Regulatory clarity and global expansion took center stage in crypto over the past 24 hours, as SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce reaffirmed that tokenized securities must comply with existing rules, and the US Senate held a pivotal hearing on digital asset market structure. Meanwhile, Circle expanded stablecoin payouts to Brazil and Hong Kong and inked a revenue-sharing deal with Bybit, while the UK announced new tax ID requirements for crypto users starting in 2026.
Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will introduce new regulations from January 1, 2026, mandating that crypto asset users in the United Kingdom provide tax identification numbers and other personal information to service providers.
SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce, known for her supportive stance on the cryptocurrency industry, stated that tokenized securities—such as blockchain-based representations of US equities—are still considered securities and must comply with existing regulations. Her comments come as companies and exchanges like Robinhood and Kraken increase efforts to introduce tokenized stocks in the US.
Top lawmakers on the US Senate Banking Committee met with Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse and other key crypto industry figures to discuss the evolving structure and potential regulation of digital asset markets. During the hearing, industry insiders outlined their proposals for market oversight, while Senator Elizabeth Warren highlighted major Democratic concerns regarding crypto regulation.
Australia's central bank, as part of Project Acacia, is launching a new phase of trials to test central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and stablecoins. This stage involves collaboration with industry partners and will use real money and assets for the first time, aiming to explore how digital money and tokenization could support the country's financial markets.
Circle, the company behind the USDC stablecoin, has launched stablecoin-powered payouts in Brazil and Hong Kong as part of its global payments infrastructure expansion. Additionally, Circle has entered a revenue-sharing agreement with Bybit, the world's second-largest crypto exchange, similar to previous deals with Coinbase and Binance, allowing platforms to receive a portion of the yield from USDC reserves.
Pakistan's central bank, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), is preparing to launch a pilot for a central bank digital currency (CBDC) and is finalising legislation to regulate virtual assets. Governor Jameel Ahmad announced the initiative at the Reuters NEXT Asia summit in Singapore, highlighting it as part of ongoing efforts to modernise the country's financial system.
Monad Foundation, the organization behind the high-speed layer-1 blockchain Monad, is acquiring stablecoin infrastructure platform Portal Labs to expand blockchain-based payments. Following the acquisition, Portal co-founder and CEO Raj Parekh will join Monad Foundation as Head of Payments and Stablecoins. Monad Foundation's Keone Hon stated the team has been considering ways to grow the onchain economy for some time.
Biosig Technologies and Streamex Exchange have secured up to $1.1 billion in financing to launch a gold-backed treasury strategy and expand real-world asset tokenization in the commodities sector.
Dubai's Emirates Airline has signed a preliminary agreement with Crypto.com to allow customers to make payments using cryptocurrency through the trading platform's payment service. The partnership, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding, aims to introduce crypto payments and launch promotional campaigns to boost adoption, targeting millions of international travelers through Dubai International Airport and Dubai Duty Free.
Cryptocurrency trading firm Galaxy Digital has expanded its blockchain staking platform for large institutional customers through a new integration with crypto custody provider Fireblocks, the companies announced Wednesday. The partnership aims to offer staking access to up to 2,000 financial institutions.
In recent weeks, Solana-based exchange Jupiter and NFT conglomerate Yuga Labs have both decided to abandon their decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) structures. The companies cited dysfunction and disillusionment with DAO governance in their statements, highlighting growing concerns about the effectiveness of this model in the crypto sector.
Robinhood shares are trading close to their all-time high as the company's strategy to expand into crypto and blockchain, including tokenization initiatives, continues to show positive results.
South Korean cryptocurrency exchanges Upbit and Bithumb announced the listing of two new altcoins, Hyperlane (HYPER) and Babylon (BABY), leading to price surges for both tokens.
AI agents are rapidly reshaping industries such as fitness and finance, operating autonomously and adapting to user needs around the clock. With $500 million in backing from cryptocurrency sources, these agents are driving the emergence of personalized and scalable services, signaling a significant shift in how such sectors operate.
Story Foundation President has indicated that the widely discussed “dead internet” theory, which posits a future dominated by AI-generated content, may soon become a reality. Both Story Protocol and World are preparing for an internet environment increasingly saturated with artificial intelligence.
A new movement is combining artificial intelligence and blockchain technology to create open, scalable, and trustless infrastructure. This decentralized approach is emerging alongside traditional players like Nvidia and Google, signaling a shift in how AI infrastructure may be developed and operated.
A Chinese creditor has opposed FTX's motion to halt payouts to users in certain restricted jurisdictions, including China. FTX has identified $800 million in creditor claims across 49 such nations, with China representing 82% of the total. The proposal to block distributions to these regions has introduced new complications to the ongoing FTX bankruptcy proceedings.
Greek authorities have conducted the country's first-ever cryptocurrency asset seizure, freezing funds traced to the record $1.5 billion Bybit exchange hack attributed to North Korea's Lazarus Group. The Hellenic Anti-Money Laundering Authority issued a freezing order on a suspect wallet after a months-long investigation, utilizing blockchain analysis tools from Chainalysis to recover part of the stolen funds.
New approaches are being developed to address the lack of built-in privacy features in AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Claude. These include emerging cryptographic tools and practical strategies designed to protect sensitive conversations, such as those involving cryptocurrency trades.
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