former No. 2 overall recruit was benched during his freshman season at UCLA in 2023, transferred to Oregon and spent last year out of the spotlight, redshirting and learning to operate the Ducks’ offense as the team’s No. 2 QB behind Gabriel.

After outscoring opponents 203-37 through an easy 4-0 start, it was time for a real test. Teammates didn’t doubt that Moore was ready.

“The dude breeds excellence,” Oregon linebacker Bryce Boettcher said. “He’s just very composed. I mean, he’s 20 years old and the maturity out of him is incredible. Following up after Dillon Gabriel and Bo Nix, that’s no easy shoes to fill. He’s obviously his own person, leads in his own way and I love it. He’s a competitor and I’m glad to have him on our side.”

Lanning called the victory a growth moment not just for his quarterback but his entire Ducks squad. He believed it managed an “unbelievable” road environment with composure, making the White Out crowd a nonfactor to the best of its ability.

Against an opponent that Lanning said he expects to face again, whether in the Big Ten title game or the College Football Playoff, Moore and his fellow Ducks didn’t flinch.

“It speaks volumes about how these guys can handle the stage,” Lanning said. “We said the White Out was really gonna be a white canvas for us today. We got an opportunity to paint our masterpiece, and those guys did it.”

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September 28, 2025 0 comments

Esports

Penn State falls to 4-21 under Franklins vs. Top Ten teams

by admin September 28, 2025

Jake TrotterSep 28, 2025, 12:56 AM ET
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STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — After the latest loss to a Top 10 opponent, Nittany Lions coach James Franklin said he understands the growing frustration of the Penn State fan base.

The third-ranked Nittany Lions fell 30-24 in double overtime to No. 6 Oregon on Saturday night before a “White Out” crowd at Beaver Stadium.

The defeat dropped Franklin to 4-21 at Penn State against Associated Press top 10 opponents, including 1-18 against top 10 Big Ten top teams.

“I get that narrative and it’s really not a narrative — it’s factual. It’s the facts,” Franklin said. “I try to look at the entire picture and what we’ve been able to do here. But at the end of the day, we got to find a way to win those games. I totally get it. And I take ownership. I take responsibility.”

Franklin’s .160 winning percentage against AP top 10 teams now ties him for the third-worst record by a head coach (minimum of 25 games) at a single school since the poll era began in 1936, according to ESPN Research.

“We have a passionate fan base,” Franklin said. “When we win, there’s nothing better. When we lose, there’s nothing worse. So I get it. I get the frustration that comes with a fan base that is invested and cares.”

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The Nittany Lions nearly pulled off their biggest fourth-quarter comeback since 2016 against Ohio State — which remains Franklin’s only Big Ten win against a top 10 opponent.

Penn State trailed 17-3. But senior quarterback Drew Allar engineered back-to-back touchdown drives to send the game to overtime. The Nittany Lions then scored a touchdown on the third play of the opening overtime possession.

But the Ducks answered with their own touchdown, then scored another on the first play of the second overtime.

On the ensuing snap, Allar threw an interception to Dillon Thieneman, sealing the dramatic victory for the Ducks.

“I tried to get the ball over the guy’s head,” Allar said. “He jumped up and caught the ball.”

During Big Ten media days over the summer, Allar said it was time for Penn State “to get over that hump” in big games. Allar’s fourth-quarter interception in the College Football Playoff semifinals last season set up Notre Dame’s game-winning field goal and ended Penn State’s season.

Allar, Penn State’s starter since 2023, is now 0-6 in his career against AP top 6 opponents — his only victory against a top 10 team coming in last year’s CFP quarterfinals against Boise State.

“Obviously, it hurts,” Allar said. “We had our opportunities. … But it’s a long season ahead of us. We’re going to have more opportunities to fix this — and I’ll be the first one to go into the fire.”

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September 28, 2025 0 comments

NFT Gaming

TACEO and Aztec to bring Private Shared State to Ethereum

by admin September 25, 2025

TACEO and Aztec Foundation are teaming up to create a Private Shared State, an encrypted environment that supports updates, multi-computation and auditing under one private decentralized roof.

Summary

TACEO and Aztec Foundation are partnering to bring Private Shared State into Ethereum.
PSS differs from existing MPC solutions by allowing shared, persistent private states on-chain, with a focus on developer usability through TACEO’s coNoir toolkit.
TACEO claims its system is built with post-quantum security in mind, using information-theoretically secure protocols and exploring hash-based proof systems.

TACEO, the company behind Worldcoin’s encrypted iris-scanning network and the largest known multiparty computation database, has partnered with the Aztec Foundation, nonprofit organization that supports the Aztec Network, to create a Private Shared State on Ethereum.

The partnership claims it would allow multiple parties to verify blockchain transactions and contracts, without exposing the underlying information or relying on a centralized entity to verify them. It combines TACEO’s collaborative computation abilities with Aztec’s privacy-first Layer 2 on Ethereum (ETH).

TACEO CEO Lukas Helminger, tells crypto.news that the PSS serves to extend the capabilities of multiparty computation or MPC to new areas that it was previously limited to. The system will enable multiple users to collaborate on encrypted data sets over which computation is done.

“In brief, PSS lets multiple parties jointly maintain and compute over a single, shared piece of private state, and then commit that state on-chain with a proof that’s publicly verifiable,” said Helminger.

Through the collaboration, Aztec developers will be able to use enhanced tooling that supports complex and collaborative computing. Developers will be able to perform general-purpose computation on encrypted data from different sources, yielding functionality and privacy beyond what web2 is capable of.

The PSS is poised to facilitate a range of different use cases, including trustless financial markets, collaborative AI model training, cheat-proof on-chain gaming and data sovereignty frameworks.

TACEO CEO: ‘Our approach is different’

TACEO CEO Lukas Helminger explains how the Private Shared State differs from run-of-the-mill multiparty computation solutions as it allows for arbitrary computation on encrypted data, as well as the possibility to generate a proof of correctness of that computation.

According to Helminger, this approach creates a “persistent state that no single entity can access, but can be updated over time,” enabling multiple parties to jointly maintain and compute over the same private state. This sets PSS apart from ZKMPC, which he said focuses on one-off secure computations without providing an on-chain state model that contracts can reference.

The company also distinguishes its work from NuCypher’s threshold cryptography framework.

Whereas NuCypher focuses more on traditional use cases for MPC or threshold cryptography to allow signing, decryption delegation and threshold access, PSS goes beyond that by providing shared, updatable private state with on-chain proofs.

Another main difference that sets PSS apart from other solutions is its emphasis on usability for developers.

“Our approach is different: we’re shaping MPC, coSNARKs and PSS into tools that any developer can pick up to build apps, with confidentiality,” Helminger said.

Through its coNoir toolkit, the company hopes to make integration seamless for those already using Noir, Aztec’s zero-knowledge programming language.

“Traditional MPC libraries often came out of academia, which meant they were powerful but not practical. With coNoir, we aim to make it trivial for developers already using coNoir to extend their applications into an MPC and PSS environment,” stated Helminger.

In terms of safety and security, Helminger claims that the protocols that the network is built upon have gone through years of peer-reviewed research and that it is currently undergoing a security assessment, with regular external audits planned once the system stabilizes.

“By the very nature of MPC, no single node learns the plaintext, and confidentiality holds as long as the threshold of colluding nodes is not exceeded,” he said.

How does the Private Shared State fare against quantum computing?

Many experts view quantum computing as a potential threat to cryptocurrency as it evolves at a rapid pace. In fact, many have predicted that with enough power it could one day break Bitcoin’s encryption and gain access to wallets, an event often referred to as “Q Day.”

Most recently, Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko said that there is currently a 50-50 possibility that in five years time, quantum computers will be strong enough to crack the cryptographic safeguards protecting Bitcoin wallets.

When asked how TACEO and Aztec’s PSS will fare against the threat of quantum computing, TACEO CEO Lukas Helminger said that some parts of the stack, such as secret sharing within MPC environments are “already information-theoretically secure and naturally post-quantum.”

“Where quantum risk does come in, such as, in certain proof systems, we’re actively exploring post-quantum secure approaches, including hash-based ZK,” said Helminger.

He explained that the research team working on the project has had prior experience working on post-quantum standards, therefore they are gearing up the system with a clear migration path in mind as the technology continues to evolve.

“We take a crypto-agile approach: the system is designed so we can migrate components to post-quantum alternatives as they mature. For example, where today’s SNARKs rely on elliptic-curve assumptions, we’re already experimenting with hash-based proof systems,” he said.

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September 25, 2025 0 comments

NFT Gaming

Ohio Moves to Accept Crypto Payments for State Fees

by admin September 25, 2025

In brief

The Ohio State Board of Deposit unanimously approved a vendor on Wednesday to process cryptocurrency payments for state fees and services.
Secretary of State Frank LaRose said he’s “excited and ready to be the first to provide it to our customers.”
The decision follows a broader Ohio crypto legislation push, including proposed Bitcoin reserve and blockchain protection bills.

The Ohio State Board of Deposit unanimously approved a vendor to process crypto payments, including Bitcoin, for state fees and services in its latest bid to integrate crypto into public finance.

“With hundreds of thousands of transactions going through my office each year, I want to commend the board for taking bold action to position us at the forefront of the emerging digital economy,” Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose tweeted on Wednesday.

Wednesday’s approval caps months of work that began in April, when LaRose and Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague pushed the board to authorize crypto payments.

The proposal passed unanimously in May, but needed final vendor approval, the last piece that fell into place on Wednesday.

“There’s a reason why we now rank among the top five states in the nation to do business,” LaRose said in a statement. “It’s because we’re not afraid to embrace the tools, trends, and technologies that incentivize job creators to come here.”

The Secretary of State said his office processes hundreds of thousands of transactions annually and has heard “growing demand for a cryptocurrency payment option.”

“I’m excited and ready to be the first to provide it to our customers,” he added.

“It’s happening. Government payments in Ohio today. Everything onchain tomorrow. Thank you, ser,” Coinbase CLO, Paul Grewal, tweeted in response to the announcement

The crypto payments are part of Ohio’s broader push into digital assets.

In June, the House advanced the Ohio Blockchain Basics Act, which bans local governments from restricting digital asset use and exempts crypto transactions under $200 from capital gains taxes.

Dennis Porter, CEO of the Satoshi Action Fund, previously told Decrypt that the legislation is “a clear signal” that lawmakers are “encouraging innovation in the Buckeye State.”

LaRose also backs House Bill 18, which would create an Ohio Strategic Crypto Reserve funded by portions of state investment earnings.

In a May testimony, he cited President Donald Trump’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets, established in January to make America the “crypto capital of the planet.”

So far, 47 states have introduced Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR) bills, with about 26 states carrying active proposals still under consideration, according to the Bitcoin Laws tracker.

Arizona, Texas, and New Hampshire are among the few to advance measures furthest, while most remain stuck in committee.

Meanwhile, Michigan’s stalled Bitcoin reserve legislation gained momentum this week, with House Bill 4087 advancing to the Government Operations Committee after seven months of inaction.

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September 25, 2025 0 comments

Game Reviews

Everything We Saw At Today’s PlayStation State Of Play Showcase

by admin September 25, 2025

PlayStation and friends put together a thankfully brief State of Play presentation that streamed on the company’s Twitch and YouTube channels. Ahead of the show, we knew we’d be seeing more of Housemarque’s new Rahul Kohli-led action game Saros, but we didn’t know what would take up the other 30 minutes of the 35-minute showcase. If you didn’t get a chance to watch live, you can watch the VOD here, or scroll down to get all the highlights.

Saros

Saros kicked off the show with a new gameplay trailer showcasing its fast-paced, momentum-driven shooter mechanics. Kohli’s character has a ton of mobility options to jump and zip around the battlefield, shooting and stabbing a wide spread of vicious beasties. There’s some gesturing at the story here, but all I can really gather is that the main character is searching for a woman in this alien hellscape. The game is coming to PS5 on March 20, 2026.

Zero Parades for Dead Spies

Next up is Zero Parades, ZA/UM’s follow-up to Disco Elysium. The game was originally announced at Gamescom Opening Night Live, but was only confirmed for PC at the time. So now we know it’s coming to PS5.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

First thing I had to do was make sure that there wasn’t a Microsoft Flight Simulator 2025 and that Microsoft wasn’t deliberately giving PlayStation an out-of-date version of its flight sim. That would have been funny in a petty kind of way. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is coming to PS5 on December 8.

Battlefield 6

Battlefield 6 is just a couple of weeks away from its October 10 release date, so it makes sense Sony and EA would want to get the game in front of people in one more showcase. A lot of the leadup to launch has focused on the multiplayer, so it’s good that we got a quick glimpse of its dramatic campaign here.

Deus Ex Remastered

One of the first real surprises of the show was Deus Ex Remastered, a revamped version of the beloved RPG. The original Deus Ex is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and to celebrate, Eidos Montreal and Aspyr are sprucing up the game for modern platforms. The remaster is coming to PlayStation 5 on February 5.

Halloween

We also got a new look at the asymmetrical Dead by Daylight-like Halloween game, though it won’t be out by the holiday. The game is set to launch on PS5 on September 8, 2026.

Last Epoch

Next up we got confirmation that dungeon-crawling RPG Last Epoch is leaving PC exclusivity behind and coming to PS5. The game’s first expansion, Orobyss, will also launch the same day the game hits the console.

The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin

The Seven Deadly Sins: Origins is an upcoming open-world game based on the anime of the same name. It’s coming to PS5 on January 28.

Sonic Racing: Crossworlds

After leaking ahead of time, Sega announced the Mega Man DLC characters coming to Sonic Racing: Crossworlds. Mega Man and Proto Man will be added to the roster alongside a Dr. Wily’s Castle-themed track next year.

Nioh 3

Koei Tecmo grabbed the mic for two back-to-back announcements. First, the company showed off a new look at Nioh 3 and announced the action game will come to PS5 on February 6. This was followed by the announcement that a Dynasty Warriors 3 remaster is coming. Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered will hit PS5 on March 19.

Code Vein II

Bandai Namco showed a new trailer for it’s upcoming action RPG Code Vein II, because who doesn’t want another soulslike in their backlog? The game will launch on PS5 on January 30.

Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles

Square Enix showed up to remind you that Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is imminent. But who needs a new trailer when you can read Kotaku‘s review? The game is coming to PS4 and PS5 on September 30.

Let It Die: Inferno

Another fun surprise in the showcase was Let It Die: Inferno, a sequel to the cult classic action game from Grasshopper Manufacture. That’s refreshing given the only follow-up we got previously was a battle royale game back in 2022. Inferno is coming to PS5 on December 3.

Chronoscript: The Endless End

Next up is Chronoscript: The Endless End, a sidescrolling action platformer about a man that is trapped within the pages of books. The game will launch on PS5 next year.

Crimson Desert

Crimson Desert, one of the only games to make me crash out at a preview event, was given a new trailer that included a release date. The action game will come to PS5 on March 19.

Pulse speakers

If you’re in the market for new home theater speakers, Pulse is releasing PlayStation-branded ones that are compatible with your PS5, PC, Mac, and even your PlayStation Portal. They’ll be available in black or white next year.

PlayStation Plus

Next we got a brief check-in on the games coming to PlayStation Plus soon. In addition to those mentioned in the trailer above, they will also include The Last of Us Part II Remastered for The Last of Us Day, the annual celebration of Naughty Dog’s post-apocalyptic series, which lands on Friday of this week.

Gran Turismo 7

For the racing sim fans in the room, we got a new announcement for Gran Turismo 7. The racing game’s Spec III update is coming in December, and it will include two new tracks, eight vehicles, a data logging feature and “much more.”

God of War anniversary controller

Sony announced a limited edition DualSense controller to celebrate God of War‘s 20th anniversary. It is mostly white, but includes the red streak Kratos has on his face on the righthand side.

Wolverine

Wrapping up the show was the first officially sanctioned gameplay of Marvel’s Wolverine, the next superhero game from Insomniac, who also developed the acclaimed Spider-Man games on PS4 and PS5. The trailer is action packed, has some cameos from other X-Men characters like the transforming mutant Mystique and some of the mutant-hunting Sentinels, and looks pretty friggin’ dope. Spartacus actor Liam McIntyre will play the titular hero when Wolverine comes to PS5 in 2026.

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September 25, 2025 0 comments