Cryptocurrency
UK Crypto Firms Face Strict FCA Authorization Deadline
The Financial Conduct Authority has officially opened its authorization gateway for digital asset businesses, marking a critical shift toward full financial services oversight in the UK. Firms intending to provide regulated crypto services must navigate this new regime before the October 2027 deadline to ensure uninterrupted access to the market.
Michael Saylor Sees Synergy in Bitcoin-Backed Credit Rivalry
Michael Saylor contends that Strategy and Strive are not merely competitors, but partners in expanding the emerging market for Bitcoin-backed preferred securities. By fostering a broader ecosystem of digital credit, Saylor argues both firms can attract the institutional capital necessary to rival traditional global equity and fixed-income markets.
Metaplanet Board Defends Executive Share Plan Amid Dilution Backlash
Metaplanet’s independent directors are doubling down on the company’s controversial Series 10 warrant program, maintaining that the executive compensation plan was a necessary gamble taken when the firm was a struggling hotel operator, despite intense criticism from shareholders regarding potential dilution.
Malaysian police seize 30 Bitcoin miners in power theft crackdown
Two men are in custody following a raid in Seri Iskandar, where authorities discovered a clandestine Bitcoin mining operation powered by an illegal electricity connection. The operation, conducted alongside the national utility provider Tenaga Nasional Bhd, marks another step in Malaysia's intensifying campaign against energy theft.
Bitget Resumes Major Withdrawals Following $387M Security Breach
Bitget has restored BTC, ETH, and USDT withdrawals as it navigates the aftermath of a $387.5 million security incident. While the exchange works to stabilize operations and replenish its Protection Fund, it remains locked in a high-profile dispute with THORChain over the protocol's refusal to block stolen funds.
OKX Bitcoin holdings climb as exchange reports $27.4 billion in reserves
Customers increased their Bitcoin holdings on OKX by 5,466 BTC, pushing total user assets to 139,865 BTC as of the exchange’s September 8 snapshot. The 4.07% month-over-month rise highlights shifting user activity on the platform, which maintained a 109% reserve ratio for the world’s largest cryptocurrency.
Australia Ends Crypto Regulatory Grace Period
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has officially closed its temporary no-action relief period for crypto firms, forcing businesses to either secure appropriate financial services licensing or face potential enforcement actions starting October 1.
Kalshi to End Trading Rewards Amid Scrutiny of Crypto Volumes
Conflict: Kalshi has moved to terminate its long-standing volume incentive program, a decision arriving just as the prediction market faces intense regulatory scrutiny over more than $5 billion in repetitive Ether perpetual futures trades that critics have characterized as artificial activity.
Coinbase Previews Trading of Physical Pokémon Card Packs
Coinbase is expanding its Everything Exchange strategy by allowing users to purchase and open Pokémon trading card packs directly through its app. The feature promises a digital interface for "ripping packs," with every virtual pull backed by a physical collectible that users can either vault in storage or request for delivery.
AllUnity Expands MiCA-Compliant Stablecoins With Dollar-Backed USDAU
Frankfurt-based AllUnity has launched USDAU, a US dollar-backed stablecoin available across six blockchain networks. Regulated under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) framework, the token allows institutional clients to conduct cross-border settlements and foreign exchange through the company’s existing business infrastructure.
Binance Pay Integrates With Japan’s PayPay Network
Over 48 million overseas Binance Pay users can now spend cryptocurrency at millions of merchant locations across Japan. The integration, launched September 30 via the HIVEX payment network, allows international travelers to pay via QR codes while merchants continue to receive settlements exclusively in Japanese yen.
HSBC Unveils RedCoin Stablecoin for Hong Kong Market
Hong Kong’s largest lender, HSBC, has officially named its forthcoming stablecoin RedCoin, with plans to initiate a rollout in the second half of 2026. The bank intends to integrate the token directly into its PayMe and mobile banking platforms, focusing initially on consumer-facing transfers and merchant payments.
Robinhood to Launch Crypto Perpetual Futures With 10x Leverage
Robinhood is set to introduce crypto perpetual futures for U.S. customers, offering leverage of up to 10x on Bitcoin and Ether. The brokerage, operating through its registered futures commission merchant, plans to roll out the products in the coming months, marking a significant expansion into domestic derivatives trading.
Illinois Proposes Tax Rules for Crypto Transactions Starting 2027
Illinois residents face a 0.2% levy on digital asset transactions beginning January 1, 2027, under draft regulations released by the state’s Department of Revenue. The proposal clarifies how the tax applies to stablecoins, decentralized finance, and wallet transfers while carving out specific exemptions for non-fungible tokens.
Kalshi Eyes $40 Billion Valuation in Fresh Funding Push
Prediction market platform Kalshi is in advanced negotiations to secure approximately $1 billion in new capital, a move that would push the company’s valuation to $40 billion. This potential financing follows a rapid growth trajectory for the firm, which reached a $22 billion valuation just months ago in May.
Ripple and CSD BR Launch Blockchain Audit Layer for Brazilian Funds
CSD BR has begun mirroring investment fund records onto the public XRP Ledger, marking the first time a licensed central securities depository is using a public blockchain to provide an independent audit layer for regulated capital markets, starting with shares from BTG Pactual.
Fed Governor Barr Pushes for Rate Hikes as Market Conviction Cools
Federal Reserve Governor Michael Barr is pressing for further interest-rate increases to pull inflation toward the 2% target, even as market confidence in an October hike has slipped to 50%. The shift follows comments from New York Fed President John Williams, who signaled a more patient approach to policy adjustments.
Riot Platforms Settles $200 Million Coinbase Credit Facility
Riot Platforms has officially shuttered its $200 million Bitcoin-backed credit line with Coinbase Credit, fully repaying the outstanding principal and accrued interest as of September 21. The move effectively releases the company’s pledged assets, which included over 5,800 BTC, from the lender’s security interests following a voluntary prepayment.
GSN CEO calls for conduct-based rules on political memecoins
California’s enactment of AB 2409 has sharpened the debate over political memecoins, prompting Global Settlement Network CEO Ryan Kirkley to argue that regulators should target officials' financial conflicts rather than imposing broad, indiscriminate restrictions on digital asset markets.
Crypto ETFs See $2.39 Billion Inflow as Bond Yields Spike
Crypto investment funds attracted $2.39 billion in weekly inflows, successfully pushing year-to-date net flows back into positive territory. The surge in demand persisted despite a 4.3% retreat in Bitcoin to $83,500, triggered as U.S. ten-year Treasury yields climbed to 5.20%.
Bittensor subnet revenue climbs as commercial AI demand takes hold
Subnet operator revenue on the Bittensor network has surged from negligible levels to over $32 million within 18 months, according to Yuma chief revenue officer Evan Malanga. This growth, driven by real-world commercial contracts, signals a transition from speculative interest to tangible implementation in sectors like cybersecurity and industrial monitoring.
Falcon Finance executive challenges metrics for tokenized asset utility
Artem Tolkachev, chief RWA officer at Falcon Finance, argues that low onchain activity for tokenized real-world assets should not be conflated with market failure. He contends that for yield-bearing instruments like Treasury funds, simply holding the token in a wallet fulfills the investor's primary objective of earning passive income.
Trump eyes swift end to Iran conflict as Hormuz talks continue
Donald Trump declared the United States is on a path to victory in the conflict with Iran, predicting a resolution will arrive shortly. His remarks from the Oval Office follow ongoing back-channel discussions aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, though no formal ceasefire or deal with Tehran has been reached.
Cboe Secures S&P 500 Options Monopoly Through 2051
Cboe Global Markets has locked in the exclusive rights to trade S&P 500 options for the next quarter-century, extending its lucrative licensing agreement with S&P Dow Jones Indices through 2051. The deal arrives as the exchange operator logs record-breaking volume for its flagship SPX contracts, which saw 970.6 million units traded in 2025.
Aztec Labs Revives zk.money to Restore Ethereum Privacy
After a three-year hiatus, Aztec Labs has relaunched its zk.money wallet, aiming to mask transaction details that would otherwise remain exposed on Ethereum's public ledger. The platform enables self-custodial private payments, replacing complex hex-code addresses with readable handles to shield balances and transfer history from prying eyes.
Fed rate path poses greater threat to Bitcoin than stalled CLARITY Act
A potential interest rate hike in October poses a more significant risk to Bitcoin’s price trajectory than the Senate’s recent rejection of the CLARITY Act. According to HashKey Group researcher Tim Sun, investors are increasingly focused on macroeconomic tightening signals rather than stalled regulatory frameworks in Washington.
Soneium and DayOneDream Partner to Tokenize K-Pop IP
During Korea Blockchain Week in Seoul, Sony-backed Soneium and entertainment firm DayOneDream announced a strategic partnership to bring K-pop intellectual property and revenue streams on-chain. The collaboration aims to leverage DayOneDream’s WAVIST platform to transform entertainment financing through tokenized asset instruments.
Bitcoin Struggles Near $83,000 as Market Momentum Fades
Bitcoin retreated to the $83,000 level on September 29, struggling to regain the momentum that pushed the cryptocurrency to a peak of $87,400 earlier in the month. The decline places the asset in a precarious position between key technical support levels and dense clusters of potential long liquidations.
Morgan Stanley Opens Lab to Probe Tokenization and DeFi
Morgan Stanley has launched a dedicated Digital Asset Lab to experiment with tokenized deposits, digital currencies, and decentralized finance applications. Operating within the bank’s existing innovation network, the facility allows employees to stress-test blockchain protocols and automated investment strategies without touching core financial systems.
Bitwise Launches NEAR Spot ETF on NYSE Arca
Bitwise Asset Management has officially launched the first U.S. spot exchange-traded product providing direct exposure to NEAR, debuting under the ticker NRR on NYSE Arca. The fund, which carries a 0.75% management fee, integrates an institutional staking component designed to accrue rewards directly to shareholder net asset value.