Bitcoin Supply Hits 20 Million Coin Mark, Mastercard Launches Massive Crypto Partner Program, and More – Week In Review

This week’s developments highlight the growing intersection of macro markets, regulation, and institutional crypto adoption. U.S. Treasury yields remain elevated amid oil tensions and political uncertainty around the Federal Reserve. Regulators took a major step toward unified oversight as the SEC and CFTC agreed to coordinate on digital asset rules. Bitcoin also reached a historic milestone with 20 million coins mined, reinforcing its scarcity narrative. Meanwhile, Mastercard expanded its crypto push with a new global partner program, and Binance entered a legal battle with the Wall Street Journal as reports of a DOJ inquiry surfaced.

Week In Review

Treasury Yields Hold Above 4% as Oil Tensions, Fed Politics Rattle Bond Market

The bond market is staring down oil shocks, political drama, and a looming Fed leadership shake-up—and the result is a Treasury market behaving… read more

Editor’s comment:

Fed Chair Nominee Kevin Warsh will have an interesting environment to inherit when Jerome Powell’s term ends on May 15. According to Fed Watch, the odds that rates stay exactly where they are for the rest of the year are very likely, which isn’t exactly encouraging for Bitcoin and risk assets.

SEC and CFTC Strike Historic Pact to Align US Financial and Crypto Market Rules

U.S. regulators move to tighten coordination as the SEC and CFTC launch a joint framework aimed at reducing regulatory conflicts… read more

Editor’s comment:

One of the goals of the agreement is “Providing a fit-for-purpose regulatory framework for crypto assets and other emerging technologies.” Michael Saylor, who is in the midst of an aggressive BTC accumulation spree, has repeatedly identified friendlier regulation as a tailwind for Bitcoin in 2026.

Bitcoin Supply Hits 20 Million BTC After 6,267 Days, Final Coins Stretch Across 114 Years

More than 95% of bitcoin’s total supply has now been mined, leaving just 1 million coins to be produced over the next century as the network’s… read more

Editor’s comment:

It’s hard not to feel anxious about not having enough Bitcoin when you see the rapid accumulations from Strategy, BlackRock, and treasury companies. As Kraken Chief Economist Thomas Perfumo puts it: “More than 95% of all the bitcoins that will ever exist already exist. It’s worth pausing to consider how strange and significant that is.”

Mastercard Launches New Global Crypto Partner Program With 85 Firms to Accelerate Payments

Mastercard moves to link traditional finance and crypto infrastructure through a sweeping global partner program, assembling dozens of industry players… read more

Editor’s comment:

Another milestone for crypto adoption, but also another win for the pessimists who predicted value accrual would largely be siphoned off by tradfi firms. Shares of Mastercard (MA) look to benefit the most from this new program.

Legal Clash Deepens as Binance Files Defamation Suit While WSJ Reports DOJ Inquiry

Binance unleashes a legal battle against The Wall Street Journal over disputed reporting while the newspaper releases a new report on a U.S. investigation tied to the crypto exchange.… read more

Editor’s comment:

Controlled by one of the wealthiest men on the planet and backed by a “ Crypto President,” Binance – and increasingly other exchanges – are no longer easy targets for slander and other mistreatment.

FAQ

• Why are Treasury yields staying above 4%?
  Yields remain elevated as investors price in persistent inflation risks, geopolitical tensions affecting oil prices, and uncertainty around upcoming Federal Reserve leadership changes.
• What does the SEC–CFTC agreement mean for crypto?
  The new memorandum of understanding aims to coordinate oversight and clarify rules for digital assets, potentially reducing regulatory conflicts and compliance uncertainty.
• Why is the 20 million BTC milestone important?
  Reaching 20 million mined coins means over 95% of bitcoin’s fixed supply already exists, reinforcing its scarcity as the remaining coins will be issued slowly over the next century.
• What is Mastercard’s new crypto partner program?
  Mastercard’s initiative brings together more than 85 crypto and fintech firms to expand blockchain-based payments, remittances, and settlement infrastructure globally.