Welcome to the eighth issue of The Bitcoin Act, where every Tuesday and Sunday we track the legal and regulatory moves that actually shape Bitcoin — cutting through noise, narratives, and theater.

Now for today’s top stories:

💼 SEC Faces Ideological Shift
Caroline Crenshaw said her departure leaves the SEC without internal balance, potentially accelerating a more industry-friendly crypto agenda.

💰 Iran Accepts Bitcoin for Weapons
Iranian officials said using cryptocurrency for weapons purchases circumvents sanctions, showing how digital assets can complicate international enforcement.

📊 Crypto 2026 Shaped by Macro and Infrastructure
Crypto executives argued that regulatory clarity, infrastructure readiness, and macro conditions will define which firms can operate compliantly at scale this year.

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Caroline Crenshaw noted her departure leaves the SEC without internal ideological balance, potentially accelerating a more permissive, industry-friendly crypto regulatory agenda under an all-Republican commission.

Iranian officials said accepting cryptocurrency for weapons transactions offers a workaround to sanctions, highlighting how digital assets can bypass traditional financial controls and complicate international enforcement regimes.

Crypto executives warned 2026 will be defined less by price cycles and more by macro conditions, regulatory clarity, and infrastructure readiness, determining which firms can operate compliantly at institutional scale.

CFTC Chair Michael Selig said appointing Amir Zaidi as chief of staff reflects the agency’s growing crypto expertise, citing Zaidi’s role in approving Bitcoin futures as relevant to future market oversight.

International law experts argued U.S. military action against Venezuela raises unresolved legal questions about executive authority and international law.

Senator Cynthia Lummis said allowing banks to offer crypto services under a 2026 framework would integrate digital assets into regulated finance, improving consumer protection while keeping innovation onshore.

🌍 $30.7 billion — Estimated value of cryptocurrency held by the U.S. government, with 97 % in Bitcoin, highlighting how seizure law is turning into actual BTC stockpiles. AInvest

📈 ~8,000 — Approximate number of blockchain-related mentions in SEC filings in 2025, with Bitcoin leading at 36 %, showing regulatory focus on BTC compliance paths. Crypto.com

📉 £300 million — Expected revenue HMRC aims to recover over five years via new UK crypto tax reporting under CARF-aligned rules. The Sun

📊 30 %+ — Stablecoins’ share of on-chain transactions by late 2025, reflecting their regulatory and compliance importance in crypto markets. AInvest

“Freedom is indivisible. As soon as one starts to restrict it, one enters upon a decline on which it is difficult to stop.” — Ludwig von Mises

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