U.S. President Donald Trump has signed off on a congressional resolution that erases a contentious IRS rule aimed at decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols.

Pakistan is considering using its surplus electricity to power bitcoin mining and artificial intelligence (AI) data centers.

Cryptocurrency exchange HashKey has received regulatory approval to offer crypto staking services in Hong Kong after receiving a license from the  Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) on April 10.

Top stories in the Crypto Roundup today:

• Trump Signs Resolution Overturning IRS DeFi Rule
• Pakistan Eyes Allocating Surplus Energy to Bitcoin Mining 
• HashKey Gets Green Light in Hong Kong to Offer Ethereum Staking Services

Trump Signs Resolution Overturning IRS DeFi Rule

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed off on a congressional resolution that erases a contentious IRS rule aimed at decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols.

The overturned rule, approved in the waning days of the Biden administration, would have treated DeFi platforms as brokers, requiring them to track and report user activity to the tax agency. Critics said the measure was unworkable for decentralized systems, which lack the central control typical of traditional financial intermediaries.

Now, with the IRS regulation reversed under the Congressional Review Act—a process that not only voids the rule but also blocks the agency from issuing a similar one in the future—DeFi developers and users no longer face looming compliance hurdles. 

The repeal passed both the House and Senate with broad bipartisan support, underscoring the growing influence of crypto interests in Washington.

Pakistan Eyes Allocating Surplus Energy to Bitcoin Mining

Pakistan is considering using its surplus electricity to power bitcoin mining and artificial intelligence (AI) data centers.

Government officials are in discussions with several mining firms to deploy operations in areas with underused power capacity, according to the Pakistan Crypto Council. The plan would redirect idle electricity—often generated in solar-rich regions—into revenue-generating digital infrastructure.

Despite lacking a clear regulatory framework, Pakistan has already emerged as one of the top 10 crypto-adopting countries, with an estimated 15 to 20 million users and recently saw Binance founder Changpeng Zhao sign on as a strategic advisor to the Council.

HashKey Gets Green Light in Hong Kong to Offer Ethereum Staking Services

Cryptocurrency exchange HashKey has received regulatory approval to offer crypto staking services in Hong Kong after receiving a license from the  Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) on April 10.

The license allows HashKey to roll out Ethereum staking services for retail and institutional clients. It follows the SFC’s recent guidance for staking activity on licensed virtual asset trading platforms and fund managers.

Staking is a way to earn rewards for helping to secure proof-of-stake blockchains like Ethereum. HashKey’s approval means ETF holders in Hong Kong may soon have a way to generate passive income on top of ether price exposure—a feature still off-limits for U.S. investors.

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