Ethereum is set to implement its most consequential software upgrade since 2022’s Merge, as developers prepare to activate the Pectra update on Wednesday.

Defense attorneys for Samourai Wallet are calling for the case against its co-founders to be thrown out, accusing federal prosecutors of withholding evidence that could have changed the outcome of pretrial decisions.

A long-anticipated effort to bring clarity to how the U.S. regulates cryptocurrencies took a step forward Monday with House lawmakers unveiling a new draft bill focused on digital asset market structure.

Top stories in the Crypto Roundup today:

• Ethereum Prepares for Major Upgrade With Pectra, Its Biggest Change Since the Merge
• Solana Fixes Zero-Day Bug That Could Have Allowed Unlimited Token Minting
• U.S. Lawmakers Release Crypto Market Structure Bill to Clarify Regulatory Oversight

Ethereum Prepares for Major Upgrade With Pectra, Its Biggest Change Since the Merge

Ethereum is set to implement its most consequential software upgrade since 2022’s Merge, as developers prepare to activate the Pectra update on Wednesday.

The upgrade, combining changes to both Ethereum’s consensus and execution layers, introduces 11 new Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) aimed at making the network easier to use and operate. These include tools for users and validators alike.

A central component of Pectra is EIP-7702, which brings smart contract functionality to Ethereum wallets. This step moves the network closer to “account abstraction”—a design shift that lets users perform advanced actions like paying gas fees in tokens other than ETH, a move expected to reduce friction for non-technical users.

Another major change is EIP-7251, which increases the maximum amount of ETH a validator can stake from 32 to 2,048. For staking operators, this means simplified operations and faster validator deployment.

Ethereum developers have been working toward Pectra for years. Originally expected in 2024, the launch was delayed by multiple bugs discovered during testnet trials, requiring three separate rounds of testing before developers gave the green light.

Samourai Wallet Lawyers Accuse DOJ of Hiding Key Evidence, Seek Dismissal of Charges

Defense attorneys for Samourai Wallet are calling for the case against its co-founders to be thrown out, accusing federal prosecutors of withholding evidence that could have changed the outcome of pretrial decisions.

In a Monday court filing, Samourai’s lawyers said that six months before prosecutors charged Keonne Rodriguez and William Hill with conspiracy to commit money laundering and operating an unlicensed money transmission business, they were told by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) that Samourai Wallet didn’t require a license under U.S. regulations.

The defense claims the government failed to disclose that opinion to the court or to them until April 1, when they submitted a formal request for evidence suggesting the defendants didn’t need a license. 

“The fact that FinCEN took the same position regarding Samourai Wallet and conveyed it to these same prosecutors, and that the prosecutors nonetheless charged the Defendants with committing a crime is shocking,” the lawyers wrote in their filing.

If the case moves forward, the next hearing is scheduled for July 22 in the Southern District of New York.

U.S. Lawmakers Release Crypto Market Structure Bill to Clarify Regulatory Oversight

A long-anticipated effort to bring clarity to how the U.S. regulates cryptocurrencies took a step forward Monday with House lawmakers unveiling a new draft bill focused on digital asset market structure.

The draft, released jointly by the House Financial Services and Agriculture Committees, outlines how crypto firms could register with either the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), depending on the nature of the assets they offer or trade. 

The goal, according to its authors, is to close longstanding regulatory gaps and settle turf disputes between agencies.

“Today marks the first step in advancing a comprehensive framework that protects consumers, fosters innovation, and closes regulatory gaps,” said Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson, chair of the House Agriculture Committee.

Built on the foundation of last session’s Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act (FIT21), the bill proposes clearer rules for public disclosures by crypto projects and would allow developers to raise capital under the SEC’s purview, or register with the CFTC to operate trading platforms for digital commodities.

The bill will be the focus of a joint hearing Tuesday between the digital asset subcommittees of both House panels. It lands as lawmakers also weigh legislation on stablecoins, with House and Senate versions already through committee. Industry groups have urged the Senate to act on its bill, the GENIUS Act, as momentum builds for a broader U.S. crypto framework.

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