Global authorities intensified regulatory and enforcement actions across the crypto sector, with Russia establishing a national registry for mining rigs to combat illegal energy use, the UK unveiling new rules to close crypto tax loopholes, and India's Bybit exchange imposing an 18% GST on traders. Meanwhile, the US Secret Service revealed it has seized nearly $400 million in crypto assets, and Singapore fined nine financial firms $21.5 million in a major money laundering probe involving cryptocurrency.
Deputy Energy Minister Petr Konyushenko announced that Russia is establishing a register for crypto miners as part of efforts to legalize the industry and reduce illegal energy consumption. The move aims to address issues of energy theft and tax evasion within the crypto mining sector.
The UK government is introducing new regulations aimed at closing reporting gaps and improving tax enforcement on cryptocurrency profits, which are currently subject to capital gains tax but often go unreported.
African countries are introducing regulatory frameworks for the cryptocurrency sector as major global companies seek to expand their presence in the region. Yellow Card, a provider of infrastructure for stablecoin systems, is among the firms active in supporting the development of Africa's crypto ecosystem.
Indian users of the international crypto exchange Bybit will now be subject to an 18% Goods and Services Tax (GST) on various cryptocurrency transactions. This move comes as Bybit aligns with India's strict crypto tax rules, resulting in increased costs for traders and some service shutdowns, as the company seeks to strengthen its presence in the country amid a tightening regulatory environment.
Bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX has filed a motion in Delaware bankruptcy court requesting permission to freeze payouts to creditors in 49 countries where local cryptocurrency regulations are uncertain or restrictive. The FTX estate cited uncertainty over its legal entitlement to distribute funds in jurisdictions such as China, raising the risk of legal backlash over the proposed freeze.
The CARF regulation introduces global tax reporting standards for cryptocurrencies, aligning them with traditional financial systems and representing a significant milestone in the industry's path toward legitimacy.
Over the past decade, the US Secret Service has quietly seized nearly $400 million in cryptocurrency assets, amassing one of the largest crypto cold wallets globally. The agency intensified its crackdown on crypto-related crimes, leveraging blockchain analysis and international training efforts, including equipping over 60 countries with blockchain tracing skills. Much of the seized funds are held in a single cold-storage wallet, as the Secret Service continues to expose scams and recover illicit assets through advanced surveillance and investigative techniques.
Two men who admitted to operating a cryptocurrency scheme that defrauded 65 investors out of $2 million have each been sentenced to more than five years in prison by a UK court.
Hackers who breached a Central Bank of Brazil service provider and stole $140 million have begun laundering up to $40 million of the stolen funds through cryptocurrencies, according to blockchain investigator ZachXBT. The group is reportedly using over-the-counter (OTC) crypto desks to facilitate the laundering process.
A $2,800 bribe facilitated a cyberattack that resulted in the theft of $148 million from Brazilian financial firms, marking the largest hack in the country's financial infrastructure history. Approximately $40 million of the stolen funds were laundered through cryptocurrency, while around $80 million has been frozen or recovered.
Sweden's Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer has directed local authorities to step up efforts to seize digital assets, including cryptocurrency, as part of an expanded law targeting criminal profits. Since the passage of new seizure legislation in 2024, Swedish authorities have confiscated more than $8.3 million in criminal proceeds, with the justice minister urging greater use of forfeiture powers to further increase crypto seizures.
Singapore has imposed fines totaling S$27.5 million ($21.5 million) on nine financial institutions, including UBS and Citigroup, following an investigation into the country's largest money laundering scandal. The case involved the seizure of assets such as luxury real estate and cryptocurrency.
Crypto adoption is continuing to accelerate, with several developments occurring that may not have received widespread attention. Despite some headlines flying under the radar, the trend toward broader use and acceptance of cryptocurrencies persists.
Crypto adoption is accelerating in high-growth markets, where the technology is being used to address real-world challenges such as remittances, financial inclusion, and supply chain inefficiencies, suggesting that global adoption will continue with or without participation from the United States.
Venture capital activity in the crypto sector remained strong, with startups including Rails, Yupp, Beam, Frachtis, Interface Labs, Gradient Network, Story, Blueprint Finance, and Units Network attracting investment. The latest VC Roundup highlights continued interest in decentralized finance (DeFi), artificial intelligence, and hybrid exchange platforms.
Despite the crypto market reaching $3.33 trillion and bitcoin trading less than 5% below its all-time high, many major altcoins continue to struggle to regain momentum and have yet to achieve new record prices.
Singapore-based Amber International Holding Limited (Nasdaq: AMBR) has raised $25.5 million through a private placement to support its $100 million crypto ecosystem reserve strategy. The company plans to use the new capital to purchase cryptocurrencies such as BTC, ETH, and SOL, and to expand its institutional crypto services in the U.S. and Southeast Asia.
BakeryToken (BAKE), IDEX (IDEX), and Self Chain (SLF) experienced a decline in value after Binance announced it had added these tokens to its Monitoring Tag list, signaling increased scrutiny and potential risk of delisting.
Binance has introduced Institutional Loans, a new cross-collateralized credit line for verified corporate clients. The service unlocks up to 4x leverage across pooled Spot, Margin, and Portfolio accounts, providing access to over 400 crypto assets. The offering is designed to give top-tier traders instant and frictionless access to significant trading power.
OKX, a cryptocurrency exchange, has come under scrutiny for increasing account bans. The company's CEO has apologized, stating that "false positives" are a major challenge in maintaining global compliance, which has resulted in some users being locked out of their accounts.
Hong Kong is preparing its third batch of tokenized bonds and has unveiled a comprehensive digital asset strategy aimed at strengthening its position as Asia's leading center for crypto finance.
Attorneys note that while real-world tokenized assets can track the prices of underlying equities, they do not grant investors the same legal rights as directly holding those instruments, leaving the sector in a regulatory grey zone.
Shenzhen authorities have issued a warning to the public about investment scams involving stablecoins, noting that illegal entities are exploiting rising interest in stablecoins to lure individuals into fraudulent schemes.
Hong Kong will launch its stablecoin licensing regime on August 1, according to Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui. Hui stated that the region may issue stablecoin licenses this year, but approvals are likely to remain in the single digits.
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde cautioned that increasing adoption of stablecoins poses risks by weakening monetary sovereignty and limiting the effectiveness of monetary policy. She asserted that stablecoins, in their current form, should not be considered as money.
Europe's largest asset manager has raised concerns that the rapid growth of U.S.-regulated stablecoins could undermine the U.S. dollar's dominant role in global finance and destabilize international money flows. The warnings come as new stablecoin regulations in the U.S. prompt a significant shift in global financial dynamics.
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