The latest in digital assets, markets and regulation.
Mastercard launched Agent Pay for Machines, enabling AI agents to autonomously pay for services using x402 protocol vouchers. A live demo showed an agent executing nine payments across two merchants without traditional accounts, settling via Coinbase, Base, and BVNK.
Mastercard launched Agent Pay for Machines, enabling AI agents to autonomously pay for services using x402 protocol vouchers. A live demo showed an agent executing nine payments across two merchants without traditional accounts, settling via Coinbase, Base, and BVNK.
French lawmakers narrowly passed an amendment taxing crypto-to-stablecoin swaps from 2027. The measure, supported by 38 votes, aims to close tax loopholes but faces government opposition and further legislative hurdles.
Stand With Crypto reports 10,092 complaints against UK banks over crypto transfer restrictions from May to August 2026. Lloyds led with 2,297 cases, while Barclays and HSBC imposed specific monetary caps. Industry leaders warn that banking access remains separate from forthcoming FCA regulatory approvals.
Tx launches USTX, a dollar stablecoin for its RWA platform, minted via USDC but backed by independent reserves managed by Brale. The company structures rewards to comply with the GENIUS Act's ban on yield for holding stablecoins.
Drift Protocol exploiters moved $61M in ETH to Tornado Cash after two months of silence, obscuring fund trails. They still hold $194M in Ether. The hack, attributed to North Korean group UNC6862, caused $295M in losses.
FINMA approved Switzerland's first retail-accessible Bitcoin ETF, citing growing investor interest. The regulator warned of high volatility risks but cleared key hurdles for direct BTC exposure. No launch date or specific issuer was identified in the announcement.
Animoca Brands chairman Yat Siu warns that AI crypto trading agents create dependency risks, as platform suspensions can erase years of personalized strategy data. He advocates for data portability and specialized agents to mitigate confusion and security vulnerabilities.
SEC and Japan's FSA met in Tokyo on Oct. 19, 2026, to discuss cross-border regulatory cooperation. Led by Commissioner Uyeda and Vice Minister Miyoshi, the dialogue focused on private markets, asset management, and investor protection amidst changing capital environments.
Sam Callahan argues Bitcoin thrives without rate cuts, citing a 20% drop in USD purchasing power over five years. He attributes this to financial repression and core PCE averages of 3.7%, positioning Bitcoin as a hedge against structural currency debasement rather than a liquidity-dependent asset.
Nine blue-chip firms, including Verizon and Broadcom, objected to listing on OKXICE, affecting 14% of planned tokens. Nasdaq also opted out, citing lack of best-price guarantees. Issuer consent now challenges tokenized stock growth beyond regulatory hurdles.
Kazakhstan's AIFC court banned six crypto platforms, including Coinbase and Huobi, from unlicensed operations. The injunction extends to Google and Apple app stores, enforcing geographic restrictions. LBank was exempted after blocking Kazakh access, reflecting successful voluntary compliance.
Mt. Gox extends its creditor repayment deadline to October 2027, the sixth delay since 2023. Trustee Nobuaki Kobayashi cites incomplete creditor procedures as the primary reason. Approximately 34,400 BTC remain in Mt. Gox wallets, keeping market attention on potential future sell-offs.