Regulatory agencies including the SEC, OCC, FDIC, and Federal Reserve are easing restrictions that previously limited banks from using blockchain technology, enabling innovations such as tokenized treasuries.

Las Vegas

A major Bitcoin event in Las Vegas brought together prominent figures from the Trump administration, including Vice President J.D. Vance and crypto advisor David Sachs, alongside industry leaders like Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev and Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino. The discussions focused on advancing the US dollar onto blockchain platforms, highlighting stablecoins backed by treasuries which surpassed $28 trillion in transactions last year, outpacing traditional payment networks like Visa and MasterCard.

Regulatory agencies including the SEC, OCC, FDIC, and Federal Reserve are easing restrictions that previously limited banks from using blockchain technology, enabling innovations such as tokenized treasuries. Robinhood emphasized stablecoins' potential to facilitate 24/7 equities trading and simplify weekend settlements, while Tether highlighted blockchain's capacity to reach underserved regions globally. The event underscored a strategic push to integrate digital assets into the core US economic framework amidst ongoing debates about ethics and crypto holdings within the administration.

Robinhood, Congress agree the dollar belongs on the blockchain

The battle for the future of money is playing out on the Las Vegas Strip this week. The biggest names from the Trump White House, including Vice President J.D. Vance, Don and Eric Trump, and crypto czar David Sachs, are here at Bitcoin's flagship event as the administration leans into crypto as a core economic strategy. Bitcoin is surging back toward its all-time high, fueled by ETF inflows, debt fears after Moody's downgrade, and a push to bring the dollar online. ETF funds now hold $134 billion. Stablecoins, backed by treasuries, cleared $28 trillion last year, outpacing Visa and MasterCard. And the shift comes amid a regulatory reset, with the SEC, OCC, FDIC and Fed rolling back barriers that once blocked banks from using blockchain, paving the way for tokenized treasuries and other real-world assets. White House Digital Assets Council Chair Beau Hines told me stablecoins could unlock trillions in demand for U.S. debt. We're creating fair market competition here in the United States. I think there's going to be a lot of competitors in this space. We've already seen a lot of the traditional financial institutions come out and say that they're going to create their own stablecoins. So I think it's a very exciting time for the space. But the push comes as ethics questions grow over Trump's own crypto holdings, including four tokens that funnel up to 80% of profits to his businesses. And while Bitcoin dominates headlines, the infrastructure push is elsewhere. Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev says stablecoins could power 24-7 equities trading. Since we allow customers to trade crypto, if there's a huge crypto price movement that leads to a lot of volume over the weekend, that involves us sending U.S. dollars to our counterparties over the weekend. Or we settle in stablecoin, which is much simpler, secure and just runs around the clock. Not everyone is a trading platform, but you can imagine anyone in need of sending money from bank to bank over weekends will have a huge benefit from using stablecoin and crypto technology. And Tether CEO Paolo Arduano says they're building blockchain infrastructure to replace Swift, Stripe, even commercial banks. JP Morgan will never go in a street in Africa in a small village and teach about how to use their stablecoin. That's what you do every single day. That's the difference. We work with the word of mouth. We work proving that our technology works in the smallest, most remote villages in Africa. If it works there, it can work anywhere else. So this week isn't just about Bitcoin, it's about who builds the next financial ramp.

President Trump announced that he is suing the publisher and owner of the Wall Street Journal, media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, and others in a $10 billion libel lawsuit.

Washington

Trump sues WSJ publisher, Rupert Murdoch over Epstein letter story

The U.S. ambassador to Turkey, who also serves as the special envoy for Syria, has just announced a new ceasefire deal between Israel and Syria. CBS News senior national security correspondent Charlie D'Agata reports.

Damascus

Israel, Syria reach ceasefire agreement, U.S. Envoy announces

Ukraine has appointed a new prime minister, 39-year-old Yulia Svyrydenko, as part of a sweeping government reshuffle announced by President Volodymyr Zelenkskyy. This marks the most significant political shift since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Yulia Svyrydenko takes charge as Ukraine's new prime minister

Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, currently on trial at the Supreme Court, has been ordered to wear an electronic ankle monitor. Bolsonaro is accused of leading an alleged attempt to stage a coup to overturn the 2022 election.

Rio de Janeiro

Brazil's Bolsonaro ordered to wear ankle monitor

At least three deputies were killed after an explosion at a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department training facility, officials said. Attorney General Pam Bondi said federal agents were at the scene.

Los Angeles

Three killed in explosion at L.A. County Sheriff's Department facility

The UK's Labour Party has passed a landmark electoral reform, aligning with Scotland and Wales in lowering the voting age from 18 to 16. The change fulfills a key promise by the ruling party but garnered criticism from the Conservative Party.

London

UK lowers voting age from 18 to 16 in historic electoral reform

The U.S. House of Representatives approved a rescissions package to slash $9 billion in foreign aid and public broadcasting funding, sending the bill to President Donald Trump's desk.

U.S. House passes $9 billion cut to foreign aid, public broadcasting

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday night ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi to help facilitate the release of grand jury transcripts related to Jeffrey Epstein as the administration faces pressure to share more materials on the case.

Trump orders release of Epstein-related grand jury transcripts

The European Union has agreed to impose a new round of sanctions against Russia, targeting the country's energy and financial sectors in a bid to tighten the screws on the Kremlin's war machine and force a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine.

Moscow

EU imposes new sanctions on Russia's oil and banks

U.S. President Donald Trump denies writing a letter signed 'Donald' beneath a nude sketch in Jeffrey Epstein’s 50th birthday album, details of which were published by the Wall Street Journal. The letter is now under review by the U.S. Justice Department.

Trump denies writing crude letter to Jeffrey Epstein

Following a call with President Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a rare apology, saying the only Catholic church in Gaza was hit by stray ammunition. The blast killed three civilians. Ramy Inocencio reports.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Netanyahu apologizes for deadly strike on Catholic church in Gaza

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has suggested that TSA may soon end its restrictions on liquids in carry-on bags.

TSA may eliminate liquid restrictions on planes

A Tennessee judge on Thursday set Kilmar Abrego Garcia's criminal trial date for January 27, 2026. Abrego Garcia is facing human smuggling charges. CBS News justice correspondent Scott MacFarlane reports.

Tennessee

Judge sets Kilmar Abrego Garcia's criminal trial date for January 2026

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday that President Trump has been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency.

Trump diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency

Black-box recording indicates that the flight's captain switched off fuel flow to both engines of the recently crashed Air India airplane, according to media reports on Wednesday, citing preliminary U.S. assessment of evidence.

Ahmedabad

Flight captain switched off fuel flow to engines in Air India crash

The Department of Justice has fired Maurene Comey, a federal prosecutor and the daughter of ex-FBI director James Comey. This comes as the White House tries to mitigate demands for the Jeffrey Epstein files to be released.

DOJ fires Maurene Comey, who helped prosecute Jeffrey Epstein

The Senate approved a $9.4 billion rescissions request, sending it back to the House of Representatives for approval.

Senate approves spending cuts to foreign aid, public broadcasting

Israel has faced international condemnation over its three days of airstrikes in Syria. The European Union and the United Nations have called for a return to calm, while Iran has urged countries in the region to respond against Israel.

World reacts to Israeli attacks on Syria’s Damascus

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz makes his first state visit to the United Kingdom to sign a historic defence cooperation treaty—the first of its kind between Germany and Britain since the Second World War. The agreement includes plans for joint defence efforts, boosting economic collaboration, and tackling illegal migration.

Germany and UK seal historic defence pact

Donald Trump says American-made weapons bought by NATO are being shipped to Ukraine. Trump's also threatening sanctions, saying his aim is to force Putin to negotiate an end to the war. But with Ukraine under nightly attack, there’s scepticism over whether he'll achieve anything.

U.S. ships NATO purchased Patriot missiles to Ukraine

Syria condemns Israel for fatal strikes on several government buildings in Damascus. The escalation threatens to disrupt new U.S.-brokered security talks between Israel and Syria, with both sides expressing concerns over stability in the region.

Israeli airstrikes on Syria threaten security talks

U.S. President Donald Trump is still dealing with fallout from his own supporters over his administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. CBS News Department of Justice reporter Jake Rosen has more.

Trump says Epstein conspiracy theory is hoax started by Democrats

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said that she spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and that the two had agreed to strengthen trade collaboration, particularly in light of the tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump set to go in effect on August 1.

Mexico City

Global Tariffs

Mexico plans to strengthen trade with Canada

Former President Barack Obama joined his wife, former first lady Michelle Obama, on her latest podcast episode with her brother Craig Robinson to address divorce rumors.

Obamas address divorce rumors on Michelle’s podcast

Israel struck Syrian military targets as well as central Damascus on Wednesday (July 16) as it continued its campaign to protect Druze minority communities in southern Syria.

Israel strikes Damascus as fighting rages in southern Syria

U.S. ambassador Mike Huckabee's appearance at Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial follows President Trump's call for Israel to throw out the case or pardon the Israeli prime minister.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

U.S. ambassador attends Netanyahu trial to show support from Trump

President Donald Trump on Tuesday said the U.S. would impose a 19% tariff on goods from Indonesia under a new agreement with the Southeast Asian country and more deals were in the works as he continued to press for what he views as better terms with trading partners.

Trump eyes more trade deals soon as EU readies retaliation

At least 20 Palestinians were killed on Wednesday (July 16) at an aid distribution site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, in what the U.S.-backed group said was a crowd surge instigated by armed agitators. This video contains graphic images.

Crush at Gaza aid site kills at least 20, GHF blames agitators

Police in Los Angeles have arrested a 22-year-old suspect in the double homicide of American Idol executive Robin Kaye and her husband, Thomas Deluca. The couple, both 70 years old, was found shot to death in their home earlier this week.

Encino

Police make arrest in murders of American Idol executive, husband

Streaming shows dominated nominations for the 2025 Emmy Awards. "Severance" earned the most series nominations with 27. Meanwhile, "The Studio" earned the most-ever nominations for a debut comedy series with 23.