Standard Chartered Moves To Take Full Control Of Zodia Custody

TL;DR: Standard Chartered has signed definitive agreements to acquire Zodia Custody, deepening its push into institutional digital asset safekeeping.

Standard Chartered is bringing one of its better-known digital asset ventures closer to the centre of the bank. On October 21, the banking group announced definitive agreements to acquire 100% of Zodia Custody Limited through Standard Chartered I H Limited.

The agreement follows a previously accepted non-binding offer and remains subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Until those steps are complete, this is a signed acquisition agreement rather than a completed takeover.

Zodia’s regulated custody operations are intended to be integrated into Standard Chartered’s Securities Services activities, where the bank already services traditional institutional assets. Its software and professional-services business will instead be separated into Zodia Solutions under SC Ventures, with participation from existing institutional backers.

That split tells an interesting story about where traditional finance sees value in crypto. Keeping custody alongside established securities services could make it easier for institutional customers to access both, while a separate technology business can supply infrastructure to a wider group of financial firms. Standard Chartered says existing Zodia custody clients should see no disruption during the process. The integration, not a speculative token launch, is the real development to watch.

Written by the News Desk and edited by Samuel Rae.

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OCC Finalises US Stablecoin Rules Ahead Of January 2027 Start

TL;DR: The OCC has published its final GENIUS Act rule, setting out how payment stablecoin issuers under its supervision will be regulated from January 18, 2027.

America’s national banking regulator has put considerably more detail around the new federal framework for dollar-backed stablecoins. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued its final rule on Wednesday, covering issuers under its jurisdiction and certain custody activities carried out by regulated institutions.

The regulations address eligible reserve assets, redemption, risk management, supervisory reporting, custody, applications and oversight of foreign issuers. In other words, the debate is moving from whether the United States should regulate stablecoin issuance to what a company must actually do to issue one.

There is an important distinction in the rollout. The rule takes effect on January 18, 2027, rather than immediately. The OCC also made clear that Bank Secrecy Act, anti-money-laundering and OFAC sanctions requirements will be covered by a separate rulemaking coordinated with the Treasury Department.

For banks and stablecoin businesses considering the US market, the rule provides a concrete compliance framework. It does not, however, mean every dollar token has already received a federal licence. Applications, supervisory approvals and the practical work of meeting the requirements still matter.

Written by the News Desk and edited by Samuel Rae.

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Probly Wraps Up TOKEN2049 Singapore and WHALE3RA, Strengthening Its Presence in On-Chain Prediction Markets

The British Virgin Islands, Road Town, October 2026 — Probly, an on-chain prediction market for sports, politics, crypto, finance, and global events, has concluded its participation as a Gold Sponsor of TOKEN2049 Singapore and co-host of the WHALE3RA Afterparty alongside BloFin, TxFlow, and other ecosystem partners.

 

Across TOKEN2049 week, Probly connected with traders, builders, infrastructure teams, partners, and Web3 communities around the growing role of prediction markets as a way to express views on real-world events.

The week also gave Probly an opportunity to introduce its approach to prediction markets to a broader crypto-native audience: simple access, broad market coverage, self-custody USDC, peer-to-peer trading, and verifiable on-chain settlement.

From Market Opinions to On-Chain Signals

Prediction markets are increasingly becoming an interface for turning expectations about future events into market signals. For Probly, TOKEN2049 provided an opportunity to bring that idea directly to an audience already accustomed to trading changing market conditions, information, and expectations.

The name Probly comes from “probably,” the word people use when the outcome of an event remains uncertain. It is also inspired by P(A), the mathematical notation used to represent the probability of an event.

 

Probly currently supports 5,100 events and 47,000 markets across Sports, Geopolitics, Crypto, Finance, Economy, and Politics. The platform also offers 172 active live markets for same-day trading, including high-frequency Crypto “Up or Down” rolling markets across BTC, ETH, SOL, and XRP.

Probly is the first prediction market application developed through TxFlow Improvement Protocol 3 (TIP3). Settlement through TxFlow enables on-chain settlement, automatic USDC payouts, and no manual claim step.

Bringing the Prediction Market Conversation to WHALE3RA

Probly also co-hosted WHALE3RA at MARQUEE Singapore during TOKEN2049 week alongside BloFin, TxFlow, and other ecosystem partners.

 

The event brought together traders, builders, funds, exchanges, infrastructure teams, and Web3 communities, giving Probly an opportunity to engage directly with many of the audiences shaping the next generation of crypto products.

 

For Probly, these conversations reinforced an important direction for the product: prediction markets should not be limited to occasional major events. They can become a more active interface for following changing information, forming a view, and trading expectations as events develop.

What Comes Next for Probly

Following TOKEN2049 Singapore, Probly will continue developing its prediction market experience around accessibility, broader event coverage, frequent trading opportunities, and transparent on-chain infrastructure.

The company will also continue working with ecosystem and infrastructure partners as it develops new ways for users to express views on future outcomes through on-chain markets.

 

TOKEN2049 and WHALE3RA marked another step in bringing Probly’s core idea to a wider audience: uncertainty is everywhere, and markets can make collective expectations around what happens next more visible, transparent, and useful.

Before It Happens.

About Probly

Probly is a prediction market built on TxFlow L1 through TxFlow Improvement Protocol 3 (TIP3). It turns views about future events into continuously updated market signals across sports, crypto, economics, news, culture, weather, and other real-world categories.

 

Probly combines real-time markets, broad event coverage, fully on-chain settlement, and self-custodied USDC infrastructure. Its mission is to make collective expectations more immediate, transparent, and useful by converting uncertainty into a price.

Media Contact

Probly PR Team

Email: torygarcia@probly.com

Website: https://www.probly.com/en 

X: @ProblyHQ

Important Notice

This announcement is provided for general informational purposes only. It does not constitute an offer, solicitation, recommendation, or invitation to enter into any transaction, event contract, any transaction, event contract, derivative, or other product, derivative, or other product. Nothing in this announcement constitutes investment, financial, legal, or trading advice. References to market information, probability indicators, settlement infrastructure, or product functionality should not be interpreted as a recommendation to participate in any market. References to third-party companies, platforms, and products are provided solely for general industry context. They do not imply affiliation, endorsement, or partnership except where expressly stated.

 

Probly’s availability, functionality, event coverage, account features, wallet support, and eligibility requirements may vary by jurisdiction. Access is subject to applicable laws, regulations, product rules, geographic restrictions, and eligibility requirements. No person should access or use the application in a jurisdiction where doing so would be prohibited or would require an authorisation that has not been obtained.

 

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BlackRock Files For Bitcoin ETF With Managed Downside Protection

TL;DR: BlackRock has proposed another Bitcoin-linked ETF, this time using options to pursue some protection against losses while giving up part of the potential upside.

BlackRock’s latest Bitcoin fund filing takes a different approach from the familiar buy-and-hold exposure offered by its iShares Bitcoin Trust. Instead of simply following the price of Bitcoin, the proposed iShares Bitcoin Managed Protection ETF would use an options strategy linked to IBIT or similar exposure.

The ambition is straightforward enough: participate in some of Bitcoin’s gains and seek a measure of protection during a decline. The trade-off is equally important. Gains could be capped, and the protection is neither unconditional nor guaranteed. The structure is designed around overlapping options positions, meaning an investor’s outcome could depend on when the shares are purchased as well as what Bitcoin does next.

That makes this a different kind of product, not a safer version of holding spot Bitcoin in every circumstance. Options costs, fund expenses and changing market prices all affect what shareholders receive.

The filing arrives as issuers work to move beyond basic spot exposure. Income-oriented and buffered Bitcoin products try to give financial advisers additional ways to fit an unusually volatile asset into conventional portfolios.

For investors, the missing details matter as much as the proposed strategy. An SEC filing does not mean the fund has been approved or launched. Its eventual fees, live portfolio and actual protection terms will determine whether the structure delivers a useful alternative to IBIT.

Written by the News Desk and edited by Samuel Rae.

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South Korea Faces Fresh Push To Delay Crypto Gains Tax Until 2029

South Korea is approaching another decision point on its long-delayed cryptocurrency gains tax, with exchanges and policymakers preparing to discuss whether the January 2027 start date is realistic.

TL;DR: The country’s planned crypto tax has already been deferred three times. A new proposal would push implementation toward 2029, but no additional delay has been enacted.

Finance officials are expected to meet representatives of major domestic exchanges on October 20. The industry is arguing that the systems needed to handle different transaction types and calculate cost bases are still incomplete. A rushed launch, exchanges say, risks creating inconsistent tax treatment or driving activity to offshore platforms.

South Korea’s planned rate is commonly described as 22% after local tax is included, rather than a simple 20% all-in charge. The question now is less about whether crypto gains should ever be taxable than whether the supporting reporting infrastructure is ready for millions of transactions across different venues.

A lawmaker’s proposal would link the effective date to cross-border data sharing through the OECD’s Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework, potentially moving the start to 2029. That measure requires legislative action; a meeting with exchanges cannot, by itself, change the law.

For investors, the current scheduled date remains January 2027 unless lawmakers decide otherwise. For exchanges, a later timetable could buy time to build reporting systems, but another postponement would also prolong policy uncertainty. South Korea has reached this crossroads before, which is why a proposed delay should not be reported as a settled outcome.

Written by the News Desk and edited by Samuel Rae.

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Kraken Parent Payward Moves Into European Banking With Saldo Deal

Payward, the company behind crypto exchange Kraken, has agreed to acquire Lithuania-based Saldo Bank, taking a route into European banking that goes beyond obtaining another exchange registration.

TL;DR: The proposed acquisition would give Payward an existing licensed banking operation in Europe. The deal remains subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close in 2027.

Saldo provides banking products including loans and deposits. Bringing it into Payward would potentially put cash accounts, crypto assets and lending under a more connected product offering, rather than forcing customers to move between a separate crypto venue and their bank every time they need to borrow, spend or settle funds.

This is an important difference from a cryptocurrency firm simply partnering with an external payments provider. Ownership of a bank brings a regulated operating business, supervisory obligations and a different level of responsibility for customer money. Payward will not acquire unrestricted banking powers across Europe merely by signing the purchase agreement; the necessary approval and post-acquisition controls are still ahead.

The European push also fits a wider industry pattern. Crypto companies are pursuing banking relationships and charters as tokenized securities, stablecoins and conventional financial accounts become more closely linked. Existing lenders, meanwhile, are building crypto products of their own.

For Kraken users, the immediate message is about direction rather than a product they can use today. A completed acquisition could eventually make financing and fiat services feel less fragmented. Until regulators approve the transaction and the integration is completed, the promised benefits remain plans rather than available services.

Written by the News Desk and edited by Samuel Rae.

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German Savings Banks Begin Crypto Trading Rollout Inside Sparkassen App

Germany’s Sparkassen savings-bank group is beginning a phased cryptocurrency-trading rollout inside its existing banking app, taking an asset class it once treated cautiously into a familiar retail-finance setting.

TL;DR: The first participating Sparkassen banks are offering crypto trading from October 19. The rollout is gradual, with 30 to 40 institutions expected to join each month, and is handled through DekaBank.

There is no national switch that turns the service on for every customer at once. Each regional savings bank decides when to participate. The group’s association told German news agency dpa that the opening selection includes Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana and Polygon, with a substantial number of interested institutions expected to be connected during the first half of 2027.

DekaBank is providing the service with Börse Stuttgart involved in custody arrangements. Customers can access the product through the Sparkassen app instead of creating a separate account at a crypto exchange. That convenience is central to the strategy, but the banks say the product is intended for customers making their own trading decisions rather than for a mass marketing drive.

The cautious messaging is deliberate. Sparkassen continues to describe cryptocurrencies as highly speculative and warns of steep volatility and total loss. Traditional savings products remain its preferred route for broad long-term wealth building.

This is a meaningful change for the German retail market nonetheless. Banks built on deposits and household relationships are responding to demand that previously went to specialist exchanges and mobile-first financial apps. How quickly individual branches opt in will matter more than the headline customer reach of the entire network.

Written by the News Desk and edited by Samuel Rae.

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