Today in crypto, US-first Dogecoin and XRP ETFs hugely outpaced analyst expectations, the US and UK signed an agreement to collaborate on AI, nuclear energy, telecom and quantum technology, and Australia granted exemptions for stablecoin distributors.
Rex-Osprey’s XRP, DOGE ETFs ‘no slouch’ on debut with $54M volume
Investors piled into the first US-based Dogecoin (DOGE) and XRP (XRP) exchange-traded funds on their debut trading day on Thursday, with Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas saying the new crypto funds were “no slouch,” together seeing $54.7 million in trades over the day, while most new ETFs see around $1 million.
REX Shares and Osprey Funds jointly issued REX-Osprey XRP ETF (XRPR) saw $37.7 million in volume on the day, while their REX-Osprey DOGE ETF (DOJE) finished with $17 million in volume traded.
Both were early gainers with millions traded in their first hours on the market. Balchunas said XRPR had the “biggest day one” volume “of any 2025 launch,” while DOJE was “shockingly solid” early on.
He added the volumes were a “good sign for the onslaught” of crypto-related ETFs that are awaiting regulatory approval to launch, as asset managers have lined up to create ETFs from speculative altcoins or novel services like crypto staking.
US, UK to collaborate on AI, quantum computing, nuclear energy development
The United States and the United Kingdom signed a memorandum of understanding on Thursday to jointly develop artificial intelligence, nuclear energy, telecommunications and quantum computing for a wide range of uses, including space travel, military defense, targeted biomedical drugs and medical procedures.
The MOU, which is not legally binding and changes no existing agreements between the two countries, proposes joint research initiatives between a host of government departments and agencies in both countries to study these emerging technologies.
The two countries will form a task group to develop quantum computing hardware, software, algorithms and interoperability standards, according to the MOU.
Quantum computing has become a high-interest topic in the crypto community, as sufficiently powerful quantum computers could crack modern encryption standards that are central to crypto’s very existence.
The UK and US will also explore building 6G mobile telecommunications networks as part of the technological research and development effort.
ASIC eases licensing rules for stablecoin distributors in Australia
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has introduced licensing exemptions for intermediaries involved in the distribution of stablecoins issued by licensed entities.
Under the newly published ASIC Corporations (Stablecoin Distribution Exemption) Instrument 2025/631, intermediaries distributing a stablecoin issued by an Australian financial services (AFS) licensee are no longer required to hold their own AFS, market or clearing and settlement facility licenses.
“ASIC is committed to supporting responsible innovation in the rapidly evolving digital assets space, while ensuring important consumer protections are in place by having eligible stablecoins issued under an AFS licence,” the regulator said in a Thursday announcement.
According to ASIC, the exemption only applies to stablecoins classified as financial products under the current Corporations Act and issued by eligible AFS-licensed entities.
The exemption covers a range of financial services related to secondary stablecoin distribution, including providing general advice, making a market, dealing in (but not issuing) the stablecoin and custodial services.
