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Global regulatory developments affecting crypto.

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Regulation9 hours ago

Crypto flagged in China Party anti-graft push, 2 techs named

Cryptocurrency and blockchain were singled out in a new anti-corruption directive from China’s ruling Communist Party, which explicitly named two technologies—virtual currency and blockchain—as targets for a crackdown on corruption schemes using such tools. The move elevates digital assets as an enforcement priority for authorities.

Article

RegulationJames Walker · 31 Oct, 2026 · 2 min

Australia Questions Retail Prediction Markets as ASIC Warns

Prediction markets for retail clients came under fresh scrutiny in Australia on Friday, as the securities regulator said the contracts have all the features of a bet. The stance, delivered 1 day after testimony by ASIC Chair Sarah Court, stops short of a ban but raises a high bar for approval.

Article

RegulationEmma Collins · 29 Oct, 2026 · 2 min

Bitcoin Deemed Property by Thai Supreme Court, 10-Year Term Upheld

Bitcoin was recognized as property by Thailand’s Supreme Court, which found the cryptocurrency has a market price, can be cashed out, and is publicly holdable. The court upheld a 10-year prison sentence for a man who assisted robbers, underscoring that bitcoin can be treated as property in criminal cases.

Article

RegulationJames Walker · 28 Oct, 2026 · 3 min

Ripple Swell 10th: Bessent Outlines Plan B on CLARITY Act

Ripple Swell featured U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Oct. 27, who said the Treasury will coordinate with the SEC and CFTC after the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act stalled in the Senate. The remarks signal a regulatory workaround that matters for crypto oversight and market certainty.

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RegulationJames Walker · 27 Oct, 2026 · 2 min

Ripple wins OCC nod for Ripple National Trust Bank

Ripple National Trust Bank won final approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, allowing Ripple to operate a specialized bank under federal supervision. The charter follows a July 2025 application and conditional approval that December, with CEO Brad Garlinghouse announcing the sign-off late Monday.

Article

RegulationJames Walker · 24 Oct, 2026 · 3 min

Stablecoins Bridge Boosted as 3 Asian Central Banks Join

Stablecoins gained a cross-border push as three Asian central banks moved to align approaches for regulated stablecoins and digital bank deposits. On Oct. 23, the Monetary Authority of Singapore expanded the BLOOM initiative to include Malaysia and Thailand, aiming to cut cost and complexity in linking institutions across markets.

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RegulationJames Walker · 23 Oct, 2026 · 3 min

Blockchain Association Presses Congress on 10 Crypto Tax Rules

Crypto tax rules took center stage as the Blockchain Association urged Congress on Oct. 22 to pass bipartisan digital asset tax legislation built around 10 principles. The trade group called for a de minimis exemption, wash sale rules, no tax on self-transfers, and access to retirement accounts.

Article

RegulationEmma Collins · 23 Oct, 2026 · 3 min

South Africa Reconsiders Crypto Rules, Enoch Godongwana Says

South Africa crypto rules are being reconsidered after Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana signaled a pivot on Oct. 21, citing thousands of public comments. The National Treasury and South African Reserve Bank will revisit draft measures for cross-border digital asset flows, responding to a wave of backlash that reached Parliament.

Article

RegulationEmma Collins · 21 Oct, 2026 · 3 min

SEC Crypto Safe Harbor Tested as Vault12’s $17.45M VGT Stalls

SEC crypto safe harbor is facing an early test as Vault12 warns centralized exchanges may avoid listing legacy tokens without explicit immunity. Vault12 raised $17.45 million from 38 investors in 2018, yet its Vault Guardian Token has never traded on a major exchange, underscoring listing risk.

Article

RegulationJames Walker · 21 Oct, 2026 · 3 min

OCC Final Rule Resets Stablecoin Rewards Under GENIUS Act

Stablecoin rewards face fresh scrutiny after the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency finalized rules Wednesday, requiring U.S. crypto exchanges to obtain agency approval for existing programs. As the first federal banking regulator to act under the GENIUS Act, the OCC set parameters that also cover third-party relationships between issuers and exchanges.

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RegulationEmma Collins · 21 Oct, 2026 · 2 min

SlowMist Warns Crypto Platforms to Apply Critical PHP Security Fixes

PHP will release critical security fixes at 10 a.m. ET on Oct. 21, with affected versions and technical details published alongside the patches. SlowMist urged crypto platforms to prepare, highlighting potential impacts on services that rely on PHP. Immediate planning and maintenance windows may be required.

Article

RegulationJames Walker · 20 Oct, 2026 · 3 min

France Moves to Tax Stablecoin Swaps at 31.4% From 2027

France’s National Assembly approved an amendment to tax gains when investors swap cryptocurrency for stablecoins, advancing a 31.4% capital gains levy after a 38–37 vote on Oct. 16. Set to apply from Jan. 1, 2027, the measure remains subject to further parliamentary stages and could still be amended or removed.

Article

RegulationJames Walker · 15 Oct, 2026 · 3 min

Tether Paid $6.3M to Firm Tied to Ex-White House Aide

Tether paid approximately $6.3 million to Nxum, a consulting firm partly owned by Bo Hines while he was a senior White House cryptocurrency official. Hines helped advance the GENIUS Act before later becoming Tether’s U.S. chief executive, raising conflict-of-interest questions. Nxum has denied any improper involvement.

Article

RegulationJames Walker · 15 Oct, 2026 · 3 min

CZ Targets Bank of America Over $1.21B AML Penalty

Bank of America was hit with more than $1.21 billion in penalties for anti-money laundering and sanctions violations on Wednesday, drawing pointed criticism from Binance founder Changpeng Zhao. Regulators said the bank failed to timely report over $5 billion in suspicious transactions, while no executives faced criminal charges, spotlighting a stark accountability gap.

Article

RegulationJames Walker · 13 Oct, 2026 · 5 min

Sberbank Wins Approval to Offer Crypto Trading in Russia From December

Russia’s largest bank, Sberbank, has received regulatory approval to provide cryptocurrency exchange services and plans to introduce its first products on December 1, 2026. The bank is already testing trades involving Bitcoin, Ethereum and USDT as Russia develops a regulated framework for the crypto market.

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RegulationJames Walker · 13 Oct, 2026 · 5 min

UK Court Ruling Narrows Victims’ Claims to £3.8B Bitcoin Haul

A UK High Court ruling has narrowed the legal route for Chinese fraud victims seeking rights over 61,000 seized bitcoin worth about £3.8 billion. The decision establishes that Chinese law will govern their property claims, but ownership of the cryptocurrency has not yet been decided.

Article

RegulationJames Walker · 12 Oct, 2026 · 5 min

FSB Warns Stablecoin Crises Could Expose Cross-Border Regulatory Gaps

The Financial Stability Board has warned that global stablecoins could create challenges for regulators during a financial crisis, especially when issuers operate across borders and hold reserves in different jurisdictions. The watchdog is calling for stronger information sharing, monitoring and contingency planning as the stablecoin market reaches $306 billion.

Article

RegulationEmma Collins · 12 Oct, 2026 · 4 min

ESMA Sets January 8 Deadline for Noncompliant Stablecoin Wind-Down

The European Securities and Markets Authority has called for EU-authorized crypto service providers to address existing exposure to stablecoins that do not comply with MiCA by January 8, 2027. The guidance explicitly covers custody and transfers, expanding the scope beyond earlier restrictions on trading-related services.

Article

RegulationEmma Collins · 12 Oct, 2026 · 5 min

Crypto Law This Week: CFTC Rules, EU Stablecoin Controls and Celsius Settlement

Crypto regulation advanced in the United States and Europe during the week ending October 11, 2026. The CFTC moved forward with rulemaking on leveraged retail crypto transactions and prediction markets, while EU regulators addressed noncompliant stablecoins and oversight of major crypto firms.

Article

RegulationJames Walker · 9 Oct, 2026 · 4 min

Kyrgyzstan Shuts Down USDKG Stablecoin After UK Sanctions

Kyrgyzstan is winding down USDKG, its gold-backed stablecoin, and state-owned Coin Nomad Exchange. The shutdown includes plans to redeem and burn more than 50 million tokens following UK sanctions against the issuer.

Article

RegulationJames Walker · 8 Oct, 2026 · 3 min

Greece plans 10% crypto tax with €500 annual exemption

Greece plans a 10% capital gains tax on cryptocurrency, with gains up to €500 ($560) per year exempt. A draft bill is open for public consultation and is slated for submission to parliament in November. The move would set Greece among the lower-rate jurisdictions in the European Union.

Article

RegulationJames Walker · 6 Oct, 2026 · 3 min

CFTC Opens 60-Day Comment on CTX and CAM Crypto Rules

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission opened an advance notice of proposed rulemaking on Monday for Regulation Crypto Asset Transactions (CTX) and Regulation Crypto Asset Markets (CAM), launching a 60-day comment window once published in the Federal Register. The move targets leveraged retail cryptocurrency trades and matters because it leaves ordinary spot markets outside new federal rules.

Article

RegulationJames Walker · 6 Oct, 2026 · 4 min

U.S. drops $10,000 crypto self-custody reporting plan

Crypto reporting rule rollback: The U.S. Treasury Department withdrew a proposed requirement to report transactions over $10,000 to private wallets, FinCEN said Sunday. The move ends a plan dating to December 2020 and matters for banks and exchanges that would have faced new filing obligations.

Article

RegulationEmma Collins · 5 Oct, 2026 · 3 min

OKXICE targets tokenized trading in 60+ U.S. stocks

Tokenized stocks will get a U.S. push as OKXICE moves to launch a trading venue for more than 60 listed companies, enabled by the SEC’s Sept. 17 Innovation Exemption. The joint venture notified the regulator of its plan, and co-chair Andrew Cuomo announced the move on X, signaling round-the-clock, faster-settling equity trades.

Article

RegulationEmma Collins · 3 Oct, 2026 · 3 min

CLARITY Act failure lifts 4 crypto sectors, Bitwise says

CLARITY Act setback reshaped near-term market dynamics as four crypto sectors gained business advantages after the Senate’s Sept. 15 procedural vote. Bitwise Asset Management CIO Matt Hougan outlined the benefits in a Sept. 30 analysis and warned of 1 risk that could unwind them, highlighting stablecoins’ ability to keep offering rewards on balances.

Article

RegulationJames Walker · 2 Oct, 2026 · 3 min

SEC Moves to Let Advisers Self-Custody Crypto in Oct. 1 Plan

The Securities and Exchange Commission proposed on Oct. 1 a tailored crypto custody framework allowing investment advisers and certain regulated funds to hold client digital assets directly when no permitted custodian is available, a shift that could broaden investor access to more crypto strategies while updating longstanding safekeeping rules.

Article

RegulationEmma Collins · 1 Oct, 2026 · 3 min

Illinois Delays 0.2% Crypto Tax by Six Months

Illinois agreed to postpone its new 0.2% cryptocurrency tax for six months, averting a January 1 start date pending a judge’s approval. The delay follows talks with industry groups as legal challenges continue, and a joint court request is expected to be filed Thursday morning in Sangamon County.

Article

RegulationJames Walker · 30 Sept, 2026 · 2 min

SEC’s Atkins pledges onchain rules after CLARITY Act fail

SEC Chair Paul Atkins said on Sept. 29 that, even after the CLARITY Act failed in Congress, the agency will move ahead to provide guidance on raising capital onchain. The commitment, delivered in a CNBC interview, matters for issuers and platforms exploring tokenized securities and onchain fundraising frameworks.

Article

RegulationJames Walker · 29 Sept, 2026 · 2 min

ESMA sets 2027 focus on MiCA oversight and crypto

MiCA oversight takes center stage in the European Securities and Markets Authority’s 2027 Work Program, which prioritizes crypto-assets and distributed ledger technology. ESMA aims to drive supervisory convergence for crypto-asset service providers and deepen its understanding of digital assets’ market impact, with a push to modernize supervision through greater use of data and technology.

Article

RegulationEmma Collins · 28 Sept, 2026 · 3 min

California Memecoin Ban Signed in AB 2409 with 10 Bills

California’s memecoin ban became law Sunday as Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 2409, part of a package of 10 corruption and consumer protection bills. The measure bars public officials from issuing memecoins and accompanies new rules to repay crypto scam victims and seize crypto from transnational criminal networks.