Typical Wall Street. Their tune changes when they see massive profits that could have been made, had they only bought in a week ago. So, to please their customers and stay relevant, they take a bold step.
Governments are powerful. It's true that they could ultimately crush Bitcoin if they really wanted to. And maybe some of the smaller countries will do just that in order to tighten the grip on their people. But there's too much money in Bitcoin now, that most government (like Wall Street) would rather partake in the buzz and try to capitalize on the profits, rather than dissolve the mighty Bitcoin.
I completely agree in how they see profits and want in. That said though, more interest in the platform only increases it's legitimacy. This could be especially good for public figures whose interest in Bitcoin causes their followers to also develop an interest as well. I am concerned with regulation as interest increases though, so hopefully, more mainstream investors does not mean more mainstream rules.
Government has zero power, people always have more power then them.
For example, I recently heard a BItcoin conspiracy theory that stated they are going to destroy Bitcoin from the inside out. Not going to happen, if anything they (for example: Chinese Mining Corporations) will try to take Bitcoin over for themselves. This will inevitably increase the value of Bitcoin so you should buy it anyway before government starts moving in the money and control. If Bitcoin power centralizes government is going to have easier excess to those who control Bitcoin. Though, Bitcoin could potentially lose some freedom because of potential future government involvement and following regulations, it does matter.
Changes in regulation of bitcoin will only lead to mainstream acceptance of the Bitcoin and these changes will come and bring a new and stellar rise to epic value for Bitcoin. Even if you had to pay taxes on Bitcoin in the future, its value would still increase a thousandfold so that it is a net gain regardless.
TLDR; Do not give in to the FUD!
That is my hope as well. Their failure to act soon enough may eliminate their ability to act at all, at least that is what I would like to believe. :)
Wall st. At its finest. In reality, if they crush one, another will pop up. There is no stopping decentralization. People will always remain triumphant in the face of greedy governments. It's history!