Cryptocurrency exchange Bitget has signed a cooperation agreement with Bhutan's Gelephu Mindfulness City Authority to establish a local presence and pursue a financial services license under the city's virtual assets framework. The move positions Bitget in Bhutan's emerging crypto-friendly special economic zone.
Japan's Financial Services Agency and National Police Agency jointly urged crypto exchanges to introduce withdrawal delays and other safeguards as authorities respond to increasingly sophisticated scams involving digital assets.
European financial watchdogs have issued warnings about fraudsters impersonating regulators and licensed crypto firms to exploit confusion following the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation deadline, which forced over 1,700 unlicensed crypto service providers to cease EU operations.
European financial watchdogs have issued warnings about fraudsters impersonating regulators and licensed crypto firms to exploit confusion following the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation deadline, which forced over 1,700 unlicensed crypto service providers to cease EU operations.
India's Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has revised its global tax reporting framework to include crypto-assets, central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and digital money products, aligning with international Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) standards. The new RCASP framework mandates annual reporting of crypto transactions by exchanges and financial institutions.
Nigeria's tax authority has released the country's first comprehensive framework for taxing virtual assets, requiring crypto exchanges to verify customers with Tax Identification Numbers and imposing penalties up to ₦10 million ($7,000) for non-compliance. The guidelines include corporate tax rates, stamp duties, and mandatory registration requirements for crypto businesses.
Robinhood's UK unit has been added to the Financial Conduct Authority's register of cryptoasset firms on July 31, 2026, enabling the trading platform to offer cryptocurrency services in the United Kingdom ahead of new regulatory requirements.
Cryptocurrency exchange Bitget announced it will terminate services for Japan residents by the end of 2026 after receiving a warning from Japan's Financial Services Agency for operating without proper registration. New user registrations will cease from August 3, 2026, with phased service restrictions to follow.
The SEC has halted Nasdaq's approval of QBTC Bitcoin options to reconsider the decision after CME Group filed a legal challenge, arguing the approval process was flawed and gave Nasdaq an unfair competitive advantage.
A court dismissed the majority of a lawsuit accusing Coinbase, the largest U.S. cryptocurrency exchange, of illegally selling securities without proper registration as an exchange or broker-dealer. The ruling represents a significant legal victory for the company in ongoing disputes over cryptocurrency regulation.
Thailand's Securities and Exchange Commission filed a criminal complaint against crypto exchange Bitkub and two former directors for allegedly submitting false reports after a 2021 hack that resulted in $47 million in losses.
Chainlink has extended its Proof of Reserve oracle service to provide onchain reserve data across Ethereum, Base, Monad, and Ink networks, as the crypto industry continues emphasizing asset verification following the 2022 FTX collapse.
Cryptocurrency exchange Bitget is preparing to enter the U.S. market through a regulated entity, with CEO Gracy Chen stating the expansion will proceed whether or not Congress passes the pending CLARITY Act. The Seychelles-registered exchange plans to seek necessary money-transmitter, derivatives, and broker-dealer licenses.
Federal Judge Marcelo Martínez De Giorgi froze dozens of crypto wallets tied to the LIBRA investigation and ordered six international exchanges including Binance, Bybit, and OKX to hand over complete client files after the token's crash.
Canada has introduced updated cryptocurrency regulations that establish new compliance requirements for crypto exchanges and modify rules affecting individual investors. The changes represent a significant shift in how digital assets are regulated in the country.
Japan's National Diet passed FIEA amendments on July 15, 2026, formally reclassifying cryptocurrencies as financial instruments under securities law. A linked tax proposal would cut the maximum gains rate from 55% to a flat 20%, with implementation targeted for January 2028.
CEO Stephen Gregory outlined plans to recapture 20% of the U.S. crypto exchange market through 0% maker fees, 0.02% taker fees, and expansion into derivatives and prediction markets, following a two-year regulatory disruption that included an SEC civil lawsuit and loss of banking relationships.
Crypto exchange AscendEX ceased operations effective July 1, 2026, citing lack of EU MiCA license compliance. The platform moved all withdrawal requests to manual review starting July 6, with reports indicating hot wallets lack sufficient funds to process user withdrawals.
The European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation ended its transitional period on July 1, 2026, requiring all crypto service providers to obtain proper licensing. ESMA ordered unauthorized firms to wind down operations, leaving an estimated 10 million or more users searching for new compliant platforms.
Multiple users reported stuck withdrawals from cryptocurrency exchange AscendEX, with blockchain investigator ZachXBT stating the platform's known hot wallets hold insufficient funds to cover user balances, suggesting possible liquidity issues.
Binance has formally withdrawn its Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) license application with Greece's Hellenic Capital Market Commission and will pursue authorization in a different EU jurisdiction before the July 1 deadline for unlicensed firms.
Binance, the world's largest crypto exchange, is reportedly set to lose permission to serve EU clients after its Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) license application in Greece faces rejection, according to Reuters citing two sources familiar with the matter.
Russia's State Duma passed a sweeping crypto regulation bill in first reading that would license exchanges, permit cryptocurrency use in foreign trade settlements to circumvent sanctions, while banning domestic payments and imposing retail investment caps. The legislation is set to take effect in phases through July 2027.
Web3 investigator ZachXBT flagged RAVE token as a potential pump-and-dump scheme after it surged over 4,500% with nearly 90% of supply concentrated in three wallets. Binance and Bitget have committed to investigating the token's suspicious price movement.
Russian crypto exchange Grinex halted trading services following a $13-15 million exploit that the exchange attributes to 'Western special services' or 'hostile states.' The exchange has been linked to sanctioned Garantex, with liquidity and users flowing between the platforms.
The UK's FCA launched a consultation on proposed crypto regulations covering stablecoins, trading platforms, custody, and staking, with rules set to take effect by October 2027. The regulator is seeking industry feedback on its interpretation of regulated cryptoasset activities under the upcoming framework.
Australia has passed legislation mandating that digital asset platforms and tokenized custody platforms obtain an Australian Financial Services Licence within six months. The bill establishes a formal regulatory framework for crypto exchanges and custody services.
A US court ordered KuCoin operator Peken Global Limited to pay a $500,000 penalty to the CFTC and permanently block American traders from its platform, following a separate $297-300 million DOJ settlement over similar conduct.
Australia's Federal Court fined Binance Australia Derivatives $6.9 million after the exchange misclassified 524 retail clients as wholesale investors, exposing them to high-risk crypto derivatives without required protections. The penalty follows Binance's admission that the clients lost $6 million trading these products.
