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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Latvia Changes Crypto Tax Treatment And Opens A 2027 Declaration Window

Latvia has passed a change to the way crypto investment-account gains are taxed, shifting attention from individual trades to what an investor ultimately withdraws from an eligible account.

TL;DR: New Latvian legislation taxes qualifying account withdrawals above deposits and provides a one-time 2027 process for declaring older holdings. The country is also considering crypto tax payments, but that payment service is not yet established.

The reform passed parliament on October 15. Under the investment-account approach described in reporting on the law, moving between crypto assets inside the account no longer automatically creates the same tax event as withdrawing more value than the amount contributed. Investors will still need records that establish their deposits and withdrawals.

There is also an attempt to resolve a practical problem for people who bought digital assets years ago and cannot reconstruct their original cost basis. A declaration mechanism would let eligible holders regularize historical positions at a 10% charge based on their value at the end of 2026. Applications are scheduled for April 1 through May 31, 2027, with payment due by July 23.

The proposed ability to pay taxes with cryptocurrency is a separate issue. Officials have discussed it as a potential step for 2027, but the currencies, provider and operational arrangements have not been announced. It should not be confused with the tax law parliament has already adopted.

For the wider EU market, Latvia’s move illustrates how governments are adapting old tax concepts to assets that can be exchanged continuously. The details of account eligibility and recordkeeping will decide how helpful the change is in practice.

Written by the News Desk and edited by Samuel Rae.

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JPMorgan Takes JPM Coin To Ethereum As Banks Test Public-Chain Settlement

JPMorgan is taking its bank-issued deposit token onto public Ethereum, an expansion that puts an established Wall Street payments product on infrastructure traditionally associated with crypto-native finance.

TL;DR: JPMorgan is expanding access to JPM Coin on Ethereum for institutional users. The token represents bank deposits rather than an independently issued stablecoin, and participation remains restricted.

The significance is in who is allowed to move the money, and where. JPM Coin gives eligible customers a tokenized claim on dollars deposited with JPMorgan. Its move onto Ethereum creates a way for institutions to send funds and settle transactions around the clock while still operating inside the bank’s permissioning framework.

That distinction separates deposit tokens from the conventional stablecoin model. A holder of a dollar stablecoin generally has a claim governed by the issuer’s redemption arrangements and reserve assets. JPM Coin is bank money represented in token form. It is not being offered as a freely transferable dollar for ordinary Ethereum users.

JPMorgan previously introduced the deposit token on Base, and Ethereum provides another venue where financial institutions and tokenization platforms can coordinate payments. Potential uses include moving collateral and settling transactions against tokenized assets, where a conventional banking cut-off can create delay between the asset leg and the cash leg.

A public blockchain does not automatically make the system open to everyone. The bank continues to control institutional access and compliance. The development is better understood as traditional finance adopting a public settlement network without abandoning its existing customer controls.

For Ethereum, that may be the bigger story: a major bank choosing its infrastructure for business that depends on predictable dollar settlement, rather than simply issuing another experiment.

Written by the News Desk and edited by Samuel Rae.

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Solana’s Tokenized Asset Market Grows More Than Sixfold In A Year

TL;DR: Research attributed to Castle Labs puts Solana’s real-world asset market at about $4.3 billion, versus $700 million a year earlier. Ethereum remains substantially larger, but the gap has narrowed sharply.

Solana’s next growth story may have less to do with meme coins and more to do with assets that already exist in the traditional financial system.

According to a recent Castle Labs assessment of the ecosystem, the value of real-world assets represented on Solana rose from approximately $700 million to $4.3 billion over twelve months. That is more than a sixfold increase in the market’s size, although it should not be confused with a 600% mathematical gain: the increase from those rounded figures is about 514%.

The comparison with Ethereum is revealing. The same report put Ethereum’s tokenized asset value at roughly $16.6 billion, against $15.5 billion a year earlier. Ethereum remains almost four times Solana’s size by this measure, but Solana’s total now equals about 26% of Ethereum’s, up from approximately 4.5%.

The category includes assets such as tokenized securities, credit and yield-bearing instruments, rather than a single kind of token. The figures can shift as new products are issued, underlying market values move and data providers change how they categorize assets.

It is tempting to treat the increase as a direct forecast for SOL’s price, but that leap would be unjustified. Tokenization can grow without every dollar of additional asset value translating neatly into demand for a network’s native token.

The more useful conclusion is that Solana is becoming a meaningful venue for financial instruments beyond cryptocurrencies themselves. Whether it can close more of the gap with Ethereum will depend on issuers, liquidity and the quality of the applications built around those assets.

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Block’s Proto Mining Hardware Gets A Smaller Entry Point With Sazmining

TL;DR: Sazmining is offering individual Proto immersion hashboards at $4,187 each, with financing and managed hosting. The arrangement lowers the upfront hardware purchase but does not remove Bitcoin mining‘s ongoing costs or profitability risk.

Buying into industrial Bitcoin mining usually means dealing with noisy equipment, electricity contracts and cooling infrastructure. A new offering built around Block’s Proto hardware takes a different approach: purchase a single hashboard and leave the hosting to someone else.

Sazmining lists Proto immersion hashboards configured for approximately 204 terahashes per second, with efficiency of roughly 15 joules per terahash. Three boards make up a full Proto Immersion Module, but customers can start with one.

The advertised hardware price is $4,187. Its financing option requires $1,397 upfront followed by 18 monthly payments of $155, at a stated 0% interest rate. A separate hosting and maintenance fee of $153 a month applies, covering power at the quoted service rate and operational support.

Those recurring charges are central to the economics. A lower entry price does not mean free mining, and the Bitcoin received depends on network difficulty, rewards, uptime, fees and the market price of BTC. A hashboard can be technically efficient and still produce disappointing returns for its owner.

For Block, the offer broadens the potential audience for its Proto equipment. For Sazmining, it packages industrial hardware into a managed service that customers can purchase in smaller units.

The appeal is convenience and modularity. The question for buyers is whether the projected mining revenue comfortably covers all the costs that continue after the hardware purchase.

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Charles Schwab Opens Bitcoin And Ethereum Transfers As Crypto Rollout Expands

TL;DR: Charles Schwab is expanding its direct Bitcoin and Ethereum services, including phased external wallet transfers. The move brings digital asset ownership further into the company’s conventional brokerage experience.

Charles Schwab is moving its cryptocurrency service closer to the features customers expect from a dedicated digital asset platform.

The brokerage has been rolling out direct Bitcoin and Ethereum trading to eligible clients, and its latest account documentation explains how approved customers can transfer supported assets to and from external wallets.

For Schwab, that is a meaningful step beyond providing market exposure inside an investment account.

Buying Crypto Is Only The Beginning

Brokerage customers increasingly want to decide whether to hold digital assets with a financial institution or move them to another approved custody arrangement.

Schwab’s transfer functionality is being introduced in phases. Users must meet identity verification requirements and may encounter security checks and waiting periods for approved wallet addresses.

The platform also continues to distinguish cryptocurrency from conventional insured bank deposits. The value of Bitcoin and Ethereum is not protected by FDIC insurance merely because the assets are held through a Schwab service.

As NewsBTC reported when Schwab introduced direct crypto trading, the rollout has been deliberately gradual.

Traditional Brokerages Become Serious Rivals

Schwab already has millions of brokerage relationships and well-established infrastructure. Adding cryptocurrency ownership makes those relationships increasingly valuable in a market where digital asset exchanges are competing with conventional financial firms.

The company has also discussed expanding its supported assets beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum.

The wider trend is clear: investors are increasingly being offered cryptocurrency services through the same institutions they use for stocks and other financial products.

The competitive question is no longer simply whether traditional brokerages will support cryptocurrency. It is how much of the customer experience they intend to control.

Written by the News Desk and edited by Samuel Rae.

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Crypto Giants Feature In $210 Million Political Donations Report As Regulatory Scrutiny Grows

TL;DR: An October 8 Public Citizen report links corporations and individuals benefiting from cancelled federal enforcement actions to approximately $210.5 million in donations and pledges to Trump-aligned political committees. Major cryptocurrency companies feature among the reported contributors.

A report examining corporate political donations and changes to federal enforcement has placed several major cryptocurrency businesses under renewed public scrutiny.

Consumer advocacy organisation Public Citizen said companies and individuals connected to beneficiaries of cancelled or curtailed enforcement actions had contributed or pledged roughly $210.5 million to Trump-aligned political committees.

The research, originally published October 8, includes cryptocurrency firms such as Crypto.com and Gemini. It should not be described as a brand-new October 16 investigation.

The Crypto Industry’s Political Spending

According to the report, Crypto.com-associated contributions included $35 million to MAGA Inc. and another $2 million to a separate Trump-aligned committee.

Public Citizen also examined contributions involving Gemini and the Winklevoss brothers, alongside regulatory matters affecting the exchange.

The watchdog argues that the scale of political spending deserves attention, particularly where companies also benefit from changes in how government agencies pursue enforcement.

But political contributions are not proof of an illegal arrangement. The report does not establish that the named donors purchased specific regulatory decisions.

A Broader Political Debate

The cryptocurrency industry has become increasingly involved in Washington, advocating for clearer legislation and a more predictable business environment.

NewsBTC has previously reported on substantial cryptocurrency political contributions, part of a larger push to influence rules affecting exchanges, stablecoins and token issuers.

Supporters of those efforts argue that previous regulation created unnecessary uncertainty. Critics say large corporate donors may enjoy disproportionate access to policymakers.

Public Citizen’s findings add to that debate while leaving the central legal distinction intact: correlation between donations and enforcement outcomes does not establish corruption.

Written by the News Desk and edited by Samuel Rae.

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Bitcoin ETFs Lose $82 Million As BlackRock Leads Friday’s Withdrawals

TL;DR: US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded approximately $82.4 million in net outflows on October 16. BlackRock’s IBIT accounted for $71.8 million of withdrawals, with Fidelity’s FBTC recording about $10.6 million.

BlackRock’s flagship spot Bitcoin ETF accounted for most of the selling as US-listed Bitcoin investment funds closed Friday’s session with net withdrawals of approximately $82.4 million.

Farside Investors’ figures show that the iShares Bitcoin Trust, known as IBIT, lost $71.8 million on October 16. Fidelity’s Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund recorded around $10.6 million in net outflows, while the remaining products were broadly flat on the day.

That concentration matters because IBIT has become one of the clearest measures of Bitcoin demand through traditional brokerage accounts.

Another Uneven Week For ETF Demand

The latest withdrawals followed substantial redemptions earlier in the week. October 14 saw roughly $261 million leave the category, followed by a modest return to net inflows on October 15.

Friday’s negative session therefore suggests demand remains unsettled rather than following a clear trend.

Investors have seen considerably larger individual outflow days in the past. Earlier October withdrawals approached $485 million in a single session, demonstrating how rapidly demand through these products can shift.

Context Is Important

An ETF outflow is not a complete measure of institutional Bitcoin ownership, and it does not necessarily indicate that every underlying holder has abandoned a long-term position.

Net inflows into the US spot Bitcoin ETF market since the products launched remained substantial despite the latest withdrawals.

The next trading sessions will be important. A quick recovery would suggest another temporary adjustment, while continued redemptions from IBIT and FBTC would place greater emphasis on whether traditional investors are reducing their exposure amid broader market uncertainty.

Written by the News Desk and edited by Samuel Rae.

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Circle Targets 40 New Markets As USDC Push Moves Beyond Crypto Trading

TL;DR: Circle plans to expand USDC infrastructure into approximately 40 developing and emerging markets. The company is targeting international payments and access to digital dollars rather than relying solely on cryptocurrency exchange demand.

Circle is looking well beyond cryptocurrency trading as it prepares to extend USDC’s reach into approximately 40 emerging and developing markets.

CEO Jeremy Allaire outlined the ambition during discussions surrounding the October 16 international financial meetings in Bangkok. The strategy focuses on places where businesses and individuals want access to dollar-denominated payments but may face expensive or inefficient conventional banking arrangements.

The opportunity is straightforward: a stablecoin that can move between compatible wallets at any hour could offer a useful payment alternative. The difficult part is connecting those wallets to actual financial activity.

From Exchange Balances To Everyday Payments

USDC has long been widely used by cryptocurrency traders as a dollar-linked asset. Circle now wants to make it part of cross-border invoices, business settlement and consumer payments.

That requires more than issuing tokens. Businesses need reliable local currency conversion, banking connections, compliance arrangements and confidence that USDC can be redeemed as intended.

Circle has increasingly built partnerships around these services. Existing stablecoin initiatives, including creator payouts and digital payment programmes, show how digital dollars can be incorporated into familiar financial experiences.

Expansion Will Be Uneven

Regulation is likely to determine the pace of Circle’s international push. Some countries welcome stablecoin payment infrastructure, while others restrict foreign currency access or require substantial local licensing.

Tether’s USDT is also already entrenched across a number of international markets.

Circle must therefore establish the practical value of USDC for customers who may never buy Bitcoin or speculate on another cryptocurrency. If the strategy succeeds, its next stage of growth could depend less on crypto market cycles and more on the ordinary movement of money.

Written by the News Desk and edited by Samuel Rae.

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Judge Rejects Gemini And CFTC Bid To Overturn $5 Million Settlement

TL;DR: A federal judge has rejected a joint attempt by Gemini and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to overturn the exchange’s $5 million settlement. The decision leaves the existing judgment in place despite the regulator’s changed approach to cryptocurrency enforcement.

Gemini has failed in an unusual attempt to undo a regulatory settlement, despite having the very agency that brought the original case on its side.

US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein rejected a joint motion by the exchange and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission seeking to vacate a consent judgment entered in January 2025.

The settlement arose from allegations that Gemini misled the regulator during its review of a proposed Bitcoin futures product in 2017. Gemini agreed to pay a $5 million penalty and accepted a permanent injunction.

When Regulators Change Their Minds

The CFTC subsequently reconsidered the original enforcement case as its digital asset priorities evolved. Together with Gemini, it asked the court to revisit the settlement.

That is a very different situation from the more familiar legal battle in which an exchange disputes a regulator’s allegations. This time, both parties wanted relief from the court’s earlier judgment.

But a change in enforcement policy does not automatically erase a final court order. The judge found that the arguments presented did not satisfy the legal standards for reopening the settlement.

The decision is significant for other cryptocurrency businesses hoping that a more accommodating federal regulatory environment might undo historical enforcement outcomes.

What Changes For Gemini?

In the immediate term, very little. The settlement remains in effect and the court has not imposed a new fine.

The wider message is more important: courts retain control of their judgments, even when a regulatory agency changes its view of a case.

Washington’s approach to cryptocurrency may have become more favourable, but companies cannot assume that previously approved settlements will disappear alongside the political circumstances in which they were reached.

Written by the News Desk and edited by Samuel Rae.

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MSCI Tightens Index Rules As Strategy And Other Bitcoin Treasury Firms Face Fresh Scrutiny

TL;DR: MSCI has revised its methodology for classifying non-operating companies, putting Bitcoin-heavy treasury businesses under closer index scrutiny. Any possible exclusion of companies such as Strategy must be assessed against the actual screening criteria and protections for existing index constituents.

One of the most important questions facing publicly listed Bitcoin treasury companies may no longer be about Bitcoin’s price. It may be about whether index providers consider them operating businesses at all.

MSCI announced changes to the rules governing eligibility for its Global Investable Market Indexes on October 15. The methodology is intended to distinguish companies conducting substantial operating activities from those functioning primarily as investment vehicles.

Strategy, the Michael Saylor-led business that has raised enormous sums to purchase Bitcoin, is an obvious company for investors to watch. But the new rules do not mean Strategy has already been removed from MSCI indexes.

The Financial Tests That Matter

Under the revised approach, balance-sheet composition is only the beginning. MSCI also examines operating and financial characteristics before determining whether a business falls within the non-operating classification.

That distinction matters because businesses holding digital assets can still have genuine operating activities. A large Bitcoin treasury does not by itself establish an immediate exclusion under the entire methodology.

MSCI has also outlined safeguards for existing constituents. These are intended to reduce abrupt changes when companies move between eligibility classifications.

Why Index Membership Matters

MSCI benchmarks underpin investment decisions at institutions worldwide. When a company leaves a major benchmark, funds tracking it may need to adjust their holdings even if they remain bullish about the business.

For Bitcoin treasury firms, such an adjustment would be separate from developments on the blockchain or movements in their Bitcoin reserves. It would be driven by their treatment within conventional equity indexes.

The November index review should provide clearer answers about the practical consequences. Until then, treating any specific company’s removal as a completed event would go further than MSCI’s announcement supports.

Written by the News Desk and edited by Samuel Rae.

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MEXC AI Trading Report Reveals 85% of Crypto Traders Use AI, But Most Limit Its Control Over Funds

Mutsamudu, Comoros, October 16, 2026 — MEXC, a global cryptocurrency exchange, released its AI Trading Report, based on a survey of 3,708 crypto traders. The report examines how respondents use AI, how much trading authority they would delegate, and what protective measures they expect from platforms. Blockchain security firm Hacken contributed technical analysis of risks associated with AI agent trading and the controls designed to address them.

Key takeaways:

• 84.8% of surveyed crypto users have used AI for research or trading. While 58.3% report improved market research, 46% also report better trade execution, though 54% have yet to see improvement at the execution stage.
• Interest in AI agents is already significant: half of respondents are interested in AI agents but have not tried them. 
• 65.9% of AI users act on its advice at least sometimes; only 20% have tried execution without approving each trade.
• 54% would let AI trade with some funds, but no more than 20% of their account; only 6.5% would authorize more than half.
• Half of users with automated execution experience worry they could fail to detect or stop problems in time.
• Willingness to use automated trading grows from 55% under the baseline scenario to 71.8% when limits on funds, positions, leverage and losses are added.
• 95.5% support at least one mandatory protective measure, even as many want control over their own settings.

The report found that 84.8% of respondents had used AI to analyze or trade digital assets in the previous six months, with 53.1% using it at least weekly. Adoption was higher among younger participants: 88.5% of respondents aged 18–34 had used AI, compared with 69.9% of those aged 45 and older. Among respondents who reported not using AI, difficulty getting started or high entry barriers was a more common obstacle than AI mistrust, cited by 46.7% and 32.7%, respectively.

AI’s biggest role remained preparation before a trade. Summarizing news was among the most frequent tasks for 54.3% of AI users, ahead of market analysis at 48.6% and finding trading opportunities at 38%. Only 7.6% selected direct execution as one of their most-used tasks. Looking at their most recent AI-assisted trade, 68.9% said AI contributed most before execution, compared with 22.7% during trading.

Users were also more positive about research than execution. While 58.3% reported better market research, 46% reported improved execution. Another 30.9% saw no change in execution, and 23.1% said it had worsened. These assessments reflect respondents’ experiences rather than independently measured trading performance.

AI advice nevertheless influenced trading activity. Among AI users, 65.9% said they placed orders or adjusted positions based on its recommendations at least sometimes. These groups could overlap.

Risk limits changed respondents’ willingness to automate. In a scenario offering notifications, pausing and permission revocation, 55% were willing to let AI trade automatically. Adding limits on funds, assets, positions, leverage and losses, with automatic stopping at the loss threshold, brought willingness to 71.8% — an increase of 16.8 percentage points.

That willingness did not extend to most of an account’s funds. In a separate scenario prohibiting transfers and withdrawals and allowing users to stop trading at any time, 54% would authorize no more than 20% of their account assets and only 6.5% would authorize more than half.

Hacken’s contribution examines why withdrawal restrictions alone cannot prevent losses. An agent with trading access could still be manipulated into buying an asset at an inflated price or taking on excessive exposure. Its analysis outlines protective measures set independently of the agent, including limits on orders, total positions and permissions, alongside security testing to ensure unwanted actions are blocked before execution.

On oversight, 46.2% of respondents preferred exchanges to offer safety settings users could choose to enable, about 1.8 times the share who preferred uniform minimum requirements set by the platform (25.7%). Support for user choice did not mean rejecting industry standards: among those who preferred optional settings and answered the separate standards question, 97.8% backed at least one mandatory measure.

Across all 3,464 valid responses to the standards question, a risk assessment or knowledge test before first use received the most support at 55.3%. Independent audits and limits on capital and loss that cannot be disabled followed at 38.8% each.

“As AI becomes more integrated into trading, our findings show that users don’t want less control. They want clearer boundaries,” said Vugar Usi Zade, CEO of MEXC. “For traders, that means clear risk limits, the ability to intervene when needed, and confidence that the platform has done its part before automation begins.”

The full AI Trading Report, including Hacken’s security contribution, is available here.

 

About MEXC

Founded in 2018, MEXC is a leading global multi-asset trading platform built as your 0-fee gateway to infinite opportunities. Serving users across 170+ markets, MEXC provides simple and efficient access to crypto, stocks, tokenized assets, derivatives, and a growing range of TradFi-linked opportunities through one account and one gateway.

With 0 trading fees, deep liquidity, broad asset coverage, and a high-performance trading experience, MEXC is designed for retail users who want to discover earlier, act faster, and trade with fewer barriers. As crypto and traditional finance continue to converge, MEXC is committed to making global opportunities more accessible, helping users trade freely and MEXCmize every opportunity.

MEXC Official Website｜ X ｜ Telegram ｜How to Sign Up on MEXC

For media inquiries, please contact the MEXC PR team: media@mexc.com

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BingX EU Secures MiCAR License, Advancing Regulated Crypto Services Across Europe

VIENNA, October 15, 2026 – BingX EU (MEGE zweite GmbH) has secured its Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA or MiCAR) license from Austria’s Financial Market Authority (FMA), that will enable the platform to offer regulated crypto services across 29 countries of the European Economic Area (EEA), subject to ongoing passporting arrangements. The authorization marks a significant milestone in BingX’s European expansion, providing EEA users with access to digital asset services under a unified regulatory framework built on transparency, security, and investor protection.

 

The authorization reflects BingX EU’s long-term commitment to responsible growth in Europe. As digital assets become increasingly integrated into the financial system, regulatory clarity plays an essential role in strengthening user confidence, supporting institutional participation, and enabling sustainable industry development. Through its regulated European entity, BingX EU will provide compliant crypto services designed to meet the evolving needs of both retail and institutional users across the EEA.

 

“Our priority is to provide European users with trusted and locally regulated trading experience,” said Daniel Lai, Chief Executive Officer of BingX EU. “Operating under MiCAR will allow us to deliver our services under a clear regulatory framework that gives users confidence while supporting the long-term development of Europe’s digital ecosystem. It also enables us to combine innovation with the high standards of security, transparency and accountability that European users and institutions expect. We believe this foundation can help create a more accessible and sustainable environment for the continued adoption of digital assets across the region.”

Looking forward, BingX EU will continue working closely with Austria’s FMA and other European regulators as it prepares for the launch of its regulated services across the European Economic Area. BingX EU remains committed to operating within Europe’s regulatory framework while providing users with secure, transparent and compliant access to digital asset services.

 

About BingX EU

MEGE zweite GmbH (“BingX EU“) is a MiCAR-regulated crypto-asset platform, headquartered in Vienna, licensed as a Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR). Dedicated to serving clients across 29 countries in the European Economic Area, BingX EU delivers fully regulated services in alignment with European standards for investor protection and market integrity. Under its MiCAR authorization, BingX EU provides a platform that offers regulated broker services, such as crypto custody, exchange, and other crypto services.

For media inquiries, please contact: media@bingx.eu

 

About BingX

Founded in 2018, BingX is one of the the world’s leading multi-asset trading platform, serving more than 40 million users worldwide. The company has been the Principal Partner of Chelsea FC since 2024 and became the Official Team Partner of Scuderia Ferrari HP in 2026.

 

Disclaimers: The content qualifies as a marketing communication under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR) and is issued by MEGE zweite GmbH (BingX EU). It does not constitute investment advice.

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HTX Publishes Its Q3 2026 Scorecard: Cumulative TradFi Trading Volume Approaches $6B Amid 13th Anniversary Celebration

Apia, Samoa, October 14, 2026 – The crypto market saw a notable rally in the just-concluded third quarter. It was also the quarter in which HTX turned 13. Over the past 13 years, the industry has weathered multiple bull and bear cycles, and HTX has stood alongside users worldwide throughout them. Resilience in navigating market cycles has been a defining characteristic of HTX over the past 13 years.

To mark its anniversary themed “Resilience Reveals the Future”, HTX launched the 13th-Anniversary Carnival and Trading Championship #3, among other celebratory events, in the third quarter, celebrating alongside users worldwide. Meanwhile, the platform continued to invest in TradFi, trending assets, yield products, and global compliance, delivering an outstanding quarterly performance report.

13th-Anniversary Celebrations Conclude, with Participation from Users Worldwide

On August 13, HTX kicked off its 13th-anniversary celebrations with the Anniversary Carnival. Its spot, futures, Earn and lending businesses rolled out exclusive anniversary promotions in succession, launching a celebration that lasted more than a month.

The annual trading competition Trading Championship #3 was the centerpiece of the anniversary celebrations. It attracted 45,000 registrations and generated 6.8 billion USDT in futures trading volume, making it the platform’s largest campaign of the quarter by both participation and trading volume. Meanwhile, HTX futures copy trading volume grew 21% quarter over quarter.

For spot trading, a series of 13th-anniversary campaigns, including the Individual Challenge, Trending Cryptos Margin Trading Carnival, and Points Tasks, played a key role in driving spot trading growth during the quarter. Over the three-month period, HTX launched 14 themed spot trading campaigns, attracting more than 46,000 registrations and generating over 500 million USDT in trading volume across the campaigns.

For 13 years, HTX and users worldwide have navigated one market cycle after another together. The anniversary celebrations were both a gesture of appreciation for users’ long-term support and a reflection of HTX’s determination to carry its resilience into the next 13 years.

TradFi Asset Offerings Expand as Quarterly Trading Volume More Than Doubles

In the third quarter, HTX listed 183 new futures assets, including 154 stocks and index-related assets. As of now, the platform offers 278 tradable stock assets, spanning US stocks, major global indices and ETFs, pre-IPO unicorns, and leading companies in Japan and South Korea, continuing to lead the industry in multi-market stock asset coverage.

HTX’s asset lineup focuses on four key sectors: AI hardware and semiconductor computing power, global e-commerce and internet companies, leading Asia-Pacific companies and major indices, and high-dividend blue-chip stocks. AI and semiconductor computing, leading Asia-Pacific companies, and pre-IPO unicorns were key themes throughout the quarter. Popular assets such as POLYMARKET, OURA and MOONSHOT were also listed. Eligible users can access global market opportunities through HTX without switching between platforms. This service is not available in jurisdictions subject to regulatory restrictions.

The expanded asset lineup drove rapid growth in trading volume. So far the cumulative TradFi trading volume on HTX has approached $6 billion, with $4.1 billion generated in the third quarter alone, more than doubling the cumulative total from the previous quarter.

The trading experience was upgraded alongside these developments. Stock perpetual futures feature a dividend settlement mechanism, allowing position values to adjust more continuously when an underlying stock goes ex-dividend and reducing the impact of non-trading-related price adjustments on users’ positions. TradFi asset detail pages include market data, news updates, and company profile, bringing key information together in one place. Dedicated categories for stocks, commodities and ETFs have also been added to market rankings, making it easier for users to discover assets. HTX has also upgraded its TradFi trading fee structure, bringing its net trading fees into the industry’s top tier.

HTX is also taking a longer-term view of the convergence of traditional finance and crypto markets. As real-world assets (RWAs), particularly tokenized stocks, become an increasingly important area of development in the global digital asset industry, the platform is monitoring regulatory developments and exploring regulatory frameworks and compliance pathways in preparation for future product innovation. All related products and services offered by the platform operate within the framework of applicable laws and regulations, and access restrictions are applied to users in certain jurisdictions as required.

Trending Assets Emerge as Earn and Lending Products Put Funds to Work Efficiently

In the third quarter, HTX listed new projects attracting strong market interest, several of which were first listed on the platform. Niulai was the quarter’s top-performing newly listed token, recording a peak gain of more than 500%. DOS and STONK each recorded peak gains of 240% after listing.

Earn and lending products expanded alongside new asset listings. During the quarter, HTX Earn changed the launch schedule for its new-token products from weekly updates to real-time synchronization with new listings, allowing users to access corresponding Earn products as soon as eligible popular tokens become available. Nearly 500,000 users participated in HTX Earn during the quarter, with subscription amounts totaling nearly 1 billion USDT. SVIP Flexible Earn products added BTC and ETH, expanding the options available to users with large holdings. In addition, SmartEarn introduced a trading-linked APY boost, offering a base APY of 4% upon activation and up to 9% APY for users who meet the required trading volume threshold. This further expands the yield potential for idle assets.

Margin and Convert features added 21 tradable assets, with XAUT becoming the first precious metal asset available through Convert. This further expanded the range of assets available for trading, borrowing and use as collateral. Loan interest rates are adjusted frequently in response to market conditions across more than 50 cryptocurrencies. Interest rates for large loans remain among the lower levels in the industry.

Risk management tools were also upgraded. Trailing stop orders and MMR TP/SL orders were launched successively. Stop-loss levels can automatically track market movements, giving users with large positions and high leverage greater flexibility in managing risk.

Advancing Global Compliance and Making a Major Brand Appearance at TOKEN2049

Compliance is a prerequisite for global expansion. In the third quarter, HTX made further progress on compliance initiatives in several key markets. In Dubai, the establishment of the relevant applicant entity received preliminary approval from the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), with subsequent regulatory applications and compliance reviews proceeding as planned. In Pakistan, following the formal publication of virtual asset service regulations and the launch of a licensing application process, HTX continued to advance the establishment of its local entity, its formal license application, and the development of its compliance framework, building on the No Objection Certificate (NoC) already obtained from the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA).

HTX continued to strengthen its presence in regional markets. In August, HTX Ventures participated in Conviction Vietnam, building connections with local users and Web3 ecosystem partners. As the fourth quarter began, HTX appeared at TOKEN2049, a major annual gathering for the global crypto industry. Held in Singapore from October 7–8, the event brought together projects, investment firms, developers, and industry builders from around the world. HTX Ventures exhibited at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore, engaging invited guests through brand displays and on-site interactions. Justin Sun, adviser to HTX and a core supporter of HTX DAO, attended related events and delivered a speech. He visited the HTX Ventures booth to meet with the team and other industry participants.

At Future Night, a private, invitation-only event hosted by HTX DAO during the same period, Justin Sun shared his views on industry trends via video. He noted that the crypto industry is becoming more closely connected with traditional finance. AI is changing how wealth is created, while crypto and digital finance are transforming how wealth is held and transferred. He also said that stablecoins could play a greater role in global payments and settlement, while the on-chain adoption of traditional assets such as bonds, funds and gold is likely to continue developing. The free flow of value in the digital world, he said, will be an important trend to watch over the next decade.

During the event, HTX DAO also hosted a private VIP dinner. Justin Sun met face to face with industry representatives, ecosystem contributors, and partners to exchange views on industry developments, market changes, product experiences, and future collaboration.

HTX DAO Ecosystem Expands as Q3 $HTX Burn Approaches

HTX DAO continued to support the long-term value of $HTX in the third quarter by steadily implementing its deflationary mechanism through quarterly token burns, while expanding $HTX use cases and building consensus among developers and the community. These efforts aim to lay a solid foundation for the ecosystem’s long-term development.

On July 15, HTX DAO completed its Q2 2026 $HTX token burn, valued at more than $13.6 million, bringing cumulative burns and donations to 117.79 trillion tokens. In line with its quarterly burn schedule, the Q3 $HTX token burn is scheduled to take place on October 15.

On the ecosystem front, HTX DAO focused on developers and the community. The Genesis Hackathon, co-hosted by HTX DAO and B.AI, attracted more than 200 developer teams exploring $HTX use cases, AI agent finance, on-chain asset management, and DAO tools. At Future Night, HTX DAO ambassador Molly shared that several projects developed by global university teams participating in the hackathon had advanced to further incubation stages and were exploring ways to integrate with use cases across the $HTX ecosystem.

Molly also shared that nearly 200 active volunteers were independently contributing to HTX DAO community development. In the fourth quarter, HTX DAO plans to develop regional community nodes to support members in organizing events and exchanging ideas.  She also noted that HTX, as an ecosystem participant, continues to optimize withdrawal fees, gather user feedback, and improve the app experience.

Navigating Market Cycles with Resilience, Shaping the Future Together with Users Worldwide

Thirteen years ago, HTX began as a digital asset trading platform. Today, it has grown into a comprehensive blockchain ecosystem serving users worldwide. Over the years, markets have experienced both highs and lows, and the industry landscape has evolved. Throughout these changes, HTX has remained committed to putting users first. Regardless of market conditions, improving its products and prioritizing the security of user assets remain among the platform’s top priorities.

Standing at the beginning of its 14th year, HTX will continue to navigate market cycles with resilience and build the future together with users worldwide.

About HTX

Founded in 2013, HTX has evolved from a virtual asset exchange into a comprehensive ecosystem of blockchain businesses that span digital asset trading, derivatives, research, investments, incubation, and other businesses.

Guided by its vision to “Achieve Financial Freedom for 8 Billion People Worldwide,” HTX works to make the digital asset space more accessible to a broader audience. The platform continues to develop its products and services in response to user needs and an evolving industry landscape. 

To learn more about HTX, please visit https://www.htx.net.in/ or HTX Square , and follow HTX on X, Telegram, and Discord. For further inquiries, please contact glo-media@htx-inc.com.

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