Sander Lutz
Sander is a senior writer at Decrypt reporting on crypto policy from the White House. He covers crypto's impact on politics, law, and culture. Sander graduated from UC Berkeley and holds a masters in history from Cambridge. Disclosure: No significant crypto holdings.
48 articles
U.S. Treasury Department Sanctions 134 Crypto Wallets Linked to ISIS
The U.S. Treasury Department has sanctioned 134 cryptocurrency wallets associated with ISIS-K, including 131 on the Tron blockchain, as reported by Decrypt. Tether has frozen assets from these wallets, which have received over $1.4 million in funds since 2023.
4 days ago·Decrypt·Reported by Sander Lutz
FBI Director Kash Patel Discloses Stock Purchase in Bitcoin Firm Amid Market Decline
FBI Director Kash Patel disclosed a stock purchase in Bitcoin firm Strategy, which has dropped 44% since his investment. The transaction was revealed months after its completion, leading to significant losses for Patel. This report is based on information from Decrypt.
4 days ago·Decrypt·Reported by Sander Lutz
Ethereum Institutional Nonprofit Aims to Streamline Wall Street Adoption
Ethereum Institutional, a new nonprofit backed by BitMine and Joe Lubin, launches to support Wall Street's adoption of Ethereum infrastructure. This initiative follows the recent establishment of another Ethereum-focused nonprofit, Ethlabs, as the Ethereum Foundation faces significant challenges, according to Decrypt.
5 days ago·Decrypt·Reported by Sander Lutz
Kalshi Sports Markets Banned in Michigan Due to Temporary Restraining Order
A Michigan judge has issued a temporary restraining order barring Kalshi from offering sports betting markets in the state for 14 days. The ruling highlights regulatory tensions over whether prediction markets constitute illegal gambling, as reported by Decrypt.
6 days ago·Decrypt·Reported by Sander Lutz
Supreme Court Ruling Allows Trump to Dismiss SEC, CFTC Commissioners
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that President Donald Trump can fire commissioners of key regulatory agencies like the SEC and CFTC at will. This decision, which overturns nearly a century of precedent, could influence ongoing negotiations on crypto regulation, according to Decrypt.
7 days ago·Decrypt·Reported by Sander Lutz
Spanish Regulator Confirms No Extensions for EU Crypto Deadline Impacting Binance
Spain's securities regulator has stated there will be no extensions to the EU's July 1 deadline for crypto firms to obtain a MiCA license, affecting Binance, which remains unlicensed. This news comes from a report by Decrypt.
last week·Decrypt·Reported by Sander Lutz
Polymarket to Refund Users Following $3 Million Cybersecurity Breach
Polymarket confirms it will refund affected users after hackers exploited a vulnerability, stealing about $3 million in cryptocurrency. The platform suffered two security incidents within two months, according to a report by Decrypt.
2 weeks ago·Decrypt·Reported by Sander Lutz
Kalshi Sues Illinois Over New Tax on Sports-Related Prediction Markets
Kalshi has filed a lawsuit against the state of Illinois in response to a recently enacted tax on sports-related prediction markets. The lawsuit, stemming from a new 15% tax scheduled to take effect on July 1, highlights ongoing tensions between states and federal regulators regarding the classification of such markets as gambling, as reported by Decrypt.
2 weeks ago·Decrypt·Reported by Sander Lutz
Trump Cancels Signing of Housing Bill with CBDC Ban, Calls It 'Minor Importance'
President Donald Trump canceled the signing of a bipartisan housing bill that includes a ban on U.S. central bank digital currency. He stated he would only sign the bill after Congress passes another controversial voting rights bill, as reported by Decrypt.
2 weeks ago·Decrypt·Reported by Sander Lutz
Catholic Leaders Oppose Crypto Clarity Act Over Human Trafficking Concerns
A coalition of 82 Catholic leaders expressed opposition to a provision in the Clarity Act that protects decentralized software developers, which they claim may inadvertently enable human trafficking. The warning, conveyed in a letter to Senate leaders, reflects growing criticism from various sectors against the legislation, as reported by Decrypt.
2 weeks ago·Decrypt·Reported by Sander Lutz
Crypto Industry Urges Congress to Pass New Tax Bill
The crypto industry calls on Congress to approve a tax bill that would exempt mining and staking rewards from taxable income, according to Decrypt. Trade groups warn that modifications to the bill could jeopardize its passage, as skepticism from House Democrats grows ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.
2 weeks ago·Decrypt·Reported by Sander Lutz
Kentucky Accuses Kalshi and Polymarket of Illegal Sports Betting
Kentucky has filed a lawsuit against prediction market platforms Kalshi and Polymarket, alleging they are operating illegal sports betting services. The state’s attorney general argues that these platforms are circumventing gambling regulations, a claim the platforms dispute by citing federal oversight from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), according to Decrypt.
3 weeks ago·Decrypt·Reported by Sander Lutz
Jerome Powell Supports New Fed Stablecoin Regulations While Kevin Warsh Abstains
The Federal Reserve has proposed new rules requiring U.S. crypto firms to verify customers of stablecoins, with support from former Fed Chair Jerome Powell. However, current Chair Kevin Warsh abstained from voting on the proposal without providing an explanation, as reported by Decrypt.
3 weeks ago·Decrypt·Reported by Sander Lutz
Michigan Judge Rules Sports Prediction Markets Outside CFTC Authority
A Michigan federal judge has ruled that sports prediction markets, specifically those operated by Polymarket, are not regulated as swaps under the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's jurisdiction. The ruling, which favors state regulators, dismisses Polymarket's claims and advances the case to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, according to Decrypt.
3 weeks ago·Decrypt·Reported by Sander Lutz
Sam Bankman-Fried Loses Appeal as Court Upholds Fraud Conviction
A federal appeals court has unanimously upheld Sam Bankman-Fried’s fraud conviction and 25-year sentence, dismissing his claims that FTX was solvent enough to repay customers. The decision adds to the legal troubles facing the disgraced FTX founder, as reported by Decrypt.
3 weeks ago·Decrypt·Reported by Sander Lutz
CFTC Proposes Ban on Prediction Markets Related to Ousting Foreign Leaders
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) proposes new rules banning prediction markets linked to scenarios involving war or assassination, including the ousting of foreign leaders. The proposed regulations aim to govern a controversial sector that has seen significant trading volume on platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi, according to Decrypt.
4 weeks ago·Decrypt·Reported by Sander Lutz
House Committee Hearing Reveals Divisions Over Crypto Tax Bills
During a recent House hearing, disagreements emerged over six proposed GOP crypto tax bills, as reported by Decrypt. Democrats raised concerns about potential tax exemptions for staking and mining rewards, advocating for a more cautious approach to crypto legislation ahead of the midterm elections.
4 weeks ago·Decrypt·Reported by Sander Lutz
Congress Discusses Seven New Crypto Tax Bills Related to Staking
On June 5, 2026, House Republicans unveil new crypto tax legislation addressing staking rewards and gas fees, according to Decrypt. The proposals include exemptions for staking rewards from taxable income and a de minimis exemption for minor transaction fees, although they do not establish broader exemptions for regular crypto purchases.
last month·Decrypt·Reported by Sander Lutz
