The US Securities and Exchange Commission proposed a regulatory framework that would permit investment advisers and regulated funds to self-custody crypto assets under certain conditions, while also allowing the use of state trust companies as custodians.
South Korea's Financial Services Commission proposed detailed rules for tokenized securities, including capital requirements, OTC trading licenses and retail investment limits, with implementation planned for February 4, 2027.
Cboe Global Markets and S&P Dow Jones Indices extended their exclusive licensing agreement for S&P 500 index options for 25 years through 2051. The agreement includes provisions for potential tokenized options products.
House Oversight Chairman James Comer has requested records from Hyperliquid Labs, Crypto.com and PredictIt regarding user verification and suspicious trading activity, expanding an investigation into potential insider trading on prediction markets. The probe cites reports of a Hyperliquid short placed before an October 2025 tariff announcement.
Tether confirmed freezing approximately $550 million in Iran-linked USDT in 2026, while a Senate Democratic report found USDT dominated activity in 84% of Iran- and proxy-linked wallets studied, calling it a 'significant financial lifeline' for the regime.
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation barring state and local public officials from issuing memecoins, explicitly citing President Trump's memecoin project. The law also blocks platforms from listing officials' meme coins issued from 2027 onward.
Brazil will mandate that regulated banks and exchanges report cryptocurrency transfers of $10,000 or more involving self-custody wallets beginning October 1, 2026, expanding anti-money laundering oversight across the country's $252.5 billion crypto market.
Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission and Accounting and Financial Reporting Council signed a new memorandum of understanding extending their cooperation on financial reporting and audit oversight to cover licensed virtual asset service providers, applying the same standards used for traditional securities firms.
The SEC updated its September 25 FAQ on token buybacks to explicitly require the absence of centralized control, adding a decentralization condition beyond just network functionality. The guidance clarifies that buyback announcements on functional, decentralized networks don't automatically make tokens securities.
Circle's Patrick Hansen condemned Germany's proposed tax reform that would impose a 50% substitute assessment on crypto asset sales when taxpayers cannot provide credible documentation of their original purchase costs. The planned measure would effectively tax 50% of sales proceeds in cases where proof of purchase is unavailable.
SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce urged regulators to adopt zero-knowledge proof technology to allow cryptocurrency firms to conduct KYC checks while collecting less personal data. The proposal comes as federal agencies advance stablecoin regulation under the GENIUS Act.
Circle Internet Group announced on September 25 that Chief Financial Officer Jeremy Fox-Geen will resign by the end of December 2026, following his role in steering the company's $1.2 billion IPO. The same day, co-founder and CEO Jeremy Allaire made related announcements about the company's direction.
The 6th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on September 25 that states can apply local gambling laws to Kalshi's sports event contracts, rejecting the prediction market provider's argument that federal law preempts state regulation.
The SEC's Division of Corporation Finance released updated FAQs stating that token buybacks on working networks, liquid staking tokens, and funding network upgrades don't automatically make crypto assets securities. The guidance provides clarity on when digital assets may qualify as commodities rather than securities.
Summer Mersinger, former CFTC commissioner and current CEO of the Blockchain Association, announced she will step down on October 16, with former CEO Kristin Smith returning as interim leader. The departure comes shortly after the Senate blocked the CLARITY Act.
Bitcoin mining firm Hive Digital Technologies has escalated its legal battle with Sweden's Tax Agency to the European Commission after the agency reclassified its datacenter services as self-mining and retroactively denied input VAT credits. The dispute could affect how VAT applies to cryptocurrency mining operations across the EU.
U.S. federal prosecutors have charged a Vietnamese national with money laundering in connection with a "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scam that defrauded one victim of approximately $16 million. The case involves a sprawling fraud scheme that moved funds through cryptocurrency channels.
Circle and Tether froze a wallet holding approximately $318,000 in stablecoins following a massive $351.6 million hack of cryptocurrency exchange Bitget on Thursday. The freeze covers only a small fraction of the total stolen funds.
The European Banking Authority has urged the European Commission to bring crypto lending and borrowing services under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation. The EBA's recommendations include potential leverage caps, certification requirements for firms connecting users to DeFi lending platforms, and possible restrictions on facilitating lending with unauthorized stablecoins.
Federal prosecutors seized approximately $84.2 million from accounts of Capstone Ltd., a payments firm working on behalf of Tether and Bitfinex at offshore bank EQIBank. Tether stated its exposure represents less than 0.034% of group assets.
SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce, known as 'Crypto Mom' for her advocacy of digital assets, announced her resignation effective next week after years of service. In one of her final speeches, she called for reducing KYC data collection and implementing zero-knowledge proofs to protect privacy.
ARK Invest tokenized its ARK Venture Fund (ARKVX), a closed-end interval fund with approximately $1.3 billion in net assets, enabling eligible investors to subscribe and redeem holdings onchain using USDC through a partnership with Securitize.
Brooklyn man Ronald Spektor, 23, was sentenced to four to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to all 31 counts related to a phishing operation that stole nearly $16 million from approximately 100 Coinbase users.
The New York Stock Exchange and crypto exchange Blockchain.com signed a memorandum of understanding to give Blockchain.com's 44 million users access to tokenized US-listed stocks and ETFs through NYSE's planned 24/7 digital trading venue.
Austrian banking group Raiffeisen Bank International is partnering with crypto brokerage Bitpanda to roll out bitcoin and crypto trading for its 18 million customers across Central and Eastern Europe, starting with Albania, Czech Republic and Slovakia.
The CFTC issued a staff advisory stating that prediction market contracts settling on whether a named person says certain words should be presumed readily susceptible to manipulation, requiring exchanges to meet a higher regulatory bar.
21Shares listed Europe's first Zcash exchange-traded product on Euronext Paris and Amsterdam on September 22, trading as ZCASH with a 2.5% annual fee. ZEC spiked to an intraday high near $1,680, marking a new 10-year high and gaining 88% over the past week.
Investment bank Bernstein has increased its prediction market forecast tenfold to $10 trillion in annual trading volume by 2035, up from $410 billion currently. Simultaneously, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission issued guidance warning that 'mentions' contracts—bets on what public figures might say—present heightened manipulation risks and can only be offered in limited circumstances.
The European Central Bank and EU central banks want Brussels to delete a MiCA rule requiring large stablecoin issuers to keep 60% of reserves in commercial banks, arguing the requirement could destabilize lenders and reduce liquidity management flexibility.
The Manhattan US attorney's office and DOJ's criminal division are examining whether Binance knowingly allowed trading that violated US sanctions on Iran, three years after the exchange agreed to $4.3 billion in penalties to settle similar charges.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has given preliminary conditional approval to both Catena and Agora to establish national trust banks. The proposed banks would custody and manage digital assets, stablecoins, fiat, and securities, pending fulfillment of capital, liquidity, and preopening requirements.
The European Central Bank launched Pontes, a new settlement platform allowing wholesale tokenized assets to be settled using central bank money rather than private stablecoins. The system is designed exclusively for regulated financial institutions.
The European Commission's current Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) review includes a question on page 36 about Europe's treatment of staking, raising concerns among crypto industry observers about potential regulatory impacts on staking yields and blockchain network security.
Binance Wallet has introduced Pre-Access campaigns via PancakeSwap, enabling eligible retail investors to subscribe to tokens that provide indirect economic exposure to private companies before they go public. The initiative targets approximately 1,300 private firms valued above $1 billion, representing roughly $4.7 trillion collectively.
Cryptocurrency platform Lemon has decided to shut down its Brazilian operations and terminate approximately 15,000 local accounts after determining that the country's new crypto licensing capital requirements are too expensive for its business model.
Brazil's central bank will bar virtual assets, including stablecoins, from settling a specific type of international payment flow through Resolution 561, effective October 1. The move affects the $1.1 trillion stablecoin market's access to regulated cross-border payment infrastructure.
Lam Chun-yin, a 32-year-old former China Construction Bank relationship manager, received a four-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to accepting more than $470,000 in Tether to falsely authenticate forged bank instruments worth over $1.6 billion.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency granted stablecoin infrastructure provider Bastion conditional approval to convert its New York state trust charter into a national trust bank charter, adding federal regulatory oversight to its operations.
Coinbase filed with the CFTC through Coinbase Derivatives to list single-stock perpetual futures in the US, seeking to bring the popular crypto instrument to individual equities including Apple, Tesla, and Nvidia.
Grayscale's Zcash ETF (ZCSH) will undergo a 3-for-1 forward share split effective September 30, 2026, with shareholders receiving three post-split shares for every share held as of the September 28 record date. The move follows strong investor demand, with the fund attracting over $233 million in inflows since its August 25 launch.
TRON Inc., a TRX digital asset treasury firm, was receiving its TRX directly from an HTX wallet until shortly after HTX was sanctioned by the UK. Following the sanctions, TRON Inc. transitioned to receiving TRX from a wallet funded by HTX.
Traditional banks have doubled their presence on the European Union's MiCA register to approximately 80 institutions in less than three months, now representing nearly 23% of all listed crypto-asset service providers, up from roughly 17% earlier this year.
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde personally intervened to prevent Greece from granting Binance an EU-wide MiCA license in late May, according to a Wall Street Journal report. Lagarde reportedly asked Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to reject the application over compliance concerns.
Authorities in the UAE and Sweden conducted a coordinated operation arresting seven suspects, including a Swedish national wanted under an Interpol Red Notice, for allegedly running an international money laundering network that moved approximately 70 million Swedish krona ($7.1-7.5 million) in cryptocurrency. The network is linked to organized crime and contract killings.
Crypto.com's US-regulated derivatives exchange Nadex registered with the SEC to trade security futures products through its OG.com platform. The registration enables the company to offer single-stock perpetuals to US customers.
Britain's Financial Conduct Authority, along with HMRC and Metropolitan Police, took enforcement action against three London premises on September 10, issuing cease and desist letters for suspected illegal peer-to-peer cryptocurrency trading operations without proper registration.
South Korean authorities have booked 26 users of the crypto prediction market Polymarket on suspicion of illegal gambling involving 17.6 billion won ($12.7 million), with 18 cases already referred to prosecutors. Police identified the users through public blockchain transaction records.
The European Central Bank has begun accepting applications from online merchants for a controlled digital euro pilot program set to launch in 2027. Applications close on October 27, with final issuance contingent on EU legislation.
Hamas' military wing Al Qassam Brigades advised potential donors to avoid using Binance for cryptocurrency transfers and instead use platforms including Bybit, OKX, Kast, and Redotpay, according to U.S. Department of Justice documents released in September 2026.
The UK's Financial Conduct Authority has announced that crypto firms can apply for authorization from September 30, 2026 to February 28, 2027, ahead of the new regulatory regime taking effect on October 25, 2027. The authorization applies to overseas firms dealing, arranging, or safeguarding crypto assets for UK clients.
Payward, the parent company of cryptocurrency exchange Kraken, announced plans to bring onchain perpetual futures markets on Hyperliquid to eligible U.S. clients using regulated infrastructure. The offering would utilize CFTC-regulated Bitnomial for deployment, clearing and settlement, with NinjaTrader Clearing carrying customer accounts, making it the first U.S.-regulated venue to offer such products.
Celsius Network's bankruptcy estate filed suit against five BitMEX entities on September 12, seeking the return of 6,360.17 Bitcoin (worth approximately $495 million) over forced liquidations during the March 2020 market crash. The lawsuit comes just 11 days before BitMEX's scheduled permanent shutdown.
The Financial Conduct Authority published final guidance on which crypto activities require authorization and announced plans to consult on changes following Treasury proposals to exempt UK stablecoin payments. Meanwhile, UK banks continue restricting payments to cryptocurrency exchanges ahead of the FCA's new authorization gateway opening September 30.
Argentina has pledged to implement the OECD's Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework and begin automatic exchange of information on cryptocurrency transactions by September 2029, aligning the country with international standards for crypto tax transparency.
U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs recorded $450.33 million in outflows on Tuesday, their heaviest single-day exit since June, following the Senate's 49-50 vote rejecting the Clarity Act crypto legislation. Bitcoin declined 3.8% to $75,748 after the bill failed to reach the 60 votes needed to advance.
Following the Senate's failure to advance the CLARITY Act, the Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodity Futures Trading Commission issued new regulatory guidance for cryptocurrency developers and markets, with the CFTC submitting a proposed framework to the White House for review.
Federal prosecutors charged two Robinhood engineers, Hefu Chai and Huaisong Xiang, with commodities fraud and wire fraud for allegedly using confidential information about upcoming cryptocurrency listings to profit approximately $50,000 each through perpetual futures trades on the decentralized exchange Hyperliquid. The case extends traditional insider trading laws to decentralized crypto markets.
Attackers compromised a legitimate Italian state email address to impersonate law enforcement and trick Revolut into releasing personal data of approximately 680-700 customers, primarily cryptocurrency holders. The hackers are now demanding a $3 million ransom in Monero cryptocurrency with a 24-hour deadline to prevent the data's sale.
Federal prosecutors charged Hefu Chai and Huaisong Xiang with commodities fraud and wire fraud for allegedly using confidential information about upcoming Robinhood crypto listings to trade perpetual futures on Hyperliquid ahead of public announcements.
The House Ways and Means Committee voted 38-5 to advance the Digital Asset Tax Certainty Act, which would exempt crypto transactions under $10 from capital gains tax, clarify treatment of stablecoins, mining, staking, and lending, and apply wash sale rules to digital assets. The bill now moves to the full House.
South Korea's proposed cryptocurrency ownership regulations could create a governance conflict for Naver Financial's planned acquisition of Upbit operator Dunamu if the company later becomes classified as a holding company, with Fair Trade Act rules clashing with proposed ownership caps.
CoinEx announced it will wind down operations, citing prolonged market downturn, declining trading volumes and liquidity, and rising regulatory costs. The exchange will halt new registrations and begin phasing out services.
The U.S. Department of Justice filed a civil forfeiture complaint seeking approximately $61 million in cryptocurrency allegedly derived from black-market sales of sanctioned Iranian crude oil and petroleum products, with funds allegedly laundered through Binance to Chinese buyers.
The US Department of Justice filed a civil forfeiture complaint against $61 million in cryptocurrency held in Binance accounts, alleging the funds originated from black market Iranian oil sales and money laundering operations.
Bulgaria's parliament approved amendments to its Tax and Social Security Procedure Code requiring cryptocurrency service providers to report detailed customer identities, tax residency information, and transaction data to tax officials. The legislation, passed with 149 votes in favor and 10 abstentions, aligns Bulgaria with EU directives aimed at curbing tax evasion and enhancing cross-border tax transparency.
Japan's Financial Services Agency has made blockchain-based finance a policy priority for 2026, while SWIFT simultaneously tests its blockchain ledger platform with Citibank and MUFG for 24-hour cross-border payments with faster transfers and lower fees.
Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev announced plans to introduce one-for-one share redemptions and voting rights for the company's stock tokens, which are currently structured as offshore debt instruments without shareholder rights. The changes come after criticism over the tokens' structure, which currently excludes physical delivery of shares and grants no voting rights.
President Donald Trump agreed to new ethics language in the cryptocurrency regulation bill that would bar public officials from issuing or sponsoring digital assets, with enforcement by state attorneys general. The concession comes as Senate Republicans seek Democratic support for the Clarity Act ahead of a key Tuesday vote.
The Senate failed to advance the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act on Tuesday, falling short of the 60 votes needed for cloture despite last-minute ethics provisions added to address Democratic concerns about federal officials profiting from cryptocurrency. Republicans rejected a Democratic counteroffer ahead of the vote.
President Trump agreed to a significant portion of a stringent ethics proposal embedded in a broader cryptocurrency bill headed for a key Senate vote, according to Republican senators. The provision bars public officials from profiting from crypto holdings.
Britain's Electoral Commission is reviewing stricter spending limits for political parties, potentially hampering Reform UK's ability to deploy its record £72 million in donations from crypto-billionaires including Christopher Harborne. The review comes as Nigel Farage's party faces questions about how it can use the unprecedented funding.
The European Union's Cyber Resilience Act, effective September 11, 2026, requires cryptocurrency wallet providers to report actively exploited vulnerabilities or severe security flaws within 24 hours of awareness. Non-compliance can result in fines up to 15 million euros.
Chuck Schumer convened Democratic caucus Sunday evening to discuss the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act before Tuesday's procedural vote. Trump reportedly met with advisers Friday to discuss ethics provisions in the bill.
Thailand's Securities and Exchange Commission approved consultation principles that would cap daily stablecoin transfers at 5 million baht ($150,000) through licensed crypto platforms, with transfers only allowed to accounts verified as the customer's own.
Ben Delo donated £36M on Friday and Christopher Harborne matched it Saturday, making the largest single donations in British political history. The UK government criticized the crypto-linked contributions.
Thailand's Securities and Exchange Commission has proposed regulations that would require licensed crypto firms to only accept stablecoin deposits and withdrawals through accounts verified in the customer's own name, effectively blocking transfers to other people's wallets. The draft rules also set a daily transaction cap of 5 million baht ($151,000).
Authorities uncovered a clandestine cryptocurrency mining farm operated by a drug cartel in the mountains of central Mexico, highlighting cartels' expanding use of digital currencies for funding operations.
Nigel Farage's Reform UK party received two £36 million donations within 24 hours from cryptocurrency billionaires Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne, representing the largest political donations in British history.
Revolut fulfilled a fraudulent information request sent from a compromised government email domain, exposing ID documents, verification selfies, and full crypto transaction histories for a limited number of high-net-worth customers.
Caroline Ellison, former Alameda Research CEO who cooperated with prosecutors following the FTX collapse, has taken a full-time position at Manifund, a nonprofit grant platform. She began working full-time in August, overseeing funding platform development and expansion of charitable efforts.
