Weekly: Trump bans de-banking of crypto companies, SEC equates stablecoins to cash, Ukraine prepares to legalize crypto, OpenAI presents GPT-5

Executive order banning debanking of crypto companies in the U.S.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order prohibiting banks from denying services to crypto companies and politically conservative organizations. The move aims to ensure equal access to financial infrastructure for all market participants.

Crypto assets in 401(k) retirement plans

Another executive order signed by Trump allows funds from retirement plans to be invested in cryptocurrencies, real estate, and private equity. This is expected to open new opportunities for portfolio diversification in a market worth over $12 trillion.

Ukraine prepares bill to legalize cryptocurrencies

On August 19, the Verkhovna Rada may consider a bill to legalize cryptocurrencies. MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak noted that the document will be the fourth item on the agenda, and if adopted, a lengthy process of revising the text will begin.

SEC classifies certain stablecoins as cash equivalents

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has allowed certain U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoins to be treated as cash equivalents in accounting. Analysts call this an important step toward recognizing crypto assets in financial reporting.

Pro-crypto candidate nominated to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors

Trump nominated Stephen Miran, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. Miran is known for supporting cryptocurrencies and proposing to place the Fed under the President’s administration. The nomination still requires Senate approval.

OpenAI unveils GPT-5

OpenAI introduced the new version of its ChatGPT chatbot — GPT-5. According to the company, it is "the most advanced AI system to date": faster, more accurate, and more useful for practical tasks in business, education, and science.

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