US lawmakers have advanced a crypto tax proposal that notably excludes a Bitcoin-specific exemption, indicating a stricter regulatory environment for digital assets. The Digital Asset PARITY Act draft introduces limited tax relief for certain stablecoin transactions under $200 while clarifying that income from staking and lending will be taxed annually based on fair market value. This move has sparked criticism from Bitcoin advocates, highlighting tensions as the U.S. seeks to establish clearer crypto market regulations.

In a separate development, Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) has made a significant $600 million investment in Polymarket, reinforcing its commitment to prediction markets despite increasing regulatory scrutiny. This follows ICE’s earlier pledge of up to $2 billion, marking a substantial institutional interest in this emerging sector.

Retail investors are emerging as key players in the crypto space, with 80% of Strategy’s “Stretch” perpetual preferred shares owned by this demographic. This trend underscores a sustained interest in Bitcoin exposure, even amid price volatility, suggesting that retail sentiment may play a crucial role in future market dynamics.

Source: cointelegraph.com