Edgen Crypto·Nov 20 2025, 18:08
[1] Fed December Rate Cut Odds Collapse to 30% - CoinDesk (https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2025/11/20/f ...)[2] HBAR Drops 6% to $0.144 as Technical Breakdown Accelerates (https://finance.yahoo.com/news/hbar-drops-6-0 ...)[3] HBAR Slides 0.5% to $0.146 as Technical Support Crumbles (https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2025/11/19/h ...)
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Nov 20 2025, 20:08
AVAX One Announces $40 Million Stock Buyback Program to Counteract Declining Share Price
## Executive Summary **AVAX One Technology Ltd. (AVX)**, a technology company listed on Nasdaq and backed by Anthony Scaramucci, has announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase program for up to $40 million of its common stock. This decision is positioned as a strategic maneuver to counteract a decline in the company's stock price and address the discount between its market valuation and the value of its underlying assets. ## The Event in Detail On Thursday, **AVAX One** officially disclosed that its board had approved the discretionary buyback program. This allows the company to purchase its own shares from the open market over time. The primary objective is to reduce the total number of outstanding shares, a move that can have several positive financial effects and is often interpreted as a signal of management's confidence in the company's future prospects. ## Financial Mechanics of the Buyback A stock buyback, or share repurchase, is a mechanism by which a company invests in itself. By purchasing its own shares, **AVAX One** will decrease the supply of its stock available on the market. This reduction in outstanding shares inherently increases the ownership percentage of the remaining shareholders. Furthermore, the action can mechanically boost the company's earnings per share (EPS) and lower its price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio, metrics often used by investors to assess a stock's value. ## Strategic Rationale and Market Impact The immediate effect of a buyback program is often a short-term boost to the share price, driven by the company's own purchasing activity and the resulting reduction in supply. Beyond this, the strategic use of share repurchases can serve as a tool for market stabilization. Academic research, including a notable study from Vanderbilt professors covering over 10,000 U.S. companies, indicates that corporate managers often use buybacks to increase stock liquidity and reduce volatility. By executing repurchases during periods of high volatility, a company can help stabilize its stock price, benefiting all investors. ## Broader Context This move by **AVAX One** aligns with a growing trend among digital asset and technology firms that hold significant cryptocurrency assets. These companies are increasingly turning to share buybacks as a strategy to support their stock prices, particularly when investor demand wanes and market valuations disconnect from the perceived value of their digital asset treasuries. The buyback serves as a defensive measure to "arrest plunging stock prices" and reaffirm the company's intrinsic value to the market.
Nov 20 2025, 19:34
DeFi Groups Petition Trump Administration to Dismiss Charges Against Tornado Cash Developer
## Executive Summary A coalition of cryptocurrency organizations, spearheaded by the **DeFi Education Fund**, has formally petitioned the Trump administration to direct the Department of Justice (DOJ) to drop its case against **Roman Storm**, a co-founder and developer of the cryptocurrency mixer **Tornado Cash**. The appeal centers on the argument that prosecuting a developer for writing and publishing open-source software sets a dangerous precedent that could criminalize software development and stifle technological innovation in the United States. The case represents a critical flashpoint in the ongoing debate between technological privacy and a government mandate to prevent illicit financial activities. ## The Event in Detail The DeFi Education Fund, along with a broader coalition of crypto-focused entities, submitted a petition to the White House urging executive intervention in the **Roman Storm** case. The core of their argument is that Storm’s contribution to the **Tornado Cash** protocol was an act of publishing immutable, open-source code, not the operation of an unlicensed money-transmitting business. They assert that such activity is a form of speech protected under the First Amendment. This advocacy campaign comes as federal prosecutors from the Southern District of New York are actively pushing back against a motion for acquittal filed by Storm's legal team. Storm's defense argues that the prosecution has failed to provide sufficient evidence of criminal intent. The presiding judge, **Katherine Polk Failla**, is now faced with ruling on the motion amidst a contentious legal battle that draws a sharp distinction between creating a tool and being responsible for its subsequent use. ## Market Implications The prosecution of a developer for creating a decentralized, open-source protocol introduces significant uncertainty into the digital asset market. A guilty verdict could establish a legal precedent holding software developers liable for the actions of anonymous users, potentially creating a chilling effect on innovation, particularly in the realm of decentralized finance (DeFi) and privacy-enhancing technologies. Venture capital and developer talent may be deterred from engaging with projects that could carry unforeseen legal risks. Conversely, a dismissal of the charges would be a landmark victory for the "code is speech" argument, likely emboldening developers to build and deploy more robust privacy tools on public blockchains. ## Expert Commentary Advocacy groups have labeled the prosecution an "illegal campaign to criminalize software developers." The **DeFi Education Fund** stated that the government's approach threatens the fundamental principles of open-source innovation. Their petition emphasizes a commitment to "protecting developers" and ensuring the U.S. remains a competitive environment for technological advancement. In contrast, the DOJ's continued pursuit of the case, including its opposition to the acquittal motion, underscores its position that platforms like **Tornado Cash**, regardless of their decentralized nature, cannot be exempt from laws designed to combat money laundering and terrorism financing. Prosecutors maintain that Storm was aware of and facilitated the laundering of illicit funds, thereby operating as a financial services provider. ## Broader Context This case does not exist in a vacuum. It is a high-stakes component of a larger dialogue between the cryptocurrency industry and U.S. regulators regarding the legal and regulatory framework for digital assets. A coalition of 66 crypto organizations has simultaneously urged the administration for immediate tax clarity, signaling the industry's widespread demand for a clear and predictable regulatory environment. The **Roman Storm** case, in particular, is seen as a test of the current administration's stance on the balance between fostering innovation and enforcing existing financial laws, the outcome of which will have lasting effects on the entire Web3 ecosystem.
Nov 20 2025, 19:17
Senate Committee Advances Selig's CFTC Chair Nomination Amid Crypto Regulation Debate
## Executive Summary Michael Selig's nomination to lead the **Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)** has narrowly passed the Senate Agriculture Committee, advancing to the full Senate for a confirmation vote. The 12-11 vote underscores the contentious debate surrounding the regulation of digital assets. Selig's potential chairmanship arrives as Congress considers legislation to grant the **CFTC** expanded authority over spot crypto markets, a move that could significantly reshape the U.S. financial landscape and pave the way for greater institutional participation. ## The Event in Detail The Senate Agriculture Committee voted to advance the nomination of **Michael Selig** for the role of **CFTC** Chairman. The close vote highlights the political divisions concerning the direction of cryptocurrency regulation. Selig, a nominee of President Donald Trump, is scheduled for a full Senate confirmation hearing on November 19, 2025. His background includes serving as chief counsel for the **CFTC's** crypto task force, providing him with deep experience in the sector. If confirmed, he would succeed acting chair Caroline Pham. ## Market Implications Selig's nomination is widely interpreted as a signal of a potential shift toward more defined and potentially favorable crypto regulations. The **CFTC's** 2025 agenda, which emphasizes institutional-grade products like leveraged spot trading and the use of tokenized collateral, suggests a strategic push to integrate digital assets into mainstream finance. Regulatory clarity under Selig could reduce market uncertainty and attract institutional capital. However, the narrow approval margin indicates that the path to new legislation remains challenging, and regulatory ambiguity may persist in the short term. ## Expert Commentary Key figures have voiced strong opinions on the matter. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, has been a vocal proponent of empowering the agency. During a recent hearing, he stated: > "I want to repeat what I have said multiple times before this committee: the CFTC is the right agency to regulate spot digital commodity trading." Analysts note that Selig's leadership could represent a move from a confrontational regulatory approach to one of cooperation, fostering a more stable environment for market growth. ## Broader Context The nomination is a key component of a larger legislative and administrative strategy to establish the U.S. as a global "crypto capital." This includes advancing the CLARITY Act, a bill aimed at delineating the regulatory jurisdictions of the **SEC** and **CFTC** over digital assets. By providing clear rules of the road, lawmakers aim to resolve long-standing conflicts and create a predictable framework for innovation and investment in the digital commodity space.