Hageman Teases Cynthia Lummis Candidacy With ‘Soon’ Video

Wyoming Representative Harriet Hageman posted a quick, mysterious video days after Senator Cynthia Lummis said she will not run again, sparking early speculation about a 2026 Senate candidacy.

Hageman's first post in months, a five-second film on X, garnered political and crypto policy attention.

Hageman has not disclosed any plans, but her timing has sparked discussions about who could succeed one of Congress's most important digital asset regulators.

The Bank of Russia plans strict crypto regulation and new penalties by 2026

The Bank of Russia plans to unify Russia's cryptocurrency laws by mid-2026 and introduce new sanctions for illicit market participation in 2027.

The plan, released on December 23, is one of the clearest signs that the central bank is shifting from years of rejection to closely regulated regulation rather than outright banning.

Qualified and non-qualified investors could buy cryptocurrencies under the government's proposal, but under separate terms.

After completing a knowledge test, non-qualified investors could only buy the most liquid cryptocurrencies.

Through one intermediary, their annual purchases would be limited to 300,000 rubles, or $3,800.

Qualified investors could acquire any cryptocurrency except anonymous tokens that hide transaction data.

New Bill Would Ban Local Crypto Taxes in Arizona

A trio of measures proposed by State Senator Wendy Rogers seeks to limit how cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology can be taxed at the state and local levels in Arizona.

Two measures and a constitutional resolution filed with the Arizona Senate late last week are the focus.

Regulatory Compliance Issues Force Bybit Out of Japan in 2026

To comply with local legislation, Bybit will stop services for Japanese residents and gradually restrict account access starting in 2026.

The world's second-largest exchange by trading volume alerted impacted individuals via email and advised anyone who disagree with the classification to pass Identity Verification Level 2 by January 22, 2026, or risk becoming Japanese residents.

The move follows months of regulatory pressure from Japan's Financial Services Agency, which has increased surveillance of unlicensed crypto sites.

In October, Bybit paused new Japanese user registrations to analyze local regulatory requirements and assess compliance with Japanese standards.