In return for their services, they take a small cut of each transaction’s value — usually less than 1%.
As the popularity of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin explode, the Biden administration is laying the groundwork for heavier regulation, and that could spark a big fight in Congress. Cryptocurrency is at a crossroads. As its popularity explodes and bitcoin hovers near a record high, the Biden administration is laying the groundwork for heavier regulation. That could set up a fight in Congress. As NPR's David Gura reports, a small group of lawmakers is worried the U.S. could miss out on an opportunity to be a leader in a financial revolution.

— In a 1,500-word memo obtained by The New York Times over the weekend, the company’s top lobbyist, Nick Clegg, sought to rebut Haugen’s allegations ahead of her unveiling in an episode of “60 Minutes” on Sunday night. “Social media has had a big impact on society in recent years, and Facebook is often a place where much of this debate plays out,” he said in the memo, in which he called Haugen’s impending accusations, which included blaming Facebook for January’s insurrection at the Capitol, “misleading.” He wrote that “what evidence there is simply does not support the idea that Facebook, or social media more generally, is the primary cause of polarization.”
Though both assets posted a quick recovery, the event has made a significant impact on the market. Bitcoin retraced by 7.4% a few hours after making a new all-time high at $67,000.