The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) will conduct on-site inspections and desk-based reviews of authorized crypto asset service providers from the second half of 2026 through mid-2027 as part of ESMA's EU-wide supervisory action examining digital resilience and custody infrastructure.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission issued guidance telling prediction market platforms under its oversight to stop displaying prices using American-style gambling odds (moneyline format), as the regulator seeks to distinguish regulated derivatives markets from sports betting operations amid legal challenges.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission agreed to pay $150,000 in legal fees to settle Coinbase's 2024 Freedom of Information Act lawsuit seeking internal documents from the agency's cryptocurrency crackdown under former Chair Gary Gensler, including text messages the SEC admitted were destroyed.
The United States missed the July 18, 2026 deadline to implement its GENIUS Act while the CLARITY Act stalls, as Europe's MiCA regulations result in only 280 of approximately 2,800 crypto firms gaining authorization. South Africa's Reserve Bank continues developing regulations for its 8 million crypto traders.
U.S. regulators reached the GENIUS Act's one-year rulemaking deadline on Saturday without issuing the final regulations needed to fully implement the federal stablecoin framework signed into law by President Trump in July 2025.
Stablecoin issuer Circle received final regulatory approval from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish a national trust bank, marking a landmark moment for cryptocurrency regulation. The company's shares jumped 7-8% following the announcement.
The CFTC and SEC issued a joint request for comment on clarifying definitions of 'swaps' and 'security-based swaps,' including for perpetual futures and event contracts, the same day CME Group announced plans to sue the CFTC over approval of perpetual futures for Kalshi and Coinbase.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission opened public comment on proposed rules for prediction markets that would prohibit contracts dependent on war, assassination, or the ouster of foreign leaders, while also banning certain sports prop bets.
CFTC Chair Michael Selig stated the agency is correcting what he called a flawed enforcement action against Gemini Space Station, the Winklevoss brothers' crypto exchange, alleging the case represented political 'lawfare' and attempting to undo a 2025 settlement.
Coinbase removed New York Attorney General's prediction markets lawsuit from state to federal court, setting up a jurisdictional fight over CFTC authority versus state gambling laws. The move follows New York's lawsuit against Coinbase and Gemini over alleged illegal prediction market gambling.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission debuted a new podcast with crypto regulation featured prominently in the first episode. Commissioner Hester Peirce discussed the technology and regulatory approach, signaling crypto as a top priority for the agency in 2026.
The U.S. SEC issued new guidance indicating that certain user-facing interfaces used in crypto securities trading may not need to register as broker-dealers if they allow users to transact using their own wallets without intermediation.
The ECB endorsed the EU's proposal to centralize cryptocurrency supervision under the Paris-based ESMA watchdog, warning that ESMA must receive adequate staffing and funding with a phased transition to avoid disruption.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission announced five members for its innovation task force focused on crypto, AI, and prediction market rules as the agency expands regulatory work while the CLARITY Act awaits Senate action.
A federal judge ordered Arizona not to bring enforcement actions under state law against prediction market Kalshi, at least temporarily, as DOJ and CFTC argue the platform's contracts are federally regulated swaps rather than state-level gambling.
The SEC acknowledged that some past enforcement actions against cryptocurrency companies lacked clear investor benefit and misinterpreted federal securities laws, marking a significant shift in regulatory approach under Chair Paul Atkins.
The SEC's proposed safe harbor framework for crypto fundraising and startup exemptions has moved to the White House Office of Management and Budget for review, with SEC Chair Paul Atkins indicating the proposal will be released 'shortly.'
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission filed lawsuits against Illinois, Arizona, and Connecticut, asserting exclusive federal jurisdiction over prediction markets under the Commodity Exchange Act. The suits challenge state cease-and-desist orders against prediction market operators.
