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Russia has registered its first cryptocurrency exchange operators and digital custodians under rules that took effect Sept. 1. Sberbank is among the custodians and plans to launch Bitcoin, Ether and USDt products on Dec. 1, while crypto payments remain prohibited.
Spain’s contested housing decrees have raised concerns about rent controls, automatic lease renewals and the ability to change property rules after contracts are signed. The dispute has also renewed arguments that Bitcoin offers portable ownership, despite its substantial price volatility.
The UK has appointed Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, Morgan Stanley, NatWest and RBC Capital Markets to lead its first digitally native government bond. The DIGIT pilot will test distributed ledger technology and onchain settlement, with issuance expected by the first quarter of 2027.
Russia’s digital ruble recorded more than 220,000 accounts in its first month, far above the central bank’s forecast of about 60,000. The result comes as BRICS countries explore linking digital currencies for cross-border payments amid continuing debate over CBDC control and privacy.
An ECB executive board member warned that Europe could face greater payment fragmentation without a pan-European digital euro. The central bank has not decided whether to issue one, but a pilot could begin in 2027 and issuance could follow in 2029.
Payward, the company behind Kraken, has connected Singapore Gulf Bank’s SGB Net to offer selected institutional clients 24/7 U.S. dollar settlement for eligible crypto transactions in parts of Asia and the Gulf region.
Payward, Kraken’s parent company, has integrated Singapore Gulf Bank’s SGB Net to offer selected institutional clients in Asia and the Gulf region instant, 24/7 US dollar settlement, with plans to expand the service.
The Independent Community Bankers of America has sued the OCC over national trust bank charters for crypto firms, arguing the regulator is allowing companies to gain bank credibility without equivalent insurance, capital, supervision and consumer-protection obligations.
Crypto dealmaking remains active after the U.S. Senate blocked a procedural vote on the Clarity Act. Record first-half transaction value suggests buyers still want strategic assets, though regulatory uncertainty is creating a sharper divide between clearer business models and token-focused companies.
Russia’s Finance Ministry says some employees received wages in digital rubles for the first time after the voluntary payment option opened on Oct. 1. The move builds on 2025 budget-payment trials and forms part of a joint Bank of Russia and Finance Ministry rollout.
The Independent Community Bankers of America is suing the OCC, claiming the regulator exceeded its authority by granting crypto companies access to national trust bank charters without the safeguards required of insured commercial banks.
The Independent Community Bankers of America sued the OCC, arguing that national trust charters are allowing crypto firms into the U.S. banking system without the same capital, liquidity, supervision and insurance obligations imposed on traditional community banks.
Circle has asked the European Union to preserve multi-issuance for stablecoins and replace MiCA’s bank-deposit mandates with more flexible liquidity rules. The company says only three of the 25 largest stablecoins are currently regulated under the bloc’s framework.
A Cornell survey of 25,880 people across 25 countries found that El Salvador, Venezuela and Nigeria had the highest shares of respondents who had ever owned bitcoin, with adoption linked to currency instability and limited banking access.
Anchorage Digital has reportedly cut 17% of its workforce, or about 68 jobs based on its earlier headcount, despite expanding into institutional crypto services, stablecoin issuance and a partnership backed by Tether.
Absa is reportedly preparing to become Africa’s first bank to custody bitcoin, initially serving institutional clients and potentially adding other digital assets. The move reflects wider bank interest in crypto custody and South Africa’s relatively institutional digital-asset market.
Circle has urged the European Commission to replace MiCA’s mandatory bank-deposit minimums for stablecoin reserves with more flexible liquidity rules. The issuer also wants the EU to preserve cross-border multi-issuance as regulators review the framework.
More than 50,000 Europeans have urged the European Commission to loosen MiCA restrictions on stablecoin rewards, while EU central banks are seeking tighter rules on yield, reserves and liquidity during the framework’s review.
