President Trump signed an executive order this week allowing cryptocurrencies, alongside private equity and real estate, to be included in 401(k) retirement plans. The move directs the Department of Labor to revise ERISA rules to permit broader self-directed investment options, potentially opening access to nearly $9 trillion in defined-contribution assets. Supporters argue the policy could democratize access to alternative investments, while critics warn it could expose retirement savers to volatile markets. The order is set to trigger formal rulemaking later this year, with the SEC and DOL jointly overseeing implementation.

SEC Settles with Ripple, Ends Long-Running Legal Dispute

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has ended its years-long lawsuit against Ripple Labs, with the company agreeing to pay a $125 million civil penalty. The settlement closes one of the most closely watched enforcement cases in crypto, in which a federal court previously ruled that Ripple’s institutional sales of XRP violated securities laws, while secondary market sales did not. The resolution removes a major legal overhang for XRP and comes amid a broader shift in the SEC’s approach to digital asset regulation.

Metallicus and DaLand Partner to Bring Stablecoins to the Core

Metallicus announced a new partnership with DaLand CUSO this week, aimed at helping credit unions and community banks integrate stablecoins and digital assets directly into their core systems. The collaboration combines DaLand’s Coin2Core TradFi/DeFi bridge with Metallicus’ regulated blockchain infrastructure, enabling institutions to issue branded stablecoins, custody digital assets, and process real-time payments, all without leaving their existing banking environment.

Bitcoin ETF Flow

Bitcoin ETFs started the week in the red, with net outflows of 323.5 million dollars on Monday and 196.2 million dollars on Tuesday as BlackRock and Fidelity both posted withdrawals. Sentiment turned midweek, bringing 91.6 million dollars of inflows on Wednesday and 277.4 million dollars on Thursday, helped by renewed buying in IBIT and steady contributions from several smaller issuers. The four‑day stretch still finished mixed, but the late‑week rebound suggested institutions were selectively re‑adding exposure.

Ethereum ETF Flows

Ethereum ETFs saw heavy redemptions to begin the week, led by a 465.1 million dollar outflow on Monday as several issuers reported withdrawals. Flows flipped positive after that, with 73.3 million dollars on Tuesday, 35.1 million dollars on Wednesday, and a strong 222.3 million dollars on Thursday driven by BlackRock, Fidelity and Bitwise products. The late surge narrowed the weekly deficit and underscored ongoing allocator interest in ETH after recent regulatory progress.

Weekly Top Gainers (Coins Available on Metal Pay)

LOAN Protocol (LOAN) led the market with a 111.3 percent weekly gain as users chased newly live rewards for lending and borrowing on the XPR Network. (XPR) Network followed with a 38.3 percent rise. Metal Blockchain (METAL) climbed 24.4 percent amid steady ecosystem news, while Ethereum added 18.8 percent and Litecoin gained 14 percent to round out the week’s leaders.

These crypto currencies, and more, available on Metal Pay.