The Australian Senate committee has endorsed a proposal to regulate crypto platforms and custody services under the financial-services regime. The proposed bill would require operators to hold an Australian Financial Services Licence and comply with safeguarding standards. Bitcoin's price surged over the weekend due to rising tensions in the Middle East, pushing oil prices up. KRAKacquisition Corp., a SPAC backed by Kraken, aims to acquire a target worth up to $10 billion. The U.S. Treasury Department has sanctioned individuals and entities involved in a North Korean scheme that funneled millions of dollars into Bitcoin. The crypto lobby has already spent $271 million on the 2026 midterms.