Stablecoin rewards provisions face industry test in Senate crypto bill
As US senators prepare to mark up a major crypto market structure bill this week, industry leaders are weighing in on proposed changes that could shape whether stablecoin holders can earn interest and rewards.
According to an amended draft of the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act released on Monday, the bill states that “a digital asset service provider may not pay any form of interest or yield [...] solely in connection with the holding of a payment stablecoin,” effectively barring passive, deposit-like returns on stablecoin balances.
The draft leaves room for structured reward mechanisms, as stablecoin rewards would not be prohibited under certain circumstances, including “providing liquidity or collateral” or “governance, validation, staking, or other ecosystem participation.
Strategy Spends $1.25 Billion on Bitcoin in Biggest Buy Since July
Strategy acquired 13,627 Bitcoin for approximately $1.25 billion during the week of January 5-11, 2026, marking its largest single purchase in six months.
The company now holds 687,410 BTC worth roughly $62 billion, cementing its position as the world’s largest corporate Bitcoin holder.
Michael Saylor announced the purchase on January 12 via a regulatory filing with the SEC. Strategy paid an average of $91,519 per Bitcoin during the acquisition period. The company’s total Bitcoin investment now stands at $51.8 billion with an average cost basis of $75,353 per coin.
Tether Partners with United Nations to Combat Cybercrime and Support Trafficking Victims in Africa
The collaboration aims to strengthen cybersecurity, fund victim protection programs, and develop blockchain-based solutions across Africa and Papua New Guinea.
Tether, the world’s largest stablecoin issuer, announced a major partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on January 9, 2026.
The partnership addresses urgent needs in Africa, which has become the third-fastest-growing cryptocurrency region globally. According to Chainalysis data, Sub-Saharan Africa received over $205 billion in on-chain value between July 2024 and June 2025, marking a 52% increase from the previous year.
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